Considered Living – Hideaway House by Studio Prineas

Tucked into Sydney’s North Shore is Hideaway House, a 1920s Californian bungalow-style family home that has been transformed into a contemporary haven. Through considered design approaches, Studio Prineas reinterprets the owners’ home for a modern age while still allowing them to do the things they love most.

After two decades of living in their home, the owners approached Studio Prineas to help them expand living spaces as well as imbue a contemporary, minimalist design throughout. For inspiration, Studio Prineas looked to the existing themes, monochromatic finishes and steel windows from the residence’s previous renovations to bring a cohesion between the internal rooms. Additionally, the clients had a desire to keep the existing perimeters of the home, so to not encroach upon the garden space. As such, the team remained committed to evolving the structure’s narrative while keeping true to the boundaries of the garden. “The design team enjoyed the process of finding variation and expression within the parameters of the brief,” says Eva-Marie Prineas, Principal of Studio Prineas.

“The design team enjoyed the process of finding variation and expression within the parameters of the brief,” says Eva-Marie Prineas, Principal of Studio Prineas.

Beginning with the simplification of the home’s roofline, Studio Prineas pushed the lounge space outwards to the garden and turned it into a dedicated music room. Following this expansion, the original U-shaped kitchen was turned into an open space for gathering and entertaining. Opposite the sculptural kitchen is a white wall with deep joinery. When closed it appears as a blank canvas but, once various sections are opened, the walls reveal concealed bespoke storage as well as a laundry space that acts as a barrier to the master bedroom and ensuite. This expansion of space allowed the once segregated, U-shaped kitchen to be opened as a central gathering point, complete with lofty ceiling heights set within the home’s original envelope. New skylights illuminate the adjacent, internalised living and dining spaces.

To create an impression of space, Studio Prineas embraced a material detailing of crisp white wall finishes and a blackened band of wall cladding. This detailing also helped to unite the kitchen space and music room as one singular volume, which had claimed additional space within the new design. Moreover, visual connections to the garden have been framed through circular windows as well as a large window seat, which allows for extra seating space for guests and is complemented by the owners’ audio equipment. Additionally, below this space and tucked out of the way, a perforated staircase gives access to the home’s wine cellar that holds the owners’ large collection. Outside, a north-facing deck with an in-built barbeque gives the owners another entertaining space where they can connect to the garden.

“Although the alterations are significant, we took cues from the existing home to ensure Hideaway House still feels like a bungalow,” notes Eva-Marie.

“Although the alterations are significant, we took cues from the existing home to ensure Hideaway House still feels like a bungalow,” notes Eva-Marie. Executing a thoughtful and considered design, Studio Prineas has given the owners a place that feels like a retreat and surrounds them with the things they love most.