Balston

LocationBalaclava

ArchitectRCA Studio

ScopeRenovation and rear extension

Completed2026

A Victorian cottage at the street, and a light-filled pavilion of timber, brick and concrete behind.

From the street, Balston keeps its heritage face: a weatherboard cottage with a fretwork verandah and a garden path to the door. Behind it, the home opens up. A complete rebuild, the rear pavilion sits beneath a timber-lined skillion ceiling, framed by full-height glazing and long-format brick that wraps out into the courtyard.

Inside, the palette is warm and tactile. A boldly veined marble kitchen with an aged brass rangehood anchors the living spaces, while oak joinery and polished floors run throughout. In the bathrooms, travertine walls meet red-veined marble and bronze tapware.

Tight access and a boundary-to-boundary footprint made this a challenging build, and every technical architectural detail was carefully executed. This project is truly special and something we’re incredibly proud of.

The front verandah with timber decking, fretwork and turned posts, a planted garden and stepping-stone path beside a timber fence

Entry hall with oak stair, round skylight and a glazed view into a planted lightwell

Oak bar joinery set into the brick wall beside a leather armchair

The living room beneath the timber-lined ceiling, with the brick fireplace wall and glazing to the garden

Living room under the timber ceiling, with a brick fireplace and views to the courtyard

Living room looking through to the marble kitchen and hallway

Living room and kitchen opening to the garden through corner glazing

Marble kitchen island looking through dining to the living room and garden

Marble island and dining table leading to the living room and garden

Kitchen elevation with a veined marble splashback and aged brass rangehood

The interiors

Oak joinery, veined marble and aged brass carry the warmth of the timber ceiling through every room.

Sliding doors open the living room to the stone terrace and courtyard

Dining table beneath a brick wall washed by skylight

Oak walk-in robe leading to a sash window

Dining table set against a skylit brick wall with a large portrait painting

Bathroom in travertine with a red-veined marble vanity

Detail of the marble vanity, brass tapware and globe wall lights

Powder room with a solid marble basin and brass tapware

Brick-walled courtyard with a Japanese maple and corten planter

The rear of the house from the lawn: a timber-clad upper level over pale brick

The weatherboard Victorian frontage with fretwork verandah and garden path

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