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A Renovation & Extension Upgrades an Art Deco House

In the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield, the Cumquat Tree House is a design project undertaken by Christopher Megowan Design, who renovated the original Art Deco house to create a central spine that framed a view of an existing cumquat tree in the backyard. Along with the renovation, two outdoor rooms were added right off the living and dining spaces to include an outdoor movie spot and a “room” with an indoor/outdoor fireplace.

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A large bifold door opens the space up to the outdoor deck space where you can see the glass paneled fireplace.

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The original facade remains the same and the new look isn’t made apparent until the front doors are open.

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A massive polished concrete island stands between the kitchen and the living room. The elevated ceilings help offset the heaviness of the material and the island’s size.

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The clerestory windows flood the space with light and give the space a larger feel.

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Photos by Christopher Megowan.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.