In the ever-changing landscape of Preston, Silhouette House doesn’t just tack on an extension—it whispers a respectful evolution. Designed by Inbetween Architecture, this renovation and expansion reimagines a much-loved post-war weatherboard, balancing nostalgia with modern family life.
From the street, the extension hovers like a shadow—a contemporary silhouette that nods to Preston’s industrial past. The sawtooth roofline echoes nearby warehouses, seamlessly blending into the fabric of a suburb in flux. But step inside, and this ‘shadow’ reveals itself as a warm and dynamic home, designed to embrace the chaos and charm of family life.
The original two-bedroom house remains, carefully restored to preserve its history. Behind it, a split-level extension unfolds, creating a fluid transition between old and new. A multifunctional link connects the spaces, offering a secondary entry that makes daily life that little bit easier for the bustling family of five.
Upstairs, two new bedrooms perch above a carefully considered set of amenities—a family-sized laundry (complete with a sauna because, why not?), a kids’ bathroom, and plenty of practical storage. But the real star of the show? The expansive kitchen. More than just a place to cook, it’s the gravitational centre of the home, linking effortlessly to the dining area, outdoor entertaining space, and a sunken ‘conversation pit’-style lounge. It’s a space designed for gathering, for lingering, for life to unfold naturally.
While the extension asserts itself with bold industrial geometry, the interiors tell a more nuanced story. Inside, the home is a rich tapestry of past and present, where heritage details sit comfortably alongside contemporary finishes. A home that feels like it has grown with its family—because it has.
Silhouette House stands as proof that great design isn’t about erasing the past, but about layering it thoughtfully with the future. It’s a house that doesn’t just sit in its environment—it converses with it. A respectful nod to what was, and a confident step toward what’s next.
