Mullet Homes: Heritage Front, Modern Back

At first glance, heritage overlays or neighbourhood character controls can feel restrictive. But with the right design approach, they become an opportunity — not a limitation. Embracing the unique context of your site can add richness, value and authenticity to your home, while still delivering on modern priorities like sustainability and liveability. 

One smart solution, especially for renovations and additions, is the “mullet home” — classic in the front to respect the streetscape, bold and contemporary at the back where it counts. This clever approach allows you to navigate planning requirements, honour neighbourhood character, and still create a home that reflects modern lifestyles.

Red Brick House - Sandringham

In this Sandringham renovation, Sheri Haby Architects embraced the essence of the mullet home. The 1960s post-war bungalow retains its red clinker brick façade and terracotta roof, staying true to the suburban vernacular. But beyond the street view, a dramatic transformation unfolds.

Instead of altering the street-facing front, the design turned to the rear — where a tired 1980s extension was reimagined as a light-filled living zone. The low hipped roof was replaced with a striking gabled form crafted from playful brick and expansive glass. Full-height sliding doors now open to a lush, north-facing garden, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out.

Inside, the space was reconfigured into an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. Flooded with natural light and framed by garden views, this new rear addition delivers a relaxed, sun-drenched atmosphere while allowing the traditional front to maintain its quiet suburban charm.

Gable House - Sandringham

This Edwardian timber cottage is a textbook mullet home — heritage charm preserved at the front, contemporary living unveiled at the rear. Sheri Haby Architects breathed new life into the property with a considered rear extension that bridges past and present.

The original front façade was lovingly restored, retaining three generous bedrooms, a formal lounge, dining room, and original hallway. Inside, the bathroom and laundry were updated, and a new powder room added to meet the needs of modern family life.

To the rear, two dramatic gabled roof forms define the addition — one over the main bedroom, the other above the kitchen and living area — introducing volume and light. A newly carved window and skylight bring morning sunlight into the kitchen, while a new timber deck — carefully designed to meet council requirements — extends the living space into the rear garden.

Pavilion House - Highett

Pavilion House sits comfortably among the light coloured timber homes in the bayside suburb of Highett. When Sheri Haby Architects took on the renovation of this 1950s post-war weatherboard, they chose to preserve the character-filled front while transforming the rear with a striking pavilion style addition. 

Expansive glazed stacking doors now open to the garden and pool, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. White painted brick gleams beside the original weatherboards, while a playful, angular roofline thoughtfully minimises overshadowing.

The owners couldn’t be happier. “It feels amazing by the pool when the sun hits those bricks — it gives off those holiday vibes I’ve always felt driving down Beach Road looking at the bay.”

Designed for multigenerational living, the addition introduces flexible spaces that work for everyone — from teenagers to ageing parents. The original spirit of the home remains intact — only now, it's more functional, sustainable, and attuned to a modern lifestyle.

Art Deco House - Caulfield North

Nestled in Caulfield North, this interwar brick and stucco house has been sensitively restored and extended by Sheri Haby Architects. Once a modest two-bedroom dwelling with a cramped kitchen, bathroom and dilapidated outdoor laundry, the property was in urgent need of renewal.

The original home has been carefully restored to preserve its distinctive Art Deco character, while a generous, light-filled rear addition creates a much-needed second living space — ideal for a growing family and the demands of working from home.

To honour the home’s heritage, the new wet areas feature timeless design details: classic black-and-white tiling, green-painted cabinetry, and elegant brass accents. At the rear, the open-plan kitchen and dining area features high ceilings and is oriented to capture the warmth of the north-facing light. Anchored along the southern boundary, this space opens effortlessly to the garden, creating a calm, sunlit connection between inside and out. 

Want to explore the potential of a mullet home for your renovation?

Sheri Haby Architects specialise in thoughtful, context-sensitive designs that honour the past while embracing the future. Get in touch to discuss how we can help you transform your home — front, back, and everything in between.