18 Turnbull St

The owners loved their spot in Merewether, a short walk to The Junction and Merewether Beach, but on a 366 m² block the original house had outgrown them. They needed room to entertain, a real main suite and space to work from home, and they wanted a backyard to enjoy all year.

The finished home has about 238 m² of internal living. At the back, a large covered alfresco with a lined ceiling and plantation shutters steps down onto a composite deck and a raised plunge pool behind frameless glass, with travertine paving and lawn around it. Inside there's a 66 m² open living and dining space with butler's pantry, a separate media room, a main suite with walk-in robe and ensuite, a second ensuite bedroom and an office. The crisp white weatherboard and gabled roofline suit the street. It's a resort-style backyard and a large family home on a compact inner-city block, a few minutes' walk from the beach.