Cutter Cottage by Heartly
Cutter Cottage by Heartly design studio sees an uplifting renovation to an endearing yet worn out home, resurrecting the space with a fresh contemporary vision.
Words: Georgie Ward I Photography: Martina Gemmola
The house been redesigned in line with the contemporary style of its owners. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The interior palette is simple and calming. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The stairs to the extension with a custom dining table by Joel Elliot below. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The light-filled kitchen features marble. Photo: Martina Gemmola
A tired, single fronted cottage situated in the heart of Melbourne was given a contemporary makeover by Heartly, its renovation paying homage to the cottage’s original charm and petite size.
The design packs a punch on the tiny inner-city plot, with its redesign including a spacious, modern extension echoing the home’s original detailing, at the back of the property and invisible from the street!
For Heartly, the design focus was to value the context and history of the building, in order to create a perfect balance between the traditional Victorian character and the requirements for living and sustainability in today’s more modern context.
The brief focussed on creating a practical and comfortable home for a young professional couple and their growing family, utilising clever ideas in order to maximise the limited space presented by the site.
The clients wanted to improve access to natural light and had a strong preference for a crisp fresh white palette. Sunlight floods each and every corner of the home, with its white walls and abundance of natural light, the home exudes a comforting breeziness and cosy feel.
With soft pink accents, concrete landings and timber flooring these considered interior moments within the home offset its sharp predominantly white palette. While Cutter Cottage appears minimalistic, the sprinkled elements of concrete, glass, oak, leather, linen and marble help give the property a warm and textural atmosphere.
The concealed laundry is simple and discreet. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The built-in storage under the bench seat is positioned to make use of the space under the stairs. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The soft and calming palette is a soothing and welcome feature in the bedrooms. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The stairs lead up to the new extension. Photo: Martina Gemmola
Pink tiles in the bathroom with a painting by Annie Everingham. Photo: Martina Gemmola
Pink tiles bring a pop of colour in the bathroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola
A view from the bedroom into the ensuite bathroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola
Simple features and a subdued palette extends to the children’s room. Photo: Martina Gemmola
In order to respect the neighbourhood character, the extension is invisible from the street. Photo: Martina Gemmola
The quiet and refined home feels miles away from Richmond’s hustle and bustle. Photo: Martina Gemmola
Preserving the historic charm of this Richmond cottage was at the fore-front of the owners minds when renovating the old brick home.
The statement half arch that leads into the central living space from the entrance marks the connection between old and new spaces inside.
The front rooms of the house were retained, and the hallway was pared back to the original brick wall that’s been painted white. Hints of the home’s history are referenced in the use of its reclaimed brick throughout.
Spatial planning was critical and deemed paramount at the outset of developing the design concept for Cutter Cottage. Once tired, drafty and poorly configured, this meant ensuring that all the joinery was designed with purpose, and the layout of the home made the most of the opportunities presented on site.
With the help of Heartly, the couple's vision to make their property bigger and better became a reality, successfully reconciling a series of small, outdated spaces into an uplifting, inviting family home for modern, inner-city living.