Brise Soleil – Revisited: A Home to Grow Old In

RESIDENTIAL · BALMAIN, SYDNEY

In 2009, Carter Williamson designed a home in Balmain, Sydney. More than fifteen years later, the owners approached the practice again: they did not want to move, but needed the house to accommodate the next stage of their lives.

The renovation began with a lift. The team placed it within the internal courtyard and reworked the kitchen location and ground-floor circulation. The existing voids and external form were retained.

Timber-toned shelving, armchairs and low tables in the living area — Open shelving runs along the living-room wall, with chairs and low tables arranged around the rug.

Kitchen island and pendant lights beneath the void — The kitchen island sits beneath the void, with a balustrade and pendant lights visible above.

Dining table beside the island and courtyard-facing glazing — The dining table stands beside the island, with large windows facing the courtyard.

STAYING IN A FAMILIAR HOME

The house began as an 1860s workers’ cottage. The earlier renovation retained the weatherboard street façade, adding a kitchen, living spaces and upstairs rooms to the rear. A light well and double-height void link the old and new parts, while concrete elements and marble shading fins on the rear façade regulate daylight entering the house.

For this renovation, the team retained these architectural features and focused on circulation and the interior layout. The original voids continue to bring daylight inside, while the new lift gives the owners another way to move between floors.

Armchair, low table and display shelving beside the window — A low table sits in front of the armchair by the window, with objects displayed on shelving behind.

Living-room furniture viewed from upstairs — Seen from upstairs, the curved sofa, chairs and low tables are grouped beneath the void.

Wall-side sideboard with an armchair in front — A long sideboard runs along the wall, with an armchair and round side table in front.

Living area facing the courtyard opening — The living area faces the courtyard through a large opening, while the sofa faces the interior shelving.

BEGINNING WITH A LIFT

With the lift added to the courtyard, the team rearranged the ground floor: the kitchen was relocated, routes were widened and connections between adjoining spaces were adjusted.

The kitchen remains a place for the family to gather, with cabinetry and joinery redesigned. The photographs show the island, dining table and living area next to one another. There is room for stools beneath the island, and one side of the dining table faces the courtyard glazing.

A wall of kitchen cabinetry and an island with stools — Kitchen cabinetry runs along the wall, with space for stools beneath the island.

Dining table, cabinet wall and adjacent bright space — The dining table stands beside a wall of cabinetry, with another bright space to one side.

Stair entrance between timber-toned walls — The stair entrance sits between timber-toned walls, beside cupboard doors.

Stair handrail and cabinetry above — A timber-toned handrail follows the stairs, with wall cabinetry continuing above.

Lift entrance in the courtyard — The lift door is set in a bright space beside joinery.

NEW JOINERY, FAMILIAR LIGHT

Warm-toned timber joinery has been added to the interior. Open shelving runs along a living-room wall, and rows of cabinet doors line the kitchen. Upstairs, bookshelves occupy an entire wall, displaying books and collected objects above enclosed cupboards.

A large window sits beside the bed, while small, dark square tiles cover the bathroom washbasin area.

The living area opens outdoors through a large glazed opening on the garden side, with the original shading elements still outside the glass. From beside the window, the shading fins on the rear façade are visible.

Window-side cabinet, open shelving and external shading fins — A long cabinet and open shelving sit beside the window, with shading elements visible outside.

Full-wall bookshelves near the void balustrade — Bookshelves fill a wall, with cupboards below beside the balustrade at the edge of the void.

Bedroom bed, glazing and floor lamp — A floor lamp stands beside the bedroom’s large window, with the bed close to the glazing.

Dark-tiled washbasin area and wall lights beside the mirror — Small, dark square tiles cover the washbasin area, with wall lights near the mirror.

Garden-facing rear façade and shading elements — Viewed from the garden, shading elements stand outside the large panes of glass on the rear façade.

Living area beyond the glazed opening, viewed from the garden — From the lawn, the living area is visible through the open glazing, with interior shelving extending to the window.

The owners wanted to stay in their home, so the renovation addressed movement between floors and across the ground level: a lift was added to the courtyard, the kitchen was relocated and the ground-floor routes were widened.

Project credits

Project — Brise Soleil - Revisited
Location — Balmain, Sydney, Australia
Project type — Residential renovation
Architecture and interior design — Carter Williamson Architects
Project team — Shaun Carter, Julie Niass, Audrey Abbott
Builder — SFN Build
Engineering — Cosmo Farinola
Styling — Claire Delmar
Photography — Pablo Veiga
Images and original feature — The Design Chaser
Project reference — Carter Williamson Architects
Editorial adaptation — 01DES