A sweet rebirth.

“What first captured us was the façade and the property’s quiet, untapped beauty,” Gavin says. “Even in its dilapidated state, the home had a strong presence on the street. It felt rare, special - like it was waiting for the right moment.”

That time arrived two years ago, when the group of friends and business partners acquired the once-loved Victorian residence, affectionately known as The Gingerbread House. The years had not been kind. Peeling paint, mould-stained ceilings, a leaking roof and overgrown gardens had dimmed its charm. Yet, beneath the decay lay exquisite bones, original craftsmanship and a street presence that hinted at its former grandeur.

Rather than erase the past, their ambition was to honour it - creating a dialogue between old and new that felt deliberate, respectful and enduring. “We were drawn to the idea of reimagining the home in a way that enhances everyday living while preserving its integrity,” Gavin explains. “It felt like a privilege to shape something that would stand the test of time.”

From the outset, the vision was bold yet restrained: restore the original Victorian shell and crown it with a contemporary white-box addition - an architectural gesture that would expand space, light and functionality without overpowering the home’s historic character. “It was always about balance,” Gavin says. “Not mimicry, not contrast for contrast’s sake - but cohesion.”

The seven-month transformation became a meticulous exercise in refinement. Layers were stripped back, structural challenges addressed, and spatial connections carefully reconsidered. “Every part of the layout was tested,” Gavin says. “We wanted it to feel intuitive, light-filled and easy to live in - not overdesigned.”

The restoration of the façade proved especially demanding. Original timber detailing required painstaking repair, and lead-painted brickwork was carefully stripped to reveal its natural warmth - a defining moment and the project’s pivotal moment.

Inside, original leadlight windows, pressed metal ceilings, corbel archways and decorative cornices anchor the home in its Victorian origins, while subtle curved forms, bespoke joinery and refined stone surfaces introduce a contemporary softness. The result is a house where past and present exist not in tension, but in harmony.

At the centre of the home sits its most striking feature - a sunlit atrium garden above the dining room. “We saw it as a way to transform how the house breathes,” Gavin says. “By opening the centre to the sky, we brought light, greenery and airflow into what would otherwise be a dark zone.”

More than a visual statement, the atrium reshapes daily experience. Light pours into the heart of the home, greenery softens architectural lines, and air circulates naturally, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. “It creates a calm, meditative moment in the middle of the house,” Gavin says. “It completely changes the atmosphere.”

The kitchen unfolds as a sculptural yet highly functional space - centred by a double bullnose marble island, integrated Miele appliances, bespoke cabinetry and a dedicated wine fridge. “It’s not about excess,” Gavin says. “It’s about precision. Every detail has a purpose.”

Beyond, stacking doors dissolve the boundary between inside and out, opening onto a private courtyard that doubles as both garden retreat and secure parking zone. This flexibility - a recurring theme throughout - gives the home a rare adaptability. “That backyard is incredibly versatile,” Gavin says. “It can be a garden, a car space, an entertaining zone - whatever the next owners need it to be.”

Across two levels, the floorplan unfolds with natural ease. Bedrooms are generous and serene, bathrooms refined and light-filled, while custom joinery conceals extensive storage. A carefully integrated bar, double-basin ensuite and thoughtful lighting design add layers of quiet luxury.

Yet, despite the sophistication, the home never loses sight of its purpose. “Functionality guided every decision,” Gavin says. “This isn’t a showpiece - it’s a place designed for real life.

Ultimately, the house is less about dramatic transformation and more about thoughtful restraint. Gavin, Shannon, Billy and Jung agree that “extending the story” of a home is more fulfilling than “overwriting its narrative”.

The result is one that feels both grounded and contemporary - a place where heritage detailing meets modern lightness, where craftsmanship and comfort coexist. A house designed not just to be admired, but to be fully lived.

And perhaps that is its greatest achievement: a sweet reinvention that allows the next chapter to unfold naturally, in a home that finally feels whole again.

View the listing: 50 Kepos Street, Redfern