Elgin St Residence by Sonelo Design Studio

As far as boxes go, it’s pretty bloody sexy. Black. Bold. And totally nothing like the antiquated Victorian original part of the house, located in a heritage precinct in Melbourne. Sonelo Design Studio have taken what was essentially just another hum drum inner city terrace and given it a serious shot of mojo.

They’ve done ostensibly what anyone doing a decent reno does. They’ve demolished the existing rear outbuilding and the dodgy lean–to dragging the house down at the back. Well, let’s face it, that bit was easy. It’s what they achieved next that wasn’t.

They built a box. But not any box. This box, this cuboid shape, is not only a design with a sleek and thoughtfully executed interior; it’s a beautifully conceived exterior as well. The dark exterior, slimline, black bricks are only marginally outranked in terms of sexiness by the clean steel box frames protruding from the rear elevation.

“Two angled steel apertures pierce the north facade of the addition, framing the courtyard downstairs and releasing the bedroom suite upstairs to a more distant view,” noted the architects.

Once you go black you never go back, and the strong statement matte black kitchen not only looks incredibly slick but it highlights the fragility and beauty of the pale green Japanese maple in the courtyard just outside.

Black is literally everywhere. From the counter tops to the steel tread staircase deliciously contrasted by the battened timber wall. This building has so many levels of sexiness it’s hard to know what to drool over first. Maybe the grey tinted mirror in the kitchen/dining space, expanding the perception of available space and letting in multifaceted images of the maple tree outside? Or maybe it’s the bespoke timber battened door inserted into that drop dead gorgeous exterior brick wall facing the rear cobblestone lane? Or maybe it’s just when you wonder if there’s too much black for such a small box, you pop up into the white drenched interior of the second storey?

“The revitalised dwelling is rubik-cube compact – a serene suite tailored for predominantly lone occupation yet effortlessly flex-able for visiting family,” said the architects.

Yes it’s compact, but it doesn’t seem cramped. And yes, in essence, it’s but a mere modest rear addition, but frankly nothing about it seems modest. It is understated design at its best, layered and textured and luxe. And let’s not forget, very, very sexy.