Architect reveals how he transformed a damp, dilapidated $1.5million cottage into the best home on the street

Tired and dilapidated shack in SydneyThe western interior of New York, once “so dilapidated as to be unlivable,” has been transformed into a coastal oasis.

Casey Scott, co-founder of Kinwolf Projects, and his team worked for six months to renovate the Balmain property, which was in desperate need of a “total renovation.” Face lift“

“The house was dark, moldy, covered in mould and damp everywhere. The layout was horrible and very strange as the house was leaking in and out of the neighbour’s property. So it definitely needed repairs!” the 44-year-old told FEMAIL.

The original plan for the semi-detached house was odd and included a small dining room adjacent to the living area and kitchen, as well as two bedrooms, one bathroom and a small patio.

He is now unrecognizable.

The two-story family home features a clean white exterior, arched windows, a gourmet kitchen and outdoor entertaining area, plus another bedroom and two bathrooms.

“I changed the layout of the entire house to make it more liveable, and added an extension to make the most of the living space,” Mr Scott said.

“People want everything that’s trendy, but they also want something that’s designed with a timeless look — they want their home to look beautiful in 10 years.”

The home was originally priced at $1.5 million. The renovated home sold at auction for $3.25 million, well above the guide price of $2.75 million.

Balmain’s rich history is reflected in its beautiful, classic homes with period features – but Mr Scott said the new owners were young and wanted a “modern look”.

“I didn’t want to destroy the house – it’s a balance of finding a middle ground. I’m trying to leave the house looking better than it did when I got there, while still making it look like it’s been there for 100 years,” he said.

But the regeneration process came with its own set of challenges due to the suburb’s constraints – including accessibility, on-site parking, heritage and its “exoticism”.

“The house was intertwined with the neighbor’s house, and it didn’t form a straight line down the middle,” Scott added.

“We were working on 1.2 square metre bathrooms where the toilets barely fit into the space. So we really had to think about lighting and tile options to make the most of the space and make it more livable and enjoyable.”

The house is located steps from Mort Bay Park and just 5.5 km from the CBD.

As guests enter through the front door, they are greeted by an open-plan kitchen with a dishwasher, concealed double-door fridge and multi-gas stove.

There is a bedroom on the lower floor overlooking the street via a small balcony, which feels spacious due to the amount of natural light coming through the windows.

There is a powder room and laundry room hidden under the stairs, as well as an outdoor entertaining area.

Curves throughout the home—including the kitchen countertop and staircase base—make the space appear larger than it is.

“The arched doors leading to the backyard are one of my favorite features of the house,” Mr. Scott said. “I loved the roughness of the concrete that runs from the inside out, and the green grass that weaves through the concrete.”

“If we had chosen wood floors on the inside that faded into concrete on the outside, it would have made the backyard look smaller – so we created the illusion of a larger backyard by continuing the concrete throughout and then putting lots of succulents around the walls.”

The kitchen is also Mr. Scott’s favorite part of the house.

“When you work in an inner-city suburb like Balmain, you need to be creative in planning small spaces, with built-in fridges and dishwashers, you remove clutter, and give a sense of space where there was none,” he said.

“I loved the wood we used in the kitchen and how it matched the stone. The stone was leathered (matte finish) and had these beautiful brown specks that tied in perfectly. I’m a real texture person, and I don’t like anything too shiny, so the matte finish made the space feel softer and made it feel earthy.”

The wrong color can make a small space look even smaller, Scott added.

“We always put skylights above the bathrooms, again to increase the sense of volume, because natural light is so important. I try to bring natural light in from any area I can get to,” he added.

The renovation was completed under the $800,000 budget.

“In today’s climate, costs continue to rise, but we always do our best to deliver our projects on time and within budget,” Scott said.

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