This is Myrtle
Myrtle is a renovation and extension to a beautiful brick Californian Bungalow in the heritage-listed Oakhill Estate in Reservoir.
The existing house reveals some incredible original details – particularly in its banded brickwork, layout, and rooflines. These elements became a kind of DNA sample, setting a clear direction for Mitch and Cath’s brief.
Externally, bricks salvaged from the original house will be used to clad the extension and pave the floor of the Alfresco, which will be covered by exposed rafters designed to support climbing deciduous greenery – helping block sunlight in summer and allow it through in winter.
The former Kitchen will become the new main Bathroom, where original brick detailing will sit comfortably alongside patterned tiles. In the corridor, a section of ceiling will be raised to introduce a north-facing skylight, bringing much-needed natural light into this previously dim space.
We often say our design process begins by extracting the DNA of the house and site, then getting to know the character of the people who live there. Together, DNA and character shape the unique personality of every space we design.
At Myrtle, these moments – found through demolition, remembered in materials, or gently reshaped through renovation – come together to create a home that feels both grounded and renewed.
The new extension introduces a generous open-plan Living and Meals area with a Kitchen and Pantry, alongside a new Laundry and a flexible Studio.
Inside the original house, a careful renovation respects and adapts the existing spaces. A portion of the wide central corridor will make way for a new walk-in robe, allowing the existing bathroom to become Mitch and Cath’s new Ensuite.
