It is hard to imagine what this Sydney house – located in the idyllic beachside suburb of Tamarama, nestled between Bondi and Bronte beaches – looked like when Carla Middleton first discovered it.
Architect Carla Middleton shares how she created a forever family home with a fantastic indoor-outdoor connection in Sydney.
Who Lives Here A family of four
Home A two-storey semi-detached house
Location Tamarama, Australia
Interior Designer Carla Middleton Architecture
House Formerly Rented for 30 Years
“The original house was a run-down semi that had been tenanted for 30 years with three bedrooms at the front, a dark living room, and a tiny kitchen that stepped down to a tacked- on toilet and mould-ridden bathroom,” recalls the architect, who leads her eponymous practice, Carla Middleton Architecture.
“The backyard was heavily overgrown with two huge phoenix palm trees and an overrun garden.”
Carla Middleton, founder of Carla Middleton Architecture, in her Sydney home
![cma_tama_dscf4549-768x1024-1 Carla Middleton, founder of Carla Middleton Architecture, in her Sydney home.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4549-768x1024-1.jpg)
After moving in, Carla and her husband started to make some small improvements in their spare time over their first six years of living there, slowly transforming a few elements of the house while gaining an understanding of the orientation and use of certain areas.
“Once our first child, Anna, was a toddler, the disconnect between the backyard to the internal living areas became evident, and we decided the long-awaited renovation was necessary,” shares Carla, who has since also had a son.
![4795-resaltsadds_tamahouse_cmaetal_tomferguson_15-1024x768-1 The existing front facade of the house was retained.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4795-resaltsadds_tamahouse_cmaetal_tomferguson_15-1024x768-1.jpg)
Indoor-Outdoor Living
Because of the originally dark spaces, the family was constantly outside. The desire for seamless indoor-outdoor living areas naturally became one of the top priorities for the makeover, in addition to finding the best way to create privacy, which has been achieved through skylights.
Set within a long, narrow, 3,401 sq ft (315 sqm) site, the two-level home now comprises five bedrooms plus a home studio office and three bathrooms.
![4795-resaltsadds_tamahouse_cmaetal_tomferguson_06-1024x768-1 One of the objectives of this renovation was to connect the living areas to the backyard.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4795-resaltsadds_tamahouse_cmaetal_tomferguson_06-1024x768-1.jpg)
Double Height Living Room
“I wanted to prioritise our living space by adding the double-height void in the lounge room and keep our main bedroom to a minimum size,” says Carla.
“We discussed this layout in great detail because we’d much prefer a beautiful living room to share with our family and friends than a large suite that is rarely used.”
Several original features, including the house’s front facade, the hallway with period features (but new flooring) and the first two bedrooms, were preserved.
![cma_tama_dscf4408_ps-768x1024-1 A coffee and bar area below the stairs can be screened off with custom sliding doors.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4408_ps-768x1024-1.jpg)
A coffee and bar area below the stairs can be screened off with custom sliding doors.
Extra Depth Storage
Storage was incorporated in several nooks to maximise functionality, such as the extra deep mirror cabinets in all the bathrooms, the pantry area with lots of open shelves in the kitchen, the first-floor hallway’s large linen closet; the existing front bedrooms’ old wardrobes that are now dedicated to children’s toys; the custom-made bar area under the stairs that caters to Carla’s husband’s coffee obsession; and the roof area accessible from the first-floor front bedroom’s ladder; among others.
![cma_tama_dscf4430_ps-1024x768-1 The kitchen’s north-facing window allows for maximum natural light.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4430_ps-1024x768-1.jpg)
Textured Whites, Warm Oak Woods
For the materials, Carla opted for a mix of textured surfaces, painted brick, white plasterboard, concrete cast in-situ, warm oak floorboard, linen curtains and artwork to match the neutral tones of white, grey and black.
![cma_tama_dscf4130_ps-1024x768-1 All of the bedrooms are located upstairs, allowing dwellers to retreat when the lower level is used to entertain guests.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4130_ps-1024x768-1.jpg)
![cma_tama_dscf4609_ps-682x1024-1 Mirrored cabinets in this bathroom reflect the marble pattern of its walls and double the spatial feel of the space.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4609_ps-682x1024-1.jpg)
![cma_tama_dscf4897_ps-768x1024-1 One of the biggest challenges of the renovation was allowing more natural light into the interior, hence the creation of this skylight.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4897_ps-768x1024-1.jpg)
Trees Preserved
Outside, too, every detail was carefully considered. Pepo Botanic, who did the backyard’s landscape, preserved the existing melaleuca and palm trees. A recycled brick driveway with a new garden was added in the front.
![cma_tama_dscf4689-768x1024-1 The family moved into the new house three days before Carla’s son was born.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4689-768x1024-1.jpg)
![cma_tama_dscf4852-768x1024-1 The daughter’s warm and playful bedroom.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cma_tama_dscf4852-768x1024-1.jpg)
“This is a great little area for the kids to play with the gates closed off protecting them from the road,” says Carla. “As the gates are transparent, it was particularly nice during isolation because we could say hi to our neighbours whilst keeping our distance.”
The front elevation of the gable roof is symmetrical to fit within the context of the street. In contrast, the lower rear gable roof is asymmetrical to draw natural light through the northeast-facing skylight.
Created for a growing family, this house is a sanctuary where its inhabitants feel connected to the natural elements in the middle of an urban environment thanks to a clever and subtle design.
Photography by Tom Ferguson. Styling by Anna Delprat.