Rewritten in light.

For Dan Moore and Erika Banister, the building felt less like a project and more like a conversation across time.

“The existing house was extremely rundown, but it had great bones,” Dan says. “The high ceilings and the wraparound verandahs on both floors made it feel very grand. The views upstairs framed by lush greenery and the nostalgia of the Queenslander style made us realise it was a rare opportunity to restore something special.”

What followed was not simply a renovation but a careful recalibration of the house’s identity. Located within a heritage conservation area, the street-facing presence remains respectful of its origins - a familiar silhouette of weatherboards, balcony and decorative details. Inside, however, the narrative shifts.

“We wanted to create a contrast between the old and the new,” Erika says. “From the street the facade honours the original home, but when you step inside the interior reveals something unexpected.”

That reveal begins quietly. Passing through the entry, sightlines extend toward a central courtyard, where daylight filters through the heart of the home and reframes its once-dark interiors.

“There is a quiet shift when you enter and look through the courtyard to the kitchen,” Erika says. “It’s very serene. Every space in the house was designed to carry that same sense of calm.”

The courtyard became the architectural hinge of the design. Originally conceived as a way to bring light into the deep floorplate, its effect proved far more transformative than anticipated.

“This allows natural light to filter through the home, Dan says. “Although it was always intended as a defining feature, the impact exceeded our expectations. Not only spatially, but atmospherically. The shifting light reshapes the interiors and how the space is experienced throughout the day.”

Around it, the ground floor opens into a generous living and dining zone that feels both expansive and intimate - a balance achieved through careful materiality and layout.

The interior design was guided by my obsession with warmth,” Erika says. “That really set the tone for every material and finish choice. In the afternoon the sunlight becomes magical. Especially as it hits the Viola kitchen benchtops - that’s probably my favourite detail in the house.”

The surrounding joinery and banquette seating wrap gently around the courtyard, creating a social hub that is both functional and quietly theatrical. The layout of the kitchen and banquette took some time to get right, with some meticulous collaboration with the joinery team.

“It’s contemporary and considered, but there’s also a strong emphasis on functionality,” Dan says. “For us, good design only works when it’s practical for family life.”

The project also carried a sense of custodianship. Before the transformation began, the house had been occupied by its previous owner for nearly an entire lifetime, with living limited to the downstairs section for around 20 years. Towards the end of the renovation, her daughter unexpectedly visited, curious to see what had become of the place she once knew so well.

We hope the transformation respects the history of the house and the life that was lived within it,” Dan says. “ There really isn’t another property like it in Drummoyne.

That singularity extends beyond the architecture to the lifestyle the location affords. Positioned near the water with easy access to the city, the neighbourhood carries a pace that feels distinctly separate from Sydney’s usual urgency.

“The proximity to the bay and the city is something we love,” Dan says. “A sunrise walk along the water is the perfect start to the day,” Erika adds. “It feels like a rare pocket of Sydney - close to everything, but removed from the chaos.”

In the end, this is a house that reveals itself best through tiny gestures, and the sum of their parts - light dancing across surfaces, verandahs catching the breeze, and a unique courtyard quietly holding centre stage.

A century-old structure has been reawakened, ready for its next act.

View the listing: 17 Broughton Street, Drummoyne