When a growing family returned to Australia after living on a narrowboat in the United Kingdom, they brought with them a unique vision for their new home in Brunswick. Their overseas experience aboard the compact watercraft had taught them to appreciate the carefully considered, everything-in-its-place functionality that defines boat living, inspiring them to recreate this efficient lifestyle in their land-based residence.

Topology Studio directors Darren Kaye and Amy Hallett embraced this maritime inspiration when designing the family's home extension. "Working with a tight footprint, we created the extension's design to allow for generous, flexible spaces that enhance the inner workings of the growing family," explains Amy Hallett. The architects deliberately placed the galley kitchen at the center of the home, mimicking narrowboat design where both front and rear entrances lead directly to this essential space.

The design's most striking feature is undoubtedly the kitchen's custom joinery, which serves as a hardworking multifunctional unit. This impressive installation combines cooking and washing areas with unexpected elements including a dedicated record player nook and an incredibly inviting daybed. The daybed is beautifully accented by fluted blackbutt dowels, which also feature prominently on the kitchen island, creating visual continuity throughout the space.

This highly customized configuration reflects the family's daily routines and lifestyle preferences. The design accommodates their weekly rituals, including Sunday morning music sessions over breakfast and quiet reading time on the comfortable daybed. The architects were also practical in their approach, utilizing the space beneath the daybed for additional storage while ensuring adequate circulation space for extended family dinner gatherings.

The kitchen's vertical emphasis is enhanced by steps leading down to the addition, creating the sensation of stepping into a boat's hull. Above this central space, a double-height area is illuminated by strategically placed clerestory windows, flooding the galley with natural light throughout the day. This architectural feature not only provides illumination but also enhances the sense of spaciousness despite the compact footprint.

Throughout the home, the nautical theme continues with carefully selected materials and finishes. Plywood grooved lining boards finished in crisp white paint evoke a maritime sensibility, particularly in the upstairs bathroom where they serve as perfect framing elements. Upon opening the bathroom door, visitors are dramatically greeted by dark and light green tessellated tiles that wrap the entire room, creating a visually immersive experience.

This simple yet highly effective color scheme transforms the upstairs bathroom into a retreat that feels distinctly separate from the rest of the home. The space features a refurbished claw-foot bathtub that adds old-world charm, complemented by brushed brass tapware that enhances the vintage aesthetic. The combination of materials and colors creates an atmosphere of relaxation and luxury within the compact space.

The design philosophy extends to the downstairs renovated bathroom, where Darren and Amy continued the green color palette with creative variations. "We introduced a play on scale with the large saturated green Le Corbusier tiles to dado height, and together with the raw brass fittings, they bring an unexpected delight and patina to this small bathroom," says Amy Hallett. The sparkle shower screen serves as a thoughtful reference to the original textured glass found in the upper sashes of the existing bungalow.

Terrazzo tile flooring adds another layer of texture and visual movement to the downstairs bathroom, while natural light floods the space just as it does in the upstairs bathroom and kitchen areas. This consistent approach to lighting creates a bright and airy atmosphere throughout the home, making it as comfortable and accommodating as it is highly functional.

The project showcases an impressive array of carefully selected products and materials. The kitchen features plywood grooved boards with low-VOC paint on internal walls, polished concrete slab flooring with hydronic in-slab heating, and custom blackbutt timber joinery combining veneers and solid sections. The lighting design includes custom linear brass pendants by Solstice Lighting over the island bench, LED strips under high-level cupboards, and Fritz Hansen Carravagio Read Wall Lights in matte black over the daybed.

Both bathrooms feature distinctive tile work, with Le Corbusier large-format tiles and TopCer tessellated tiles in various green configurations. Custom joinery throughout the home includes pieces by Joseph David Furniture Design and Markaren and Sons, incorporating salvaged elements from the original house. The project represents a successful collaboration between Topology Studio and various specialists including Technique Construction Group as builders, Clive Steele Partners for engineering, and Miniscapes for landscape architecture, resulting in a unique residential design that perfectly captures the essence of efficient, maritime-inspired living.