Motif House
Motif House
The Motif House, Kew 2018-2020
Motif House is a sensitive reworking of a c.1910 period home — an alterations and additions project that reimagined the internal flow, improved solar access, and introduced a light-filled upper-level retreat for the parents. Now in the post-construction stage, the home has been transformed into a generous, layered family dwelling that balances heritage character with a distinctly modern intervention.
The original residence had previously been extended with a large, double-height living space, though it was enclosed by a deep verandah that blocked access to the northern sun. This zone was demolished and reconfigured to meet the clients’ brief while staying within the existing envelope — preserving the open north-facing garden and terrace. The reinstatement of the original light timber balustrade at the entry verandah replaced earlier heavy brickwork and returned a sense of openness and integrity to the facade.
At ground level, the Living, Dining, Kitchen and Walk-in Pantry were repositioned within the rebuilt wing, raising the floor to align with the existing house and remove previous level changes. A new Bathroom and Powder Room replaced the existing Den, while the Laundry took the place of the former Bathroom. The Master Bedroom was repurposed into a Rumpus with direct connection to the children’s bedrooms, and a new Guest Bedroom replaced the Walk-in Robe and Ensuite. The Kitchen and Pantry were demolished to make way for a new Dining space with a Study nook, opening to a west-facing Terrace and linking back to the new Rumpus.
A concealed stair behind the Living joinery led to the new upper-level Master Suite, complete with Walk-in Robe and Ensuite. The new garage and connecting storage room extended the utility of the site while creating a coherent relationship between outbuilding and home.
The form of the new north-facing glazing at the upper level was informed by the geometry of the original mullions over the entry — a subtle echo of the home’s heritage motifs, refracted through a contemporary lens.
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These angled window reveals reflected the sky and garden in a shifting, kaleidoscopic panorama, while creating generous internal pockets for shelving, daybeds, and planting.Materials were carefully chosen: red brickwork to match the existing, zinc cladding to distinguish the new, and a slate roof over the stair to tie seamlessly into the street-facing gable.
Energy efficiency was integral to the design. Existing maple trees offered seasonal shading to the north terrace, while a tall skylight drew daylight deep into the plan between Kitchen, Dining, and Living. A solar photovoltaic array (8.17kW) was installed and connected to a 5kW Tesla Powerwall battery, storing up to 13.5Wh — a quiet step toward long-term sustainability.
Motif House is a home renewed — retaining the detail and charm of its past, while embracing the light, warmth, and rhythm of contemporary family life.
