HOW WE MADE OUR CHARACTER SEMI FEEL TWICE THE SIZE
If ever a project embodied the saying "good things come in small packages", it's our Character Semi.
With soaring ceilings, original windows and characterful archways, this little semi already had incredible bones. What it lacked was liveability. The bathroom wasn’t functional, the kitchen layout felt awkward, there was no access to the external courtyard and every room felt disconnected from the next.
Our goal was to maximise every square metre.
Before
After
With clever planning, thoughtful design and considered selection of products, the home now flows better, feels calmer and more connected. Best of all, we’ve managed to retain every gorgeous inch of its original heritage character and create a beautiful indoor-outdoor flow.
EVERY DECISION NEEDED A PURPOSE
In a smaller home, every single design decision matters.
You don't have the luxury of wasted space, oversized fixtures or unnecessary features. Every product needs to work hard, improving the way the home functions while contributing to the overall design vision.
Throughout the Character Semi, that meant selecting pieces that balanced timeless style with everyday practicality. We wanted each room to feel refined and uncluttered, while ensuring the home was equipped for modern family life.
A BATHROOM DESIGNED TO DO MORE
The bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in this home, but it was one of the biggest opportunities to improve functionality.
Previously you looked into this room and the first thing you saw?
The toilet.
Before
What we want to see when entering a bathroom is something beautiful.
That’s why we completely re-oriented the layout. What is now visible from the doorway is the Kado Lux Bath from Reece. We love this bath - it creates a sense of retreat despite the room's compact footprint, proving you don't need a large bathroom to enjoy a little everyday indulgence.
After
We wanted to tuck the toilet away, so we chose the Roca Ona toilet from Reece, which is an in-wall system so you barely notice it. Concealed in the wall and positioned out of the line of vision when entering the bathroom, it helps the whole room feel cleaner, calmer and less cluttered. It's one of those details you don't necessarily notice straight away — but you'd definitely miss it if it wasn't there.
(Which, let’s face it, is what you want with a toilet).
With the right storage, even the tiniest bathroom can function impressively. That’s why we chose the Kado Aspect Vanity. It keeps everyday essentials neatly stored, helping the room feel calm and organised, while its simple, timeless design sits beautifully alongside the home's original character.
Meanwhile, the gently curved Kado Lussi Basin with its elegant form introduces a subtle softness that complements the room’s heritage detailing.
Every element, including the Sussex Scala tapware and accessories in a beautiful brushed rose gold finish, was chosen to feel purposeful, practical and beautifully considered.
COHESION CREATES CALM
One of the easiest ways to make a smaller home feel larger is to create visual continuity.
Instead of treating the bathroom, kitchen and laundry as three separate spaces, we approached them as chapters of the same story. Repeating key finishes, materials and fixtures helps your eye travel naturally from room to room, creating a sense of flow that can be difficult to achieve in compact floorplans.
The Sussex Scala Tapware from Reece became one of the key details that ties everything together.
We often say tapware is the jewellery of a home. It's one of those finishing touches that quietly does a lot of heavy lifting. It adds personality, creates a little wow moment and helps carry your overall design vision into every corner of the home, even the hardest-working spaces.
That's exactly what happens in the Character Semi. The timeless silhouette of the Sussex Scala Tapware collection sits comfortably alongside both classic and contemporary design, so it never feels like it's trying too hard. By repeating the same collection across the bathroom, kitchen and laundry, each room has its own purpose while still feeling beautifully connected.
BEAUTIFUL PRODUCTS THAT WORK HARD
The kitchen is undoubtedly the hardest-working room in any home, so every selection needed to balance practicality with beauty.
The Memo Harper Butler Sink delivers exactly that. It's generous enough to handle everyday cooking, entertaining and family life, while its clean lines complement the refined simplicity of the renovation.
The same thinking extended into the laundry.
Often overlooked, laundries deserve just as much thoughtful planning as kitchens and bathrooms. The Memo Freya Sink is perfect for this compact space. This sink provides durability and functionality for daily tasks while maintaining the same calm, considered aesthetic found throughout the rest of the home.
Together with the repeated tapware and consistent material palette, these spaces feel intentionally connected rather than treated as individual rooms.
HERITAGE CHARACTER. MODERN FUNCTIONALITY.
One of the things we're most proud of in this renovation is that the transformation didn't rely on major structural changes.
Instead, the impact came from a series of thoughtful decisions — improving storage, refining layouts, layering textures and selecting products that worked beautifully both aesthetically and functionally.
The original heritage details remain the hero of the home, while carefully considered fixtures quietly support the way the family lives every day.
For us, that's what great renovation is all about.
BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER
Adding more space isn’t always necessary to improve liveability.
Sometimes it's about making smarter decisions, choosing products with purpose and creating cohesion throughout every room to create a home that’s small on footprint but big on impact.
Because when every element works together, even the smallest home can feel spacious, calm and beautifully connected.
Want to see the full Character Semi transformation?
