The Quiet Art of Reinvention

This is a home that reveals the quiet power of reinvention. Rather than dramatic transformation, the house has been carefully refined - a thoughtful editing of what already existed. The result is architecture that feels calm, balanced and quietly renewed.

Set among the leafy streets of Hawthorn’s inner east, this c.1980s double-brick residence has been reimagined by architect Dom Cerantonio, co-founder of Cera Stribley. From the street, the familiar suburban silhouette remains, now unified by a softly textured rough-cast render that replaces the original red brick façade. Inside, the renovation works with the home’s existing strengths - its split-level planning, solid construction and rare north-facing courtyard - reshaping spaces to better support the rhythms of contemporary family life.

Subtle changes create a meaningful shift in how the house moves and feels. A former formal dining room becomes a flexible rumpus space, the laundry has been repositioned to improve daily flow, and a generous new master suite emerges upstairs. Warm Tuscan Villa timber flooring replaces carpet, while the kitchen forms the heart of the home with Grey Aether marble, Prime Oak joinery and large sliding doors that open directly to the sunlit courtyard. Rather than replacing the past, the design refines it - allowing a familiar suburban house to discover a renewed sense of clarity, warmth and purpose.

What we love…

• The softly rendered façade that refreshes the original brick form

• The north-facing courtyard drawing light deep into the home

• Large sliding doors connecting kitchen, dining and garden

• Tuscan Villa timber flooring bringing warmth and texture throughout

• The beautifully detailed bathrooms continuing the home’s calm material palette

• The sculptural kitchen with Grey Aether marble and Prime Oak joinery

• A flexible rumpus room designed to evolve with family life

• A renovation philosophy that refines rather than replaces