Interior of a room with a wooden spiral staircase on the left, a framed black and white photo on the floor, a round table with a small potted plant, and chairs against a light-colored wall with two wall sconces.

BRONTE HOUSE, 2025

Project Brief & Design Intent

This renovation was undertaken for a young family returning to Australia after an extended period overseas. The brief centred on reworking an existing home whose internal living layout no longer supported contemporary family life.

The original configuration of the living areas was highly compromised — enclosed, poorly connected and lacking natural light. Through the foresight of the owners and a collaborative approach between architect and builder, the project evolved into one of TO THE MIL’s most rewarding transformations in decades.

The design intent focused on opening the heart of the home, improving light, flow and connection to outdoor spaces, and reshaping the house around the rhythms of everyday family living in a beachside context.

Construction & Craftsmanship

A defining intervention was the removal of the enclosed staircase positioned through the centre of the living areas. This single move unlocked the plan, allowing the living spaces to be opened up and redefined.

New skylights were introduced to flood the interior with natural light, dramatically improving the sense of space and atmosphere throughout the home. At the rear, new doors now connect the living areas directly to a new external deck and staircase, making far better use of the garden and strengthening the relationship between inside and out.

At the centre of the home sits the new sculptured spiral staircase, hand-built in American Oak. Conceived as both a functional element and a crafted focal point, the staircase represents a significant piece of workmanship and stands among the most accomplished staircases delivered by TO THE MIL. It is a testament to the skill, care and patience of the carpentry team.

Material Palette

Material interventions were selective and purposeful, allowing craftsmanship and light to take precedence:

→ Timber (American Oak): Used for the sculptured spiral staircase, expressing craftsmanship through form, joinery and finish.

→ Glazing & Skylights: Carefully integrated to improve daylight penetration and strengthen the home’s connection to its outdoor spaces.

Together, these elements contribute to a lighter, more open living environment and reinforce the clarity of the architectural intervention.

Client & Architect Experience

The success of Bronte House was driven by strong collaboration between the owners, Teolam Architects and TO THE MIL. Clear communication and shared intent allowed fundamental changes to the home’s structure and circulation to be resolved with confidence and precision.

This collaborative process ensured that design intent was carried through construction, resulting in a cohesive and well-resolved outcome.

Outcome 

Bronte House has been transformed into a light-filled, open and highly liveable family home. The reconfigured living spaces now flow intuitively, with improved access to daylight and a far stronger connection to the garden and outdoor areas.

The sculptured American Oak spiral staircase anchors the interior and defines the character of the home, reflecting the level of craftsmanship and care applied throughout the renovation.

Today, the family is back home in Australia, enjoying an easy beachside lifestyle in a house that has been fundamentally reshaped to support the way they live.

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