Well deserved of a second life.

“The front balcony sealed the deal on first inspection,” Greg says. “It was wide and deep and looked out onto a tree and a peaceful streetscape.”

That balcony remains one of the home's defining pleasures: a place to listen to birdsong and the distant hum of the city, with the quiet intimacy of Albert Street offering a world apart from the bustle beyond. For Greg, returning to this particular pocket of Forest Lodge was also a homecoming of sorts. Having lived next door in the early 1990s, he had always imagined coming back one day. Eighteen years ago, he did, this time with a wife and young child.

The renovation, undertaken with DKC Architecture, began with a clear principle: preserve it, while making it work for contemporary family life. The front rooms were largely left intact, refreshed with paint, downlights and quality fixtures. Outside, the distinctive patina of the facade was retained, waterproofed and sealed, while the rear of the house was rebuilt using the original bricks.

One of the most evocative details sits at the transition between old and new: a large sandstone step leading into the kitchen, its 19th-century lip worn by generations of footsteps. It was a detail Greg and Michelle were determined to keep. “It creates a dramatic entrance to the back half of the house and serves as a daily reminder of its rich history,” Greg says.

Behind it, the transformation is substantial. The most significant spatial change came through extending the kitchen and dining area, creating a generous everyday living zone that had previously been underused. A bay-window dining space captures the light and elevation of the site, while the timber and Corian kitchen, fitted with Miele appliances, anchors the room with understated functionality. It is here that the family naturally gathers, Michelle noting it’s the social heart of the home.

“It’s a beautiful space,” she says. “But one of the things I love about this house is the number of distinct spaces that fulfil different needs.”

That sense of variety is central to the design. Separate living, dining and lounge areas allow the house to shift with the rhythms of the day. The front room, cool and generous, is a place for listening to music; a dedicated study and music room provides a quieter counterpoint to family life. Storage was another priority, woven into the design wherever possible. Hidden below is substantial under-house storage and versatile cellar space.

“I still say a silent prayer of gratitude every day when I’m able to find a place for whatever clutter comes my way,” Michelle says.

Outside, the garden has undergone an equally considered reinvention. Once overgrown, it is now a private, leafy retreat shaped by a landscape architect. A north-facing courtyard leads towards a generous entertaining deck, with clumping bamboo providing screening and a sense of enclosure. The greenery softens the architecture, creating a succession of outdoor spaces that feel secluded without being disconnected from the house.

For a terrace on a 209sqm block, the balance between openness and privacy is particularly well resolved. French doors at the front and rear balconies reinforce the connection to the outdoors, while the garden gives family life room to spill beyond the interior. The design makes the most of the home's width and layered arrangement, without sacrificing the intimacy that makes terrace living so appealing.

Beyond the front gate, Forest Lodge offers another kind of luxury: a neighbourhood that remains quietly itself. Positioned between Glebe and Annandale, the suburb is rich in architectural character and close to the cafes and shops of Booth Street, the restaurants of Glebe Point Road, the Tramsheds and the new Sydney Fish Market. The foreshore walk offers a welcome escape for walking and running, while the city remains within easy reach.

Forest Lodge is a wonderful and often overlooked suburb,” Greg says. “It’s quiet and unspoilt with so much beautiful architecture.”

“I’ve always loved this house and felt happy here,” Michelle says. “The sense of history, the grand proportions, the combination of old and new - they combine to create something quite unique. It’s been a place of much joy and laughter.”

For these homeowners, it’s clear that good design is ultimately measured by its ability to outlast fashion. And DKC Architecture understood how to retain the best of the old, improve its performance, and give it the flexibility that contemporary living demands.

“I hope we’ve retained the charm of a 150-year-old terrace while guaranteeing people a wonderful home for the next 150 years,” Greg says.

View the listing: 1 Albert Street, Forest Lodge