Manly Project Case Study: A Modern Hampton’s First Floor Addition
Get a Free ConsultationA Modern Hampton’s First Floor Addition
A well-designed home extension or house extension has the power to completely transform the way a property looks, feels, and functions. The Manly Project by Extend A Home is a perfect example of how a carefully planned first floor addition can create a spacious, elegant, and highly functional family home while preserving the character of the original residence.
Designed by Extend A Home’s leading Architect and Building Design Consultant, Darek Szymanski, this award-worthy project embraces the timeless appeal of Modern Hampton’s design, blending bright interiors, premium natural materials, and refined architectural detailing. The completed transformation has been entered into the Master Builders Association (MBA) and Housing Industry Association (HIA) Excellence in Housing Awards, recognising the quality of both the design and construction.
More than just an extension, the Manly Project demonstrates how an existing Sydney home can be reimagined to meet modern lifestyle expectations through intelligent planning, specialist building expertise, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Project Snapshot
| Project Name | Manly Project |
|---|---|
| Location | Manly, Sydney |
| Project Type | First Floor Addition |
| Builder | Extend A Home Constructions |
| Architect & Building Design Consultant | Darek Szymanski |
| Design Style | Modern Hampton's |
| Award Entry | MBA & HIA Excellence in Housing Awards |
| Key Features | Two large bedrooms, two ensuites, walk-in robe, built-in robe, upstairs sitting room, front and rear tiled balconies |
| Interior Finishes | Wide Tallowood tongue-and-groove flooring, Maple staircase, decorative plaster cornices, vertical vee-jointed wall panelling |
| Exterior Finishes | Hardies Linea weatherboards, Western Red Cedar windows with colonial bars, Lutum Designer Ceramic Shingle roof tiles |
The Vision Behind the Manly Project
The Manly Project reflects a thoughtful approach to creating additional living space while preserving the character and appeal of the existing home. Inspired by the timeless elegance of Modern Hampton’s design, the project combines classic architectural features with contemporary functionality to create a home that feels both refined and welcoming.
For many homeowners, a first floor addition offers the opportunity to invest in the home they already love while adapting it to suit changing lifestyle needs. The Manly Project embodies this philosophy through the introduction of additional bedrooms and living areas, an abundance of natural light, and a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The inclusion of front and rear tiled balconies further enhances this sense of openness, allowing every upstairs room to enjoy access to the outdoors and views across the Manly area.
A key aspect of the vision was ensuring that the new addition complemented the original structure rather than competing with it. The result is a cohesive two-storey residence where every detail feels considered and integrated. Crisp white finishes are balanced with the warmth of natural timber, while features such as Western Red Cedar windows with colonial bars, decorative plaster cornices, vertical vee-jointed wall panelling, Hardies Linea weatherboard cladding, and Lutum Designer Ceramic Shingle roof tiles reinforce the home’s distinctive Hampton’s character.
More than simply adding another level, the Manly Project demonstrates how specialist design and craftsmanship can transform an existing home into a beautifully integrated living environment. The finished result is a harmonious blend of style, functionality, and quality – showcasing the enduring appeal of a well-designed first floor addition.
Before & After
A single-storey Manly home reimagined as an elegant two-storey Hampton's residence.
Before construction began, the Manly property was a charming single-storey home with strong foundations and plenty of character. While the existing residence served its purpose, the opportunity existed to enhance both its functionality and visual appeal through a carefully considered first floor addition.
The objective was not simply to add another level, but to create a seamless extension that would integrate naturally with the original home. Every aspect of the design would need to respect the existing structure while introducing new living spaces, architectural interest, and the timeless elegance associated with Modern Hampton's style. The before photographs of the front and rear elevations capture the property's original form, providing a clear reference point for the transformation that follows.
These images illustrate the foundation upon which the Manly Project was built, demonstrating how thoughtful design and specialist construction expertise can completely reimagine an existing home while preserving its underlying character.
One of the most striking aspects of the Manly Project is the dramatic transformation achieved through the first floor addition. What was once a modest single-level residence has evolved into a sophisticated two-storey home that balances style, comfort, and functionality.
The project perfectly embodies the idea that a family home does not need to be replaced to meet changing lifestyle requirements. With thoughtful design and quality construction, an existing property can be reimagined into a space that feels entirely new while preserving the memories and connection homeowners have built over the years.
Designing the Modern Hampton’s Home
The architectural vision for the Manly Project was inspired by the timeless appeal of Modern Hampton’s design. Known for its bright interiors, clean lines, and natural materials, the style creates an atmosphere that is both elegant and welcoming.
Throughout the home, the design palette focuses on crisp whites, soft neutral tones, and the warmth of premium timber finishes. The result is a light-filled environment that feels open, balanced, and effortlessly sophisticated.
The first floor addition includes:
- Two generously sized bedrooms.
- A luxurious master suite complete with a walk-in wardrobe and private ensuite.
- An additional large bedroom with a built-in robe and ensuite.
- A spacious upstairs sitting room that offers a flexible retreat for relaxation, reading, or family gatherings.
Every room on the upper level enjoys direct access to tiled balconies positioned at the front and rear of the property, creating an effortless connection to the outdoors and taking full advantage of the surrounding Manly outlook.
Material Selection and Craftsmanship
One of the defining characteristics of the Manly Project is the careful selection of premium materials and finishes. Each element has been chosen to complement the Modern Hampton’s design language while contributing to the overall quality and longevity of the home.
Wide Tallowood Flooring
Throughout the first floor addition, the flooring is finished with wide Tallowood tongue-and-groove boards. The natural warmth and texture of Tallowood provide an elegant contrast to the light interior palette, creating spaces that feel welcoming and timeless. The use of wide-format boards further reinforces the sense of openness and continuity across the upper level.
A Feature Staircase
The staircase serves as both a practical connection between floors and an important architectural feature within the home. Constructed with Maple treads, painted risers, and a Maple balustrade, the staircase introduces natural timber detailing that complements the flooring while adding visual interest and craftsmanship to the interior.
Classic Architectural Details
The subtle details often define the quality of a home, and this project incorporates a range of traditional design elements that reinforce Hampton’s character.
Exterior Design and Facade Transformation
The Manly Project extends beyond the internal spaces to deliver a complete exterior transformation.
As part of the renovation, the existing roof and guttering were replaced. The new roof features Lutum Designer Ceramic Shingle tiles, selected for their quality, durability, and ability to complement the overall Hampton’s design.
The exterior cladding uses Hardies Linea weatherboards, a material synonymous with contemporary coastal architecture. The clean horizontal lines of the weatherboards contribute to the home’s elegant street presence while maintaining the authenticity associated with traditional Hampton’s styling.
Additional details such as vee-jointed lining boards to the exposed eaves and balcony ceilings provide visual continuity between interior and exterior spaces, ensuring that every element of the design feels considered and integrated.
Bringing the Outdoors In
A defining feature of the Modern Hampton’s aesthetic is its connection to natural light and outdoor living. The Manly Project embraces this principle through the inclusion of tiled balconies accessible from every upstairs room.
Positioned at both the front and rear of the property, these balconies create inviting outdoor spaces while allowing the interiors to benefit from abundant daylight and natural ventilation. Combined with the large windows and carefully considered material palette, the result is a home that feels open, airy, and closely connected to its surroundings.
The project imagery captures this beautifully, with bright interiors flowing naturally into outdoor spaces and soft, neutral finishes creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the home.
Creating Spaces for Modern Family Living
Beyond its architectural beauty, the Manly Project was designed to enhance everyday life. The additional bedrooms provide flexibility for a growing family, while the upstairs sitting room creates a dedicated area for quiet relaxation or informal entertaining.
The inclusion of balconies accessible from the upstairs room strengthens the relationship between the home and its coastal surroundings. These outdoor spaces encourage natural ventilation, maximise daylight, and provide peaceful areas to unwind while enjoying views across the Manly area.
The interior design philosophy can be summarised in a few simple principles:
- Bright, white, and effortlessly open
- Clean finishes with subtle detailing
- A balanced and timeless material palette
- Soft, calm, and inviting living spaces
- Light-filled interiors that connect seamlessly with the outdoors
These elements work together to create a home that is both practical for family life and beautiful to experience.
The Completed Result
The completed Manly Project is a beautiful expression of Modern Hampton’s design and a testament to the value of specialist home extension expertise.
From the elegant Tallowood flooring and handcrafted Maple staircase to the Western Red Cedar windows, Hardies Linea weatherboards, and tiled balconies overlooking Manly, every detail contributes to a home that is both visually striking and highly functional.
The transformation illustrates how a carefully designed first floor addition in Sydney can create generous new living spaces while preserving the charm and character of the existing home. It is this combination of design excellence, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that has made the project a worthy entrant in the MBA and HIA Excellence in Housing Awards.
Watch the Transformation
What Our Clients Say
Project: When the house was renovated by Extend a Home, I felt as if we’d doubled our house size.I just felt this was realy the home the would set us up for the next 10 years. The way they designed and built into it, it felt a lot larger, like we got a lot more bang for the buck than we expected we would
Trent & Emma
Project: I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven in this house.I walk in, and it’s a sense of peace ’cause the openness and the light. It’s like people rent a place like this for their summer holidays and I feel like I’m here.
Deidre
Project:
I felt like my dream had come true. This is a house that we can leave our sons with confidence so it was an investment as much as it was a lifestyle change. With renovating and extending,we’ve got more storage, especially the study and the library. As a handyman myself, I was looking for attention to detail.in the work they did, the quality of the work, so nothing is too hard and it sort of just ran smoothly
Steve & Jane
Project:
When the house was fully renovated, I felt like it was somewhere that I wanted to stay for the rest of my life it really is a friendly home to be proud of, My experience working with Extend a Home was far more pleasant than I ever thought it could be
Michele & Glen
Project: When the house was newly renovated by Extend a Home, we fet so happy, we finally got the property that we’d actually envisaged in our minds and that we always wanted. Its delivered everything that we expected and more
Richard McPartlin
Project: When Extend A Home extended our home I felt that everything was under control while they are managing the project they know what they are doing and I feel that I’m safe in their hands.We needed the space for our relatives that come over and would like to live in this place a bit longer
Wilson & Lisa
Planning a home extension or first floor addition?
Whether you're looking to create additional living space, reimagine the layout of your home, or explore the possibilities of a first floor addition, the right design and construction team can help bring your vision to life.
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