Red Hill Kitchen Canberra | Architecture Republic

This warm and light-filled extension adds a comfortable kitchen to a grand red brick Canberra home.

The original kitchen was small, cramped, and unsuited to the scale of the existing home. Though light and airy, it lacked connection to the backyard and outdoor areas. There was also minimal connection to other parts of the house. There was limitad storage, not suited to entertaining or managing the needs of a family.

Kitchen Renovation

The new kitchen utilises a light-filled spot on the northern corner of the house. The original kitchen was also here, but the renovation more than doubles the size of the space. It features generous benches, an island bench suited to the whole family, and a large walk in pantry. make the new kitchen a social hub and ta true “heart of the house.”

A wide staircase leads to a large deck halfway between the level of the kitchen and the backyard. This creates a direct connection between the different levels. The deck leads on to the backyard swimming pool, with direct line of sight to the kitchen. The level change also allowed for a large rumpus room below the kitchen. The house now has an extra breakout space for the kids and exercise space for the adults. A new garage provides internal access + more storage and workshop space.

Architectural Extension – Style

The style of the extension blends contemporary design with the best features of the original house. We balanced recycled Canberra red bricks with lighter materials. The white weatherboard, plaster and light-coloured timber lift the whole composition. A bay window matching the originals provides a sunny nook for reading or looking out over the garden. Colonial style double-glazed uPVC windows match the original windows while improving energy efficiency.

Contractors:

Builder – Empire Homes, Canberra
Engineer – Sellick Consultants, Canberra
Photographer – Kirstyn Smart Photography, Sydney

Building Features:

Pitched ceilings with skylights
Recycled Canberra Red bricks
Hardwood flooring throughout
Custom joinery – kitchen, barn door + staircase
Colonial-style double glazed uPVC windows
Faithful to the style of the original home
Timber weatherboard cladding
Tile roof to match existing

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A sunny nook

A new bay window provides a sunny nook to sit and read or look out over the garden. The wide staircase connects the different levels of backyard and kitchen, providing a line of sight to deck, pool and garden. Timber floors + balustrades with internal brick walls give the house a cosy, natural feel.

Rejuvenating spaces

The existing bathroom was tired, cramped, and broken up into separate rooms. Combining WC + bathroom created a more generous, light-filled room.

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Traditional, yet contemporary

The exterior still features classic Canberra red bricks, bay windows and the colonial glazing of the old house. It now also has high-performance uPVC windows, generous glazing and well-insulated cladding.

Light-filled and practical

Generous glazing and skylights flood the kitchen with light, taking advantage of it’s location on the northern corner of the house. Generous bench space and storage make cooking a pleasure. The large island bench provides space for the kids’ homework, a glass of wine, and space to prepare a feast, all at once! The pitched ceiling lifts the space, reaching higher than the traditional 8′ ceilings of the existing.