The Art of Architectural Fusion
Home design, much like fashion, has evolved over time with trends coming and going. And much like fashion, these trends sometimes move in circular ways. While modern and contemporary home designs undeniably have their perks, some of us are moving away from the cool and sleek in favour of designs that emit warmth and cosiness. This reach for classical elements in some cases results in the two vastly different design styles coexisting harmoniously in a singular home. Here, Sydney Home Design + Living’s Jessica Muller sits down with Toni White, director of Straightline Studio Co. to explore how architects combine modern design elements with classical features to create a cohesive home.
Straightline Studio is a custom-building design company that specialises in family homes and dream spaces. “I established the company in 2015. At that time, I worked on smaller projects like renovations, granny flats and project homes,” White says. “My husband, Andrew, joined the company in 2020 after I had our first baby. We now work on complete custom homes, focusing on new builds but also large-scale renovations.”
Most of the projects that the company works on are a combination of modern and classical styles. White’s expertise in this area meant she was the perfect person to ask about how to fuse the styles together in a way that is tasteful and harmonious, enabling modern living while still maintaining a sense of continuity and tradition.
A SHIFT IN AESTHETIC
The way that people live in homes has changed a lot over the years. White notes that previously, “homes were smaller, had less rooms, were less about flow and aesthetic and more focused on functionality. Connection to the outdoor spaces was also less of a priority.” However, the way we live in and design homes now is completely different. “We now have communal living spaces and bedrooms are private and separated. Being connected to the outside is also a high priority with big doors and windows with direct access to an outdoor living space,” White explains. However, White still likes to bring classical elements into the exteriors of the homes she designs. “I feel they give a house more warmth and character,” she says. “I love the look and feel of classic homes. I love seeing this integrated into newer neighbourhoods.”
But it’s not just White who loves classical architecture, with the trend continuing to grow and evolve as families seek to create an inviting warmth and cosiness to their family homes.
“Modern design can be quite cold and bland, which has a place for some people, but the warmth of timber flooring and a central feature fireplace is a winner for my clients,” White explains.
BLENDING MODERN AND CLASSIC STYLES
You don’t necessarily need to choose between a classic or modern design if you’re torn, as the two can be fused together beautifully with a little bit of skill. “The beauty of designing a new home is we can do it however you want! It’s like a blank canvas,” White says.
White identifies a key factor in achieving this blend successfully is “ensuring the internal flow of the home works for our modern lifestyle, including front door to back of the house view and flow, garage connection to house, kitchen functionality and living space connection to the outdoor entertaining space. Then adding all the classic elements to the facade to give the house character and charm, including gables, verandahs, use of cladding and timber details around windows and posts.”
When looking to add some classical touches, a steeper roof pitch is one thing that can be added to a house design to instantly create a more timeless look. “The use of gables on the facade is also something we do often in our home designs,” White says. “A lot of our home designs feature modern cladding with a mix of another element such as brick or stone. These materials create a classic aesthetic but with new technology, they have great thermal properties,” she continues.
Classical features can also be integrated amongst a modernist interior design as well. “We often incorporate a feature fireplace into the main living
space of the home. There are a variety of new fireplaces that have the character and charm of
a classical design feature, but can be gas or electric with low emissions,” White advises.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
When renovating existing buildings, the approach taken needs to be sensitive to and considerate of the history of the site. “If the site is located in a historically significant area, then there are lots of guidelines and restrictions we need to follow for the house design,” White explains. Although this can be a lot of work, it’s a worthwhile endeavour if you’re looking to transform your dream home. When tasked with these kind of projects, Straightline Studio Co. “tries to maintain as much of the home as possible. This allows us to keep the overall look of the original home and gives us the freedom to create a modern floor plan internally.”
“A renovation I worked on recently had a sweet Australian cottage at the front and the homeowners wanted to expand the back and add a lot more space
to the home,” White shares. The owners loved a completely modern look, so Straightline Studio Co. set about restoring and enhancing the old cottage at the front, keeping the colours light and bright. They then created a glass connection to the back of the cottage and added a modern, black addition with high ceilings and all the modern features the family wanted to incorporate. “This worked really well, as the site sloped down towards the back, so from the street and the front of the property, the old white cottage remained and the black modern addition at the back wasn’t able to be seen.”
