Meow Meow

Forget everything you thought you knew about urban living. In the heart of Newtown, Sydney – a locale brimming with its own unique, electric vibe and a tight-knit community – architect Dean Williams is rewriting the rulebook on what a home can be. This isn’t just a house; it’s a masterclass in spatial intelligence, proving definitively that luxury, light, and a deep connection to the outdoors don’t require sprawling acreage. It just requires brilliant design.

Dean Williams, the visionary director behind Architect George, shares this impeccably renovated 1930s workers’ cottage with his partner and their canine companion, Monty. His philosophy challenges the conventional Australian architectural norm, which he feels often errs on the side of “too private” in dense environments. For Williams, the goal was to craft a home that could truly “breathe and open up” to its surroundings – be it the rear laneway, a nearby park, or the vibrant street itself – fostering an intrinsic connection between indoor living and the community just beyond the walls.

From Confined to Curated: A Heritage Home’s Incredible Metamorphosis

Originally, this modest cottage was a mere 35 square meters. Williams describes its former incarnation as “very enclosed, very small,” characterized by a series of “pokey rooms” that left the main living space entirely cut off from the rear courtyard. Even their sleeping quarters were relegated to a small attic, accessed only by a pull-down ladder. They lived within these cramped confines for a couple of years, allowing the challenges of the space to inform their subsequent design intervention.

The primary design hurdle? The home’s location within a heritage conservation area. This meant the charming, original 1930s street frontage was untouchable, dictating that all significant design interventions had to be strategically tucked away at the rear, out of public view. This constraint, however, became the catalyst for some truly ingenious solutions. The renovation involved the thoughtful removal of internal walls and the addition of a new rear bathroom, expanding the total footprint to just under 60 square meters – a nearly 70% increase in liveable space, and a dramatic improvement to the site’s overall functionality and flow.

Inside the Transformation: An Unfolding Narrative of Light, Flow, and Bespoke Details

Step through the home’s subtly raised front door, and you are immediately welcomed into an open-plan living space that defies its true dimensions. The original fireplace, meticulously restored, anchors the living room, a timeless focal point. Throughout, dark brown engineered timber floorboards lay a sophisticated foundation, flowing seamlessly across every room and creating a visually expansive backdrop against crisp white walls. This deliberate material contrast immediately enhances the perceived spaciousness.

The kitchen is a shining example of bespoke integration. Ingeniously built around an original chimney breast, it boasts elegant stone benchtops that gracefully wrap up as a seamless splashback. One side is a workhorse, efficiently housing the dishwasher, sink, and cooking facilities. The other, cleverly tucked beneath the stair, discreetly conceals an integrated fridge, pantry, and a wealth of storage solutions. A slender stone island bench serves as the heart of the space, an inviting social hub perfect for entertaining and gathering.

A subtle single step descends from the kitchen into the dining area, a clever design move that clearly delineates the functions of each zone while maintaining a continuous visual connection. Exposed ceiling beams in the dining area not only contribute to a sense of elevated height but also ingeniously provide integrated shelving for books and cherished belongings. Crucially, a semi-internal light well, densely planted with lush greenery, “drenches the dining space and kitchen with sunlight all day long,” fundamentally transforming the core of the home into a bright, airy sanctuary.

Even the ground floor bathroom, a new addition, is a standout. Poised in a previously “unoccupiable” triangular sliver of the courtyard, it’s conceived as a “sculptural element” within the garden itself. Inside, a curved mosaic shower offers what Williams describes as a “warm hug,” illuminated by a generous glass skylight. In a truly unique touch, the bathroom’s roof is intentionally planted with greenery, designed to gracefully cascade down its concrete block walls over time, further blurring the lines between inside and out. Beautiful green terrazzo floor tiles complete the space, creating a seamless, single-slab appearance that amplifies its luxurious feel.

Upstairs: Private Retreats and Cleverly Carved Spaces

Ascending to the first floor reveals thoughtfully designed private zones. The main bedroom, located at the rear, provides serene views of the courtyard and a charming community garden park beyond. Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes offer comprehensive, integrated storage, ensuring a clutter-free retreat. A “hidden door” from the bedroom leads out to the new green roof, a delightful, unexpected connection to nature. In a truly personal detail, salvaged stained glass panels from their old rear door now cast “beautiful coloured patterns across the wall in the bedroom” when bathed in sunlight, imbuing the space with character and warmth.

The second bedroom, once their attic sleeping space, now performs double duty as a welcoming guest room and a productive home office. Nestled within the existing roof pitch, it benefits from a new, large skylight that floods the space with natural light and ensures excellent ventilation. Full-width storage on one side cleverly capitalizes on previously unused roof space, proving that no square inch is wasted in this expertly crafted home. A second bathroom upstairs maintains the consistent, sophisticated material palette of the ground floor and includes a small, north-facing window, ensuring abundant natural light throughout the day.

Even the courtyard, despite its “awkward shapes and angles,” has been masterfully transformed into a “seamless extension of the living spaces,” an invaluable outdoor amenity in such a dense urban environment. And in a final stroke of practical genius, an old outhouse at the back of the site was smartly repurposed into a dedicated laundry, accommodating a washing machine and essential shed supplies.

The Bigger Picture: Redefining the Modern Home

Williams’s design philosophy extends far beyond this single project. He passionately advocates for upgrading and repurposing existing houses rather than opting for demolition. This approach, he argues, is not only “more cost effective” but also vital for “maintaining our historical connection to our cities” and preserving the unique character of our streetscapes.

This Sydney cottage stands as a compelling argument for a profound shift in our architectural perspective. Williams believes we must “readjust our thinking of what a comfortable contemporary home is” – challenging outdated notions about ideal bedroom sizes or doorway widths. His work demonstrates, unequivocally, that “nothing has to be given up to live in a smaller home”. In fact, through intentional and deliberate design, a compact residence can deliver superior access to sunlight, the outdoors, and ventilation, creating a living experience that feels expansive and generous in every possible way. This isn’t just good design; it’s a blueprint for a more thoughtful, sustainable, and ultimately, more fulfilling way of living.