Salus House by Rowe Studio

“We had really thorough consultations with the clients throughout the design phases, which meant we could customise the available space within the new addition to the millimetre.”

Designed for a family of four, the home balances historic character with modern functionality. Located within a heritage overlay, Rowe Studio was tasked with transforming the layout of the existing home while retaining its original character. “Both we and the clients love the character that period homes generally offer,” says Wermut. “The heritage features in Salus House are so unique and immaculate that we saw them as an opportunity rather than a hindrance.”

A modest 46-square-metre extension along the southern boundary – which includes a laundry, mudroom and pantry – allowed for a complete reconfiguration of the home. By shifting these practical zones outward, the internal layout was freed up for more generous living and play areas. “We had really thorough consultations with the clients throughout the design phases, which meant we could customise the available space within the new addition to the millimetre, including specific joinery items,” says Peterfreund. This attention to detail is particularly evident in the mudroom, where each family member has a custom-designed “locker,” reflecting their personality through its arrangement of hooks and shelves.

“Each project should reflect the people living there to the nth degree, otherwise there’s often little to differentiate one renovation project from the next.”

Colour and texture add playfulness while remaining grounded in practicality. The clients’ love of pink and green is expressed through a palette that shifts in tone depending on the function of each space. “They were really open to using these colours boldly in parts, if we could ensure that they worked alongside a neutral base palette to keep the ambience feeling calm and relaxed,” says Wermut. Subtle tones appear in private areas such as bedrooms, while richer hues define communal spaces. “We really believe that each project should reflect the people living there to the nth degree, otherwise there’s often little to differentiate one renovation project from the next.”

Material selection reinforces the dialogue between old and new. Brick from the new extension carries inside to form a textural feature wall in the living area. The timber batten ceiling in the living space conceals a lowered ceiling that couldn’t be altered, making it feel homely rather than confined. “It also mimics the same timber tone used in the kitchen cabinetry, which offsets the bold colours in the space,” says Peterfreund. Timber appears throughout the home, from herringbone flooring to integrated joinery in the kitchen, office and master bedroom, where paperweave-lined panelling enhances depth and detail.

The introduction of steel-framed doors along the western elevation maximised natural light and created a stronger connection to the garden.

The transition between indoor and outdoor spaces was another key consideration. The home’s dining and kitchen areas were originally enclosed by heavy, segmented doors, restricting views and light. The introduction of steel-framed doors along the western elevation maximised natural light and created a stronger connection to the garden. “By using these doors – with their minimal framing and cross-bars – along the whole western elevation, we were really able to play on the existing height of the room, maximising glazing and clean views to the outdoors,” says Wermut.

Salus House exemplifies Rowe Studio’s approach – deeply personal, materially rich and attuned to the evolving needs of its inhabitants. The result is a home that feels both contemporary and enduring, where every space is as practical as it is expressive.

Architecture and interior design by Rowe Studio. Landscape design by Plume Studio. Build by Five Squared. Joinery by COS Interiors. Bricks by Krause Bricks. Stone and tiles by Artedomus and DeFazio Tiles & Stone.