Step Down House designed by Bijl Architecture. A Sydney federation home with a modern extension, Step Down House fluently blends classical and contemporary. However, that wasn’t always the case. Rather the 110-year-old home initially had four small bedrooms and just the one living area — a challenge for a family with a social teenage daughter!

Bathroom design with white decoration. Bath tube and shower.

So, with the desire to modernise their home and create a second living area, Linda Burger and her partner Michael undertook a nine month redevelopment, which included the creation of a second lounge room, a master bedroom, a large rear verandah, a modernised swimming pool and Linda’s favourite, a rear extension that gave way to a combined living/dining/kitchen area.

Living area. Swimming pool, back garden and outside dining table and chairs.

“We love the sunny kitchen/dining area which drops down four steps to ground level, bringing the landscaped gardens into the living area. Its lofty, industrial feel is derived from the high ceilings, whitewashed bare brick feature wall and polished concrete kitchen island, all of which is softened by cedar woodwork (window frames and shelves) and bar stools.

Federation home. Open house fully modernized.

While the classical style at the front of the house was retained, the focal point has certainly become the extension, with the polished concrete island being a particular highlight.

Minimalist entryhall with sideboard.

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