In the southern pocket of Paddington, along Bent Street’s tightly packed row of historic terraces, architect Mitch Reed undertook a particularly personal project. The 1885 terrace was not only a heritage renovation — it was also designed as his own multi-generational family home.
Purchased largely intact, the two-storey terrace retained much of its original fabric, though several questionable alterations had crept in during the 1980s. An attic dormer and modifications to the rear lean-to had altered the building, while some of the heritage detailing on the street-facing façade had been lost.
Reed’s approach balances restoration with reinvention, with lost historic elements to the façade reinstated as a gesture to the surrounding conservation area. In turn, the interior has been reorganised to support contemporary living.
“Traditional terraces often have very separate rooms that lack natural light and connection,” Reed explains. “The project addresses those inherent issues while adding more accommodation and amenities.”
The home now accommodates four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms across a carefully reworked layout. Structurally, much of the transformation happens behind the scenes: a central blade wall organises circulation and supports new stairs, while a network of beams redistributes loads to allow for new extensions and a more open plan.
The most dramatic spatial shift occurs on the ground floor. A new rear extension opens the house to a courtyard, forming a single flowing indoor–outdoor space designed for daily family life and entertaining. At its centre is the kitchen — Reed’s favourite place in the house — where cooking becomes a social activity shared with family and guests.
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Materially, the project embraces restraint. Off-white render and light limestone crazy paving define the exterior, while inside a soft palette of warm European oak flooring, microcement and brushed metal fittings creates a calm, cohesive atmosphere. Rounded details soften the architecture, reinforcing a sense of quiet continuity.
Despite fitting more rooms into the same footprint, the home feels unexpectedly generous — proof that thoughtful reorganisation can make even the most compact terrace feel expansive.
