| Location: | Darling Point, Woollahra, Sydney NSW |
|---|---|
| Project Type: | Heritage Restoration and Contemporary Extension |
| Site Area: | 939m2 |
| Site Context: | Sloping Site, NSW Heritage Listed Arts and Crafts Home |
| Scope: | Remediation, Restoration, Internal Renovation, Extension |
| Engagement: | Architecture, Interiors, Project Management |
| Configuration: | Single Dwelling, 3 Levels, 6 Bedroom, 4.5 Bathroom, Pool |
| Approval: | DA, Woollahra Municipal Council |
| Classification: | Class 1 |
| Status: | Complete |
Contemporary Heritage Restoration
A home that had waited long enough. For 120 years, ‘Thanet’ has stood quietly in Darling Point – a rare Arts and Crafts timber cottage, originally built in the United States, shipped to Sydney, and constructed on this sloping harbourside site in 1903. One of the last of her kind in Woollahra, she needed the right hands to carry her forward into her next century.
Key to refining the flow of this home was connecting the original heritage home with a standalone contemporary pavilion. MILEHAM designed a steel-and-glass extension to bridge the old with the new, creating new additional living and dining space, adopting a palette which lends each part of the home equal measure harmony and distinction. This new extension creates a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living, whilst the deeper technical work of heritage restoration, dampness remediation, and structural conservation brought the original home back to life.
A bespoke Boffi kitchen, engineered oak flooring, natural stone and mother of pearl mosaic complete the picture – rich but restrained, and honest to the heritage of the house
Built to belong, not to impose
The new extension doesn’t compete with the garden. It opens to it. Full-height glazing and a dark metal roof frame the lush terraces and established planting, drawing the landscape into the room rather than holding it at a distance. At its edge, the glazing meets an original convict-hewn sandstone retaining wall – stone that has held this hillside for over a century. Rather than conceal the wall, MILEHAM’s design celebrates it as a living surface, raw and unpolished against the precision of the black steel framing. It’s a space designed to feel both sheltered and borderless. Solid enough to anchor the home. Transparent enough to let the site breathe through it
Colours that Listen
Colours that Listen
Colours that Listen
Colours that Listen
The spaces between the spaces
Not every moment in a home needs a view or a grand gesture. Some of the most considered spaces are often the quieter ones, corners designed to slow things down and take things in. This custom banquette wraps a sculpted oval table in dark leather and warm timber, creating a place that feels both intimate and generous. It’s where weekend breakfasts linger, where homework gets done whilst dinner is being prepared, where the books on the shelving behind inspire an absorbing browse. A space shaped around the way a family settles in. Not for show, but for staying.
A Dialogue between Heritage, Landscape and Contemporary Living
Throughout the home, restored heritage details sit comfortably alongside contemporary interventions, creating a layered experience that feels both refined and effortless. Framed garden outlooks, tactile natural materials and carefully crafted transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces reinforce a strong connection to the landscape, while restored verandahs, original architectural detailing and light-filled additions maintain a clear sense of the home’s history. The result is a series of spaces that balance character and comfort. Where architecture, interiors and garden work together.
A home that flows, with spaces made for harmony.
A home that flows effortlessly, where spaces are designed for gathering, connection, and harmony. Every room opens into the next with purpose, balancing moments of togetherness with the need for quiet retreat. Wide, light-filled passages create a natural rhythm through the home, guiding you from lively communal areas to more intimate corners designed for rest and privacy.
James has the unique ability to combine his experience as an Architect with his knowledge as a builder, to develop and deliver transformative ideas. We would never start a project without MILEHAM.”
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