Leeside transforms a tired 1980s brick property—originally defined by dated cream and pink features—into a commanding, dark-toned architectural statement. Located in a quiet North Avoca cul-de-sac, the project required a massive forward extension, pushing a spacious new garage toward the street and constructing a complete second-storey addition above it. Working alongside Design Smart Living, we engineered this upper addition to function as an independent, luxurious dual-living space, complete with its own kitchen, living area, and tiled outdoor entertaining zone.

The exterior material palette relies on sharp, moody contrasts to establish a dominant street presence. We anchored the ground floor with dark metallic brickwork, using a light mortar to emphasize the masonry’s boldness. This transitions seamlessly into the first-floor timber frame, which is wrapped in James Hardie Axon cladding painted in deep Aniseed to showcase a sharp 133mm vertical shadow line. To offset the dark facade, we lined the raked eaves with pre-oiled, Australian spotted gum shiplap. We fully insulated these soffits to prevent heat transfer into the natural timber and installed precise black feature lighting to highlight the craftsmanship from the street. At the ground level, an aluminum timber-look vertical screen separates the two distinct entries, providing privacy and rich visual texture.

The defining interior feature is a hidden transition point between the new addition and the existing home. The clients initially requested a secret bookcase entrance. We elevated this concept to tie the exterior timber accents directly into the interior, engineering a concealed pivot door disguised within a massive architectural feature wall. Using pre-finished 42×18 spotted gum battens across a black-painted background, our team meticulously mitered and grain-matched the timber so it flows flawlessly up the wall, across the bulkhead, and into the raked ceiling. The heavy timber battens continue uninterrupted across the door face, opening inward and rendering the entry to the original house completely invisible.

The dedicated entry for the new addition features a custom spotted gum staircase with discreet LED lighting, transitioning precisely into a waterproofed, tiled stair system as the environment shifts from exterior to interior. Because one of the property owners was located abroad during construction, we implemented strict, highly visual communication protocols to manage approvals and structural updates. This ensured the physical build perfectly matched their aesthetic expectations, resulting in a striking custom home that hides highly technical, bespoke carpentry behind a luxurious modern facade.