Connections to Home – Villa Italia by Splinter Society

Beginning with a Victorian single-fronted terrace building, Splinter Society designed an extension and renovation that maintains the historical aesthetic of the home and with it the belonging felt by the homeowners, who have a deep family connection to the home and the area.

The Victorian suburb of East Brunswick is historically rich with the cultural influence of Italian migrants, who have made the area home for many generations. However, with modern life requiring more space than many of these properties can offer, a good deal of these homes have been sold on. To avoid this fate and retain the history of the neighborhood and the family connection, the homeowners of Villa Italia decided to extend the home with another level. The addition echoes the aesthetics of the original parts of the house and is obscured by the gable front and chimney, leaving the façade of the building intact.

Guided by qualities associated with Italian brands, such as fine craftsmanship and sophistication, Splinter Society created a sense of consistency throughout the house using a material palette that was in keeping with the existing style and history of both the house and its occupants, including masonry and Tongue & Groove’s chevron format European oak timber flooring. Splinter Society’s Chris Stanley says this continuity between new and old was achieved through paying careful attention to detailing and materiality from front to back, highlighting inherent qualities in the existing palette of the home.

“Hard plaster, mouldings and skirtings, textured finishes and masonry detailing, like revealing the bluestone footing internally, are all feature characteristics of the old Victorian aesthetic,” he says. “Single fronted terraces typically feature a linear array of smaller spaces, and this was continued upstairs and down, whilst creating flow between them in a type of hybrid, open plan configuration.”

Guided by qualities associated with Italian brands, such as fine craftsmanship and sophistication, Splinter Society created a sense of consistency throughout the house using a material palette that was in keeping with the existing style and history of both the house and its occupants, including masonry and Tongue & Groove Chevron format timber flooring.

The home features new timber flooring throughout, with Tongue & Groove Chevron format in Oslo chosen for its subtle colouring and classical texture, as well as its contrasting tone to the strong, dark finish of the walls. “Whilst not seen in Victorian styled buildings in Australia, chevron flooring is a very old, medieval period feature that conjures up images of older European buildings,” says Chris. “The subtle warmth of the timber comes through to make the space feel comfortable and homely, whilst adding a beautiful graphic pattern to the floor.” Chris adds that Tongue & Groove products have stood the test of time in the studio’s previous projects, especially showing their longevity and hardiness in the heavy use homes of young families. “Tongue & Groove have performed every time so far. In addition their customer service has been excellent,” he says.

With the masonry quality of the Victorian era remaining dominant in the design, including imperfect hard plaster retained and celebrated, the historic elements are contrasted against fine timber and steel details, with raw finishes contrasted against polished to create a sense of age and permanence. The homeowners’ collection of objects and heirlooms are similarly celebrated, with 14-metre walls of joinery along the living spaces lending space to display these as well as storage for the detritus of modern life.

Chris adds that Tongue & Groove products have stood the test of time in the studio’s previous projects, especially showing their longevity and hardiness in the heavy use homes of young families.

With the kitchen at its centre, echoing the cultural importance of food for Italian families, the home maintains practicality while also delivering plenty of sophistication. “We love that this house feels warm and homely whilst also making you feel like you are on date night,” says Chris. “There is a sexy, fine dining atmosphere that removes the sense of being in your kitchen at home, despite the kitchen being the dominant element in the middle of the whole house.”

The result of the renovation is a robust family home with a sense of moodiness and a European-style richness of colour and texture, which comes through in the detailing, especially in the use of timber and stone. With a mast of lasting materials and an aesthetic that references a rich cultural history, this home provides plenty of space for more generations of its Italian family to continue to make Brunswick their home.

The result of the renovation is a robust family home with a sense of moodiness and a European-style richness of colour and texture, which comes through in the detailing, especially in the use of timber and stone.