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A Century-Old Church Reimagined as a Timeless Family Home

Iver Team Architectural Hardware Specialists

1 day ago

A church dating back to the late 1800s has been carefully restored and extended into a warm, timeless family home. The home is a considered blend of old and new, where the original chapel has been retained and restored, and a substantial new extension built to support daily life. Iver’s Sarlat collection in Signature Brass runs consistently from room to room.

A Church Reimagined in Two Parts

The original church was retained, along with part of an earlier addition to its northern side, and the existing dormer windows were improved rather than replaced. A substantial new extension now houses the kitchen, living area, pantry, laundry, powder room, entrance and garage, with all bedrooms located upstairs.

Preserving the building’s history was central to the brief. The original arched windows were replicated and handcrafted in steel by Steela Windows in Sydney, retaining the church’s character while giving the new spaces a fresh, contemporary feel. The original timber floorboards were carefully saved and repurposed into the home’s dining table, designed by Brennan and Co. Builder RKS Building, led by Regan Skelton, carried the project through from demolition to completion.

Bright, Earthy and Warm

For homeowner Rebecca, the brief was simple in principle: a home that felt bright and warm, respectful of the church’s heritage, and a thoughtful blend of traditional and contemporary design that would feel relevant now without dating over time. “This is our forever home, so we weren’t interested in following trends,” Rebecca says. “Instead, we simply chose the things we genuinely loved and knew we would continue to love for years to come.”

A subtle Mediterranean influence runs throughout, carried in travertine, natural stone and earthy materials: concrete benchtops in the bathrooms, quartzite in the kitchen, American oak timber and natural stone cladding. Together, they bring warmth and texture to the home while complementing the character of the original church, striking a balance between contemporary freshness and a sense of permanence.

Sarlat Cupboard Knob

P32xD38mm

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Sarlat Cabinet Pull

CTC160mm

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Hardware Chosen to Last

Hardware needed to complement the home’s character rather than feel overly contemporary. Signature Brass brought contrast and a traditional quality to the spaces, working beautifully alongside the natural materials used throughout the house.

For homeowner Rebecca, Iver’s Sarlat Whole-of-home collection was the obvious choice. The Sarlat Lever on Round Rose features on the internal doors, while Sarlat Cabinet Pulls and Cupboard Knobs run across the cabinetry throughout the house, including the kitchen, adding continuity from room to room and another layer of character to the home’s traditional feel.

“Once I found Iver hardware, I knew it was the one,” Rebecca recalls. “The design was simple but considered, the quality was exceptional, and the finish was exactly what I’d been looking for. We loved that it felt classic without being overly traditional, and that it could work beautifully alongside both the heritage elements of the original church and the contemporary parts of our new home. It was one of those decisions where, once I saw it, I didn’t need to look anywhere else.”