The Tree House: Check this stunning glow-up of a heritage-listed Mt Lawley corner store

There’s something about corner-shop homes that instantly give off a unique vibe.

Over time, they’ve evolved from mere corner stores into architectural wonders, just like this home extension designed by architects Simone Robeson and Lauren Benson of Robeson Architects.

The heritage-listed former corner store retains the character home at the front and now flaunts a new modern renovation at the back.

From the street, the new building addition is cleverly tucked away, intentionally maintaining a modest and discrete presence, concealed by surrounding trees.

The urban house, named The Tree House, was designed with a cool, artistic family in mind. Making the most out of every bit of space available, the new ground floor living area focuses on practicality and storage, while taking advantage of the sunlight and leafy tree views to the north.

The extension centres around a magnificent old tree, adding a whole new living space without expanding the house’s footprint. The house and the tree blend seamlessly. The ground floor is the heart of modern living, featuring the main living areas.

This new living wing features Jarrah timber battens that line the eaves, a nod to the existing jarrah floorboards in the original house. Black metal cladding allows the second level to blend into the background and not compete with the existing heritage facade.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom awaits, complete with a spacious ensuite and walk-in robe. The primary bedroom boasts huge north-facing windows that overlook the tree. Who wouldn’t love waking up to such a view? Meanwhile an elevated walk-in robe, designed to preserve the intricate pressed-tin ceiling of the bedroom below, offers the best views of the house – glimpses of the city views over the historic chimney of the original shop front.

Clever design has resulted in the new upper floor roof going undetected, and seamlessly blending with the existing roof. This was achieved by designing the new roof at the same angle as the existing one. Privacy from surrounding houses is ensured by carefully positioned vertical fins, which still allow an abundance of natural light to flood the bedroom.

Downstairs, the original kitchen was replaced with a new bathroom and toilet, while under the new staircase is a laundry. The new kitchen, designed around the owners’ art collection with meticulous attention to detail, is a work of art in itself.

The rangehood cladding was deliberately matched to the walls, providing a seamless backdrop for the owners’ colourful pieces. Each wall was carefully sized to accommodate specific artworks, ensuring every cherished piece could be displayed and appreciated.

Smart design was key to the functionality of the kitchen. The kitchen island bench pulls double duty, serving as both a prep area and a dining table, complete with stools on two sides. This clever design maximises space in the lounge room, giving the owners flexibility to either add more furniture over time or rearrange the space.

Head to robesonarchitects.com.au for more information.