Sitting pretty: a rooftop terrace is part of the new look. Pictures: Eve Wilson

It might be small but this Albert Park terrace packs a big punch thanks to its clever design and space-saving tricks.

The single-fronted brick house was originally dark and dingy with a low ceiling and very few windows.

Its owners tasked architect Dan Webster, from Dan Webster Architecture, with the challenge of making it more liveable.

“They really wanted to lighten the space up and create a modern home,” Mr Webster said.

This involved demolishing everything past the first two bedrooms and rebuilding the house, including a second storey.

Below are six of the project’s brightest ideas.

The terrace might be small but it packs a big punch.

1. Bedroom cabinetry

The home’s footprint was simply too petite to accommodate a walk-in wardrobe in the main bedroom, so Mr Webster added as much joinery as he possibly could.

Wanting to create visual warmth, he settled on a two-tone look, mixing American oak with a white two-pack finish.

“I didn’t want to do an entire wall of timber because it could have been a bit imposing and all white was too stark, so we decided on timber drawers, and then any cupboards above were in white,” he said. “It still felt light and fresh but with a bit of added detail.”

Cabinetry is a mix of American oak and a white two-pack finish.

The mix of materials creates visual warmth.

2. Outdoor areas

One of the owners’ must-haves was a ground-floor outdoor space for their much-loved dog.

Mr Webster obliged with a doggie door leading to an area lined with synthetic grass and big enough to fit a car if required.

There is also a courtyard next to the living area. Although small, it brings in the northern light and provides cross ventilation (where breezes travel directly through the house).

But the star outdoor attraction is the rooftop terrace. Towards the front of the house, it overlooks a high school, so the view will never be built out and the owners will never lose the northern light.

The terrace is off the upstairs rumpus room (which includes a bar fridge, sink and space for glasses), providing easy indoor/outdoor living.

A doggie door and synthetic grass are ground-level features.

Open wide: the courtyard next to the living area.

Star attraction: the rooftop terrace.

3. Light colours

The small size of the home dictated the colour palette of pale timber and white to a certain extent, as Mr Webster wanted the space itself to be the feature.

“It’s not a huge area, so the lighter and fresher it was, the bigger it felt,” he said.

He added there were architectural details to add visual appeal, including a void in the kitchen ceiling that physically and visually linked the ground level with the upper level.

“There is architectural form internally that can do the talking, so we thought: let’s make the joinery nice and light and fresh.”

A void in the kitchen ceiling links the two levels.

Pale timber and white keep the look light and fresh.

4. Dining nook

With an island bench nearby and a staircase in the way, the dining space was small. Rather than have chairs, Mr Webster opted for bench seating, including a built-in seat with a lift-up lid hiding storage.

“It meant we could push the table further over towards the wall. Because of the area’s narrow width, it was definitely a space-saving exercise.”

He said being next to the courtyard, the bench seat also provided “a beautiful place to sit” and was additionally useful for reading or working.

A bench seat saves space in the slimline dining area.

The dining area (pictured in the background) has views of the courtyard.

5. Bathroom

The main bathroom is found on the ground floor and has been turned into an oasis thanks to the bath.

Flanked by louvre windows, the bath offers the feeling of outdoor bathing.

“You can open up the louvre windows and get some cross ventilation when you are in the bath, and you can sit at either end and look outside, so it is a really nice spot,” Mr Webster said.

The shower, located unobtrusively between the vanity and bath, has one simple glass screen that blocks off the bathing space from the rest of the bathroom, keeping the look seamless and saving on space.

The bath is flanked by louvre windows for an alfresco-bathing effect.

6. Outdoor materials

The original plan was to use steel as part of the mix of materials for the outside of the home, but the owners were concerned about the glare it might create.

So, Mr Webster chose less-reflective Weathertex external cladding, painted off white, as an alternative.

For contrast, recycled bricks were used as a homage to the brickwork at the front of the home.

Meanwhile, timber screening blocks out unattractive cement sheets on the boundary line, hides water tanks and graces the sliding rear gate.

“It adds a bit of warmth to the space,” Mr Webster said.

Cladding contrasts with recycled bricks.