Phillip Townhouse Refresh

A light-filled, energy-efficient renovation designed for modern family living

​

Located in Phillip, Canberra, this townhouse renovation is a carefully considered internal transformation that improves layout, natural light and thermal performance for a growing family. By rethinking the floor plan and integrating architecture with interior design, the project demonstrates how a strategic renovation can reshape both the function and feel of an existing home.

​

The original layout placed the kitchen and dining on the darker southern side, while the living room—though filled with natural light—felt disconnected. By removing the central dividing wall and reorganising the plan, the kitchen and dining areas were relocated to the north and opened to the living space. This key move allows natural light to flow across the entire ground floor, creating a bright, cohesive open plan kitchen, dining and living area. The redesign also accommodates a larger, more functional kitchen and a custom three-bay study wall, designed to support the family’s three primary school-aged children.

​

A practical mudroom-style entry creates a defined transition into the home, with integrated storage for shoes and bags to manage everyday clutter. A textured wall detail adds warmth, while improved planning enables discreet access to the powder room and enhances flow within the compact footprint. The laundry was relocated to the garage, separating noise from the main living areas and improving day-to-day usability.

​

Upstairs, the layout has been reconfigured to better suit long-term family living. The existing main bathroom was retained and converted into a private ensuite by incorporating adjacent hallway space into a new master bedroom. The original ensuite was redesigned as a compact and functional children’s bathroom. Three children share a bedroom, supported by a custom robe divided into equal zones to encourage independence and organisation. A third bedroom functions as a flexible home office, with provision for a future Murphy bed for visiting family.

​

New decks to the front and rear extend the living spaces outdoors, with built-in seating maximising functionality. A climate-responsive pergola provides seasonal shading—blocking high summer sun while allowing winter sunlight to penetrate and warm the home naturally, supporting solar passive performance.

​

A key focus of this Canberra renovation was improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Upgrades to the building envelope—including added insulation, a ventilation cavity and vapour-permeable wrap to external walls—work alongside new high-performance double-glazed uPVC windows. These improvements significantly enhance comfort and lift the home’s energy rating from 3.8 to 7.4 stars.

​

This Phillip townhouse renovation demonstrates how a well-designed renovation in Canberra can transform an existing home into a light-filled, adaptable and energy-efficient space—balancing functionality, performance and contemporary family living.