Edwardian Cottage Renovation in Moama: A Light-Filled Regional Home
A tired Edwardian cottage reimagined as a light-filled, low-maintenance home — without extending the footprint. The new open-plan kitchen, living and dining area opens seamlessly onto the generous backyard, and light pours into this important space.
When Sue decided to renovate this Edwardian cottage in Moama, she was entering a new and unexpected stage of life.
Recently widowed, she wanted to create a home of her own: something calm, manageable and deeply personal. While she had renovated before, this was the first time she was navigating a project alone, and the process felt daunting. Budget uncertainty added another layer of complexity, as the scope needed to remain flexible until her previous home was sold.
The house itself had been rented for many years and was in poor condition. Its internal layout failed to take advantage of the generous north-facing backyard, and sunlight barely reached the spaces where Sue would spend most of her time.
Rather than extending, the project focused on careful internal reconfiguration. Working largely within the existing fabric of the building, the layout was reshaped like a jigsaw puzzle — retaining internal walls where possible, while reorganising rooms to better suit Sue's brief. The rear of the house was opened up to the garden, allowing light to flood into the living spaces and creating a strong connection to the outdoors.
The result is a home that feels calm, functional and full of character. It's easier to maintain than Sue's previous house, better suited to her day-to-day needs, and located within walking distance of shops and town facilities. Every space has a purpose — supporting her independence, hobbies and sense of comfort, without unnecessary or redundant rooms.
A quiet lesson: Working with an existing building rather than starting from scratch can be challenging, but it often leads to richer outcomes: homes with layers of history, meaning and a sense of belonging that can't be replicated.
More about how we work across the river in NSW: architect in Moama.
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