Jay Rosenblatt Photography

Architect - Kent Dukham / Photograph - Sam Gray

White Painted Staircase with Carpet Runner in Renovated Victorian Winchester Home

Set within the vibrant neighbourhood of Lower Clapton, this project reimagines a classic Victorian terrace, thoughtfully adapted to suit the dynamic lifestyle of a young family of four. The design harmoniously combines a ground floor extension with a carefully considered reconfiguration, blending modern functionality with the enduring charm of period architecture. Generous natural light, clean lines, and elegant detailing transform the home into a contemporary haven, while remaining deeply connected to its historical roots. This project carefully balances traditional decorative elements with contemporary design, treating the front and rear of the house with distinct approaches. At the front, much of the original character has been preserved, including the original stairwell, balustrade, and tiled fireplaces, all of which celebrate the home’s Victorian heritage. The drawing rooms have been thoughtfully opened up and connected with large bifolding doors, creating a flexible layout that allows for both separation and visual flow. A mirrored design of floating shelves, bypassing the chimney breasts, frames the fireplaces while reinforcing the sense of continuity between the two rooms. This enhances the interplay between old and new, respecting the home’s history while introducing modern functionality. Conversely, the newly designed kitchen-diner embraces a modern aesthetic, featuring frameless glass, clean lines, and sharp edges that frame dynamic views. This contemporary space seamlessly connects the surrounding open areas and the brick-clad Victorian buildings with the interior, creating a striking dialogue between the old and new. The subtly skewed geometry of the plot presents an opportunity to distort the floor plan, responding to the shift in the garden’s direction and adding a unique spatial dynamic to the design. A palette of soft pastel tones—delicate pinks and buttery yellows—unifies the front and rear of the house, creating a harmonious flow through the spaces. This subtle colour scheme is boldly contrasted by the kitchen island, finished in a deep green and topped with a striking multi-coloured terrazzo worktop, adding a playful vibrancy. Playfulness is employed as a deliberate design tool, evident in elements like the long bench that visually links the spaces. Its flexible design allows the dining area to shift closer to the garden or the front of the house, adapting seamlessly to the family’s needs while enhancing the connection between indoors and out.

Original period details that give this home its special character were respectfully restored in this State Heritage listed building. Interior design by Studio Gorman Photograph by Prue Ruscoe

This beautiful 1881 Alameda Victorian cottage, wonderfully embodying the Transitional Gothic-Eastlake era, had most of its original features intact. Our clients, one of whom is a painter, wanted to preserve the beauty of the historic home while modernizing its flow and function. From several small rooms, we created a bright, open artist’s studio. We dug out the basement for a large workshop, extending a new run of stair in keeping with the existing original staircase. While keeping the bones of the house intact, we combined small spaces into large rooms, closed off doorways that were in awkward places, removed unused chimneys, changed the circulation through the house for ease and good sightlines, and made new high doorways that work gracefully with the eleven foot high ceilings. We removed inconsistent picture railings to give wall space for the clients’ art collection and to enhance the height of the rooms. From a poorly laid out kitchen and adjunct utility rooms, we made a large kitchen and family room with nine-foot-high glass doors to a new large deck. A tall wood screen at one end of the deck, fire pit, and seating give the sense of an outdoor room, overlooking the owners’ intensively planted garden. A previous mismatched addition at the side of the house was removed and a cozy outdoor living space made where morning light is received. The original house was segmented into small spaces; the new open design lends itself to the clients’ lifestyle of entertaining groups of people, working from home, and enjoying indoor-outdoor living. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/artists-victorian/

Jason Schmidt

Jason Ingram

Victorian staircase modernized with monochromatic charcoal paint. Complete redesign and remodel of a Victorian farmhouse in Portland, Or.

C. Weaks Interiors is a premier interior design firm with offices in Atlanta. Our reputation reflects a level of attention and service designed to make decorating your home as enjoyable as living in it.

Mark Schwartz Photography

Inspiration was drawn from great old cathedrals and university stairwells as well as Gothic, Jacobean, and Tudor manors