Bobby Brown is a playful yet highly considered reconfiguration of an existing family home located in Sydney’s Lower North Shore suburb of Willoughby. It had been previously renovated by its owners, but had since been outgrown by a busy household and an expanding collection of life’s “necessary extras” — not least, a growing assemblage of pinball machines.

The brief called for a significant increase in space and flexibility, allowing each family member to find their own place within the home. The upper level was extended to accommodate a new main bedroom, ensuite and walk-in robe for the parents, while two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, study and rumpus room were introduced for the children. At ground level, the existing rooms were reprogrammed to support a more layered domestic life, including a music room, home gym and guest bedroom.

At the heart of the project is a generous void and feature stair that redefines the internal experience of the house. This vertical gesture becomes both a spatial organiser and a source of natural light, drawing daylight deep into the plan and animating the centre of the home throughout the day.

The void also establishes a visual and social connection between levels, with the upper-floor rumpus and study overlooking the space below. This layered openness brings a sense of transparency and togetherness, allowing family life to unfold across multiple levels while still maintaining moments of separation and retreat.

The result is a home that balances expansion with cohesion — a structured yet playful framework for family life, where light, volume and everyday activity converge around a central spatial core.