A home where heritage meets modern living, this sunlit Queenslander renovation reimagines its 1930s charm through a fresh, contemporary lens. Every space opens to the light and outdoors, creating a warm, inviting sanctuary for family life to unfold. A beautiful example of modern Queenslander living.
Beneath the leafy canopy of Brisbane’s inner north, Wooloowin House captures the essence of Queensland architecture with light, ease and a touch of whimsy. Reimagined by Hannah Waring from Waring Architects, this 1930s Queenslander is now a luminous family haven — a seamless dialogue between heritage character and contemporary life, and a refined take on the contemporary Queenslander.
Set amid native greenery, the Queenslander renovation honours the home’s original charm while reworking its spaces for a growing family and their ever-enthusiastic labradoodle. What was once a dark, inward-looking layout has been transformed through a pursuit of sunlight and flow. The south-facing site became an opportunity rather than a challenge, prompting a design that opens the interiors to warmth, greenery and a gentle rhythm of movement between indoors and out — hallmarks of the modern Queenslander.
Departing from the familiar “raise and build under” formula, Hannah Waring from Waring Architects approached the redesign with subtle ingenuity. The lower level unfolds as a long, linear expanse of multi-functional zones, a place for children to play, adults to create, and everyone to gather. It’s a space defined as much by its flexibility as by its sense of ease, anchored in materials that feel both honest and enduring.
Related article: The Ultimate Guide to Renovating a Queenslander Home
Upstairs, the reconfiguration introduces a light-filled courtyard in place of the original bathroom, allowing northern light to cascade through the home and framing uninterrupted views of the lush garden below. A restrained elevation keeps the kitchen and dining areas intimately connected to the landscape, where a deep overhang offers shade and a moment of calm beneath the trees — a thoughtful fusion of classic Queenslander design principles with contemporary comfort.
Throughout, the house balances nostalgia with modern simplicity. The original timber detailing and proportions remain, now paired with considered contemporary gestures that heighten the sense of air and light. The result is a home that feels quietly joyful — open yet cocooning, refined yet deeply liveable.
It’s a house designed not only to be lived in, but to evolve with its family. It’s a place where sunlight, greenery and play are part of everyday life, and a shining example of how a Queenslander renovation can bring heritage and modern living beautifully together.
See more stunning examples of contemporary renovated Queenslander homes in the Summer 2025 issue of Queensland Homes Magazine
Design: Hannah Waring from Waring Architects
Build: Robson Constructions
Landscaping: Prandium Studio
Structural Engineering: Ingineered
Photography: Kosk Photography
