Mood Maximiser: Transforming a Surry Hills Terrace

A light-filled living space within the renovated Surry Hills terrace, where warm timber floors, custom joinery and sculptural ceiling lighting create a calm and contemporary interior.

A feature in the Daily Telegraph – Home magazine explores the transformation of a narrow inner-city terrace into a light-filled contemporary residence.

Titled “Mood Maximiser,” the article highlights how a once run-down Surry Hills property was reimagined through a carefully considered renovation and extension. The design focused on maximising natural light and improving spatial flow within the narrow four-metre-wide site.

Designed by Andrew Schultz of ASA Architects and constructed by Liam Flood and the team at To The Mil, the project reorganised the terrace around a central vertical core containing the staircases and bathrooms, allowing the main living spaces to extend across the full width of the house. homemag

A central courtyard and light-well introduce natural light deep into the home while improving ventilation and strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The interior palette combines recycled timber floorboards, pale polished concrete and warm timber cabinetry, creating a modern atmosphere while maintaining a sense of warmth and character.

The result is a thoughtfully reconfigured terrace that demonstrates how careful architectural planning can transform a constrained inner-city site into a generous and light-filled home.

Project Highlight

Maximising light within a narrow terrace: The renovation uses a central courtyard, split-level layout and carefully positioned openings to bring light, air and spatial clarity into a compact inner-city terrace.