Designed for a family of creatives — Lauren, an interior decorator; Glenn, an architectural photographer; and their two children, Ailbie and Rennie — this project reimagines a modest weatherboard cottage as a generous, light-filled home for living, working and growing.

The original footprint was retained, keeping the front door along the southern boundary and housing the family bathroom, children’s bedrooms, rumpus and study within the existing shell. This approach preserved the home’s scale and character while aligning with the budget.

A new single-storey addition to the rear accommodates the main living spaces and master suite. Rational planning provides strong visual and physical connection to the garden, while offering seclusion from the busy street. Along the northern façade, red brick piers punctuate the plan, defining living zones and establishing a clear architectural rhythm.

The material palette is grounded in earthy tones — terracottas, browns and dusty greens — with joinery designed as both functional storage and playful spatial intervention.

Autumnal House is the result of a joyful collaboration with good friends — a calm, characterful and deeply personal family home.