House of Billie by Georgie Shepherd Design
Georgie Shepherd’s latest project transforms a 1920s heritage bungalow into a functional family home.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Christopher Morrison
The open plan living and dining space was the most challenging to conquer for GSiD. Photo - Christopher Morrison.
Billie the dog in action - who the project was named after! Photo - Christopher Morrison.
A small footprint called for clever spatial design which was practical and functional. Photo - Christopher Morrison.
Set on a spacious block in one of Adelaide’s garden suburbs, House of Billie is a quaint white bunaglow house with a rear extension, home to a young family of four and their pet caboodle Billie. The interior design of the home called for the small spaces to be transformed for maximum functionality, a challenge which Georgie Shepherd of GSiD embraced. Having stepped in for the client and their architect (Beach DC) who had reworked the original floorplan, Georgie created an internal spatial arrangement that ensured maximum flow between the old and new spaces.
The design implements a monochromatic soft grey colour palette throughout the interior, blurring the boundaries between the spaces, especially evident in the kitchen and living zone where it creates the illusion of more space. The small footprint of the home meant that clever spatial designing was paramount for the designer, “Working within an existing and compact footprint of a home can be a challenge, the design needed to cleverly examine flow and storage to best utilise the spaces available,” says Georgie.
Texture, detailing, and clever lighting teamed with simplicity meant that a big impact could be created without feeling crowded - each little corner of the interior is used to its full advantage, with every nook and cranny designed to include built-in furniture, the best example of which is a curved, panelled window-seat nestled at the base of an in-set bookshelf.
Volker Haug wall lights in the kitchen are a standout designer feature! Photo - Christopher Morrison.
A soft grey monochrome palette is applied through the interior spaces. Photo - Christopher Morrison.
“We needed to achieve a harmonious connection between the existing bungalow house and a modified extension.”
Each little space was used to its full advantage as locations for in-built furniture. Photo - Christopher Morrison.
Curved edges and rounded surfaces were favoured to optimise space.Photo - Christopher Morrison.
“Attention to detail was paramount — every little detail needed to elevate the simplicity of the design to form a layered, textured and complete space. ”
The muted grey monochrome palette is continued through the wet areas. Photo - Christopher Morrison.
Photo - Christopher Morrison.
“This project demonstrates the ability to transform a very small footprint into a spacious, functional living space for a family of four. ”
The house is split into two parts, with a steel clad freestanding pavilion which houses a second living space at the rear. Photo - Christopher Morrison.
Photo - Christopher Morrison.