Sonata by Orr Made
On a compact 230-square-metre block in suburban Adelaide, Orr Made has reimagined a 1997 Sonata home as a light-filled retreat for a pair of empty nesters, their transient adult children, and their much-loved Vizsla, Jerry.
The renovation balances intimacy with generosity, transforming a once-disconnected rear into a welcoming extension of daily life and hospitality.
The project emerged from a desire to downsize without compromise. The clients sought a place to live out their days with warmth, connection and a sense of play, while accommodating visiting family and entertaining friends. Their brief also placed emphasis on connection to greenery from every living area - not least a patch of lawn where Jerry could chase the sun across the seasons.
Set within a row of 19th-century workers cottages, the site's context informed the approach. Orr Made restored the original stone footprint of the cottage, peeling back unsympathetic 1980s additions that had created a disjointed plan and turned the rear yard into a dark, soggy void. From the street, the home reads as part of the familiar rhythm of single-fronted cottages. Behind, however, the new work pivots to lightness, openness and contrast, establishing a home conceived from the inside out.
The design centres on creating volume and flow within tight boundaries. A glass corridor stitches together previously separate wings, while the reconfiguration shifts the main bedroom to the rear for privacy and quiet. The new addition is built to three boundaries, blocking unwanted noise from neighbours while shaping a sheltered courtyard as the home's focal point.
Materiality plays an anchoring role. At the street, the restored stone walls, verandah posts and fretwork are painted in dark tones to emphasise solidity and heritage character. This weight is countered at the rear, where stucco render, narrow volumes and expanses of glazing introduce a lighter, more contemporary expression. Inside, transitions are seamless: Tumbled Osmond limestone crazy paving runs from the kitchen into the courtyard, its irregular texture uniting the two zones and extending the dining area outward. A long table traverses the threshold between inside and out, supported by a curving concrete seat that folds into a barbecue form.
Throughout, finishes are restrained yet rich. Wide Hekke timber boards by Tongue & Groove extend through the hallway and living spaces, paired with custom-stained joinery to maintain cohesion. In the kitchen, Turco Argento limestone lends a warmth to benches and island, balanced by fine metal detailing. Above, exposed rafters tuck the roof form beneath the existing cottage, their depth amplified by mirrored inserts that create the illusion of space. In the ensuite, Cote d'Azur stone introduces drama and depth, offset by the softness of the surrounding palette.
The renovation also demanded technical precision. With difficult site access restricted by a transformer pole, steel elements such as the oversized pivot window frame were craned over adjacent properties. This distinctive window now frames views of a neighbouring palm tree, bordered by boston ivy and creeping fig carefully preserved throughout construction by both builder and clients.
Environmental responsiveness is embedded in the scheme. Northern light and cross-ventilation are drawn into living spaces, the courtyard provides planting depth and layered greenery, and flush thresholds ensure seamless movement between zones. The balance of restored fabric and carefully chosen new insertions speaks to sustainability through both longevity and adaptability.
What elevates Sonata is its ability to embody the personalities of its inhabitants. Playful yet thoughtful, the home captures the clients' joy in entertaining, their affection for Jerry, and their desire for lasting comfort without excess. The couple has found themselves more connected to their neighbourhood than expected, frequently welcoming passers-by curious to glimpse the transformed cottage.
For them, it is a home they never intend to leave. For Orr Made, it is proof that small-scale projects can achieve profound generosity, a renovation that celebrates character, connection and the quiet pleasures of contemporary tropical living.
