Stirling Extension: A Seamless Old to New Extension for Modern Living
In the Adelaide Hills, character homes often come with charm, but also with limitations. For one Stirling family, their beautiful home no longer met the needs of a growing household. They loved their location and the unique feel of their property but needed more space, better functionality, and modern amenities. The solution was a Stirling extension that respected the original home while dramatically enhancing liveability.
A Seamless Blend of Old and New
The goal was simple yet ambitious: to add the rooms the family needed without creating a home that felt disjointed. Too often, extensions can look “tacked on.” In this case, the design brief was focused on achieving a seamless old to new extension, ensuring the new spaces blended effortlessly with the original house.
From the outside, the extension was carefully designed so the home reads as one. From the inside, the flow is intuitive, with no obvious divide between the existing footprint and the new spaces.
Expanding the Home
This project involved adding a second storey extension, a significant transformation that gave the family exactly what they were missing. The new floor created space for additional bedrooms, a study, and a garage, giving the home a much larger footprint without sacrificing character or aesthetics.
By thoughtfully planning each space, the extension did more than add square metres. It made the home more functional, more comfortable, and better suited to the rhythm of family life.
Key Features of the Stirling Extension
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Second storey addition: Expanding vertically to add valuable living space without compromising the block.
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Garage, study, and bedrooms: Meeting the practical and lifestyle needs of a modern family.
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Seamless old to new extension: A design that ensures the home looks and feels like one unified residence.
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Enhanced liveability: A larger footprint that improves comfort and usability for everyday living.
Each of these features demonstrates how a Stirling extension can transform a home into something that feels complete, cohesive, and ready for the future.
Designed for Liveability
The design wasn’t just about adding space, it was about enhancing liveability. The new garage provides secure storage and convenience, the study allows for flexible work or study from home, and the additional bedrooms cater for a growing family. These elements ensure the home supports every aspect of modern life, all while preserving the character of its Hills setting.
Respecting Character, Elevating Function
One of the greatest achievements of this project was the way it preserved the soul of the original home. Instead of creating an obvious “before and after,” the Stirling extension was crafted with a deep respect for the existing architecture. The result is a home that feels authentic to its roots but elevated to meet today’s needs.
This is the hallmark of a successful seamless old to new extension, a design that feels natural, cohesive, and enduring.
Why Stirling Extensions Make Sense
Stirling is known for its leafy streets, heritage homes, and strong sense of community. Many families choose to stay in the area for the lifestyle it offers, but older homes often need reimagining to suit modern expectations. Extensions in Stirling allow homeowners to keep the location and character they love while creating a home that finally works for the way they live.
For this family, the extension was more than just construction. It was about building a future in the home and suburb they cherished.
A Home Transformed
The completed project is both practical and beautiful. What began as a charming but undersized home is now a spacious, functional, and cohesive residence. The family has the extra rooms they needed, the flow they wanted, and the look of a single, unified home.
This Stirling extension is a perfect example of how thoughtful design and careful craftsmanship can achieve the best of both worlds: preserving the charm of the past while creating a home for the future.
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