It’s quite the responsibility to take on a refurbishment and extension project involving such a grand, old and beautiful home. Not every builder has the right skills, including an uncommon attention to detail, to do such a sensitive job justice. Enter the Ninety45 team, who have meticulously restored the 1920s home, added a two-level pavilion, replaced outdoor terraces and upgraded the pool, all without diluting the charm of the Arts and Crafts-style manor. Partial demolition was required to accommodate the two-level architect-designed extension. This work not only underscores the home’s pedigree (with premium materials and details that preserve character), but introduces new features that add to the charm.

Just look at the twisting staircase that’s as much art as a means to the upper floor, the light flooding through skylights and floor-to-pitched ceiling glazing, and the kitchen with its marbled and fluted curved island. Sustainability measures have also been installed: improved insulation, rainwater collection, solar panels, in-slab water heating and recessed heaters in the loggia ceiling, which help ensure comfort and the house’s longer-term performance. This 405sqm home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and two living rooms is an exemplar of how to flawlessly merge the past and present. That’s what happens when award winning design is carried out by builders at the top of their game.