A Former Corner Shop in Sydney Becomes a Family Home Full of Art Nouveau Flair

When it comes to crafting a home, the heart often knows what it wants—even if it makes for a challenging  brief. This was the case for a married couple in Sydney, who fell in love with a 19th-century building that once held the Balmain Supply Store corner shop, and had since been adapted into a residence.

They moved into the heritage-listed home with their two adult daughters, who are both at university, but the family craved more open space and private sanctuaries for relaxing. They were unable to expand the heritage envelope, so they approached local design studio YSG to completely reimagine the 7,534-square-foot structure.

Key to the transformation was a dramatic alteration of the floor plan. An existing bathroom—the only one in the house—was relocated upstairs, which provided space for a private lounge near the daughters’ bedrooms and a shared en suite within the original master bedroom.