In a renovation of what is now unrecognisable as a Lockwood house, this steampunk-inspired makeover incites a dark, moody ambience. With a relatively small footprint at 100m2, the outdoor areas double as extended living spaces, and continue the raw masculinity of this home.

The dark masculine aesthetic is evident from the moment you lay eyes on this house with the charcoal fence just a glimpse at what’s to come upon entry. The concrete driveway incorporates old bicycle and motorcycle cogs, while the outdoor living areas are ripe with corten steel, exposed beams and dark, charcoal tones. Inside, the moody dark-lit spaces have a cave-like appeal.

The kitchen resembles a darkly lit bar with a black ceiling, black lacquer cabinetry, copper panelling and a dark French Oak floor pulled together with a waterfall granite benchtop. As the space extends into the living and dining areas, the tones lighten slightly, with the vaulted, panelled ceiling in this space white – a contrast against the moody kitchen.

But the steampunk aesthetic resonates throughout with copper and black light fittings, dark grey hues on the walls, and exposed beams. A floating staircase leading up to the two bedrooms is a feature of the open plan living area with a glass landing part-way down the staircase beneath which an LED strip light pulses out different-coloured lighting. The staircase’s glass balustrades and steel plates turn the structure into a pivotal sculptural focal point of the home.

The bathroom pertains to the central theme, with rusty corten steel-look tiling on the walls, floor and ceiling to create a raw, dark, and masculine space. The black wall-hung toilet sits well within this space, complementing the glass of the shower and extensive mirrors.

This wasn’t a house designed for resale – that was part of the brief. It was house designed to align with the clients’ specific tastes – and it’s perhaps that boldness that allowed for such a design aesthetic to be achieved.

The clients worked with interior designer Hayley Dryland of August & Co. and Broswick Builders to design and build their renovated home, now unrecognisable from what it once was.