An artist’s clever home conversion in Sydney’s inner west

The home A heritage-listed Victorian building in Sydney’s inner west. Originally a shop, then two flats, it’s now a five-bedroom house.

Who lives here Cynthia White, art director and artist, with her children Queenie, 18, and Arthur, 16, plus Decca, a kelpie cross. Two older children have recently left home.

What I did “I had four children living with me, so I turned the upstairs kitchen and roof cavity into bedrooms,” says Cynthia. “The galley kitchen was originally a light well leading onto the deck. My builder had the clever idea of raising the roof and adding a large skylight. The basement kitchen was removed and existing bedroom and bathroom left intact to become my son’s teen cave.”

My favourite room The living room, a former shop space, with its big windows and double doors. “I’ve always dreamed of having a shopfront/gallery,” says Cynthia. “I’ve left the walls pretty clean for holding exhibitions and had a table custom-made for big dinners. I like that it can change.”

The ’hood “An eclectic mix of people with a studenty vibe.”

Future plans “I’d love to put in a proper staircase to the attic bedroom.“

Best advice “You don’t need to tile walls in a bathroom. A waterproofed rendered wall will do the same job.”