Not all extensions are created equal. Seeking a modern addition to their home in Wilston, the inhabits of this traditional Queenslander called on local studio Wrightson Stewart to help. The project turned out to be a perfect fit for this team of interior designers and creatives,  who specialise in bespoke built environments. While adding 4 rooms to a home on paper might seem simple, here the designers have maximised the use of the double-block, cleverly leveraging the existing structure to tell a new story between the spaces of the home and its place in the surrounding environment.

DESIGN Wrightson Stewart | PHOTOGRAPHY Kylie Hood

Utilizing the abundant Australian sun, a number of unique apertures were fashioned into the new addition to take advantage of natural light and picturesque views of the nearby park and surroundings. Custom-built joinery and built-in furniture make the interior quite literally one-of-a-kind, giving the residents a compressed layout but one that boosts day-to-day functionality. Every space serves a purpose here—a low bookshelf under the couch, a partitioned wall that doubles as a kitchen booth on the opposite side. Straight, clean lines coupled with ample daylight give the space a fresh and welcoming feel.

The soothing colour palette pulls elements of the exterior natural surroundings into the interior space. Wood can be seen used throughout the home—in the flooring, furniture, island kickboard and sprinkled about in various other places—and bodes well alongside a soft colour scheme of white, grey and blue (with a few pops of colour in-between).

The result? A clean, contemporary building with bold formal elements that convene partially inside the footprint of the existing cottage. Black meets white. New marries old. Spaciousness partners with condensed.

“A big budget does not guarantee a great outcome. Great design is about bringing the right people in the right situation at the right time.”

– Wrightson Stewart