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Sean Godsell's Edward Street House in inner-urban Melbourne has a lot of surprises in store. It's full of hidden secrets just waiting to be discovered...

A moderate extension creates a rich space and leaves a decent-sized backyard. Jack's House is a timber 'gusset' that will serve the family into the future.

A compact weatherboard cottage explodes from the sides of a prefabricated shed to provide space for an illustrator to live and work.

This space efficient home maximizes living spaces by cleverly concealing bedrooms behind Japanese inspired screens.

Karri Loop House has two irregular-shaped courtyards which are centered around three majestic native Australian trees. This is what happens when trees are given the chance to shine.

Oriented for passive heating and cooling and taking in stunning views of the landscape, Paddock House feels right at home in the bush.

Settling into regular life takes some adjustment for a fly-in-fly-out worker who spends a month away from home. This new home helps.

Owned by a landscape gardener, this 1880s bluestone cottage is now connected to the garden and full of natural light and sea breezes.

With copious amounts of timber inside and out, this modern interpretation of a workers cottage feels natural, warm and welcoming.

Rattling around in your family home? Looking to free up extra cash? This guy did that by down-sizing to a stylish 'granny flat' at the rear of his property.

A home previously owned by the client's Grandmother wasn't a good fit for a young family. An innovative extension changes all that.

This 'Bach' - a New Zealand term for a small holiday shack - is built inside a shipping container. It's a self-contained, portable, and fun retreat for a family of four.

When you've got a growing family, only 36 m² and a limited budget to play with, it takes a lot of imagination to create a workable living space…

What if you outgrow the Mornington beach house that's been in the family for years? Architect Clare Cousins designed a 'treehouse' extension for the big kids.

This home has a surprise at the end of the typically ornate Edwardian-era hallway, and it's far from your average terrace renovation!

Constructed from two shipping containers, this tiny house embraces the landscape and can even be relocated to a new site.

Two Halves House steps down the landscape, separated into a sociable living space and a private sleeping zone.

A new addition slides under the eaves of this home, complementing the 1950s original, but reflecting the changing needs of Australians.

Clad in shiny galvanised steel with arrow-like ends, this budget studio looks almost otherworldly in its country Victorian backyard.

Dubbed the Urban Cottage, this modern take on a workers' cottage feels fresh and contemporary in-spite of its early colonial roots.

A modular home constructed of engineered timber (instead of steel) is the perfect fit for a steel slope in New Zealand's seismic zone.

At Datum House the ceiling height, rather than extra square meters, creates a generous and varied sense of space (without the cost).

A house inspired by 20th Century naval camouflage. There's something you don't hear everyday…

Islington House brings sunlight deep into the home and shows off the personality of its owners. A unique home for a unique couple.

Can you spot a Japanese influence in Engawa House? 'Engawa' is an exterior hallway on Japanese homes -- the inspiration for this new extension.

Mount Ninderry House is a sustainable house that takes full advantage of its stunning natural setting without the extra cost. And check out that pool!

You wouldn't expect a modest, low-budget renovation in Sydney's luxe suburb Tamarama. Despite the budget, this house has some Tamarama glamor -- Glamarama.

At first glance it's a typical Victorian-era worker's cottage. Only on closer inspection you realize there's something unusual going on behind that facade...

Casa 31_4 Room House is a Coolgardie Safe for living. But it also uses the layering of history to transition a traditional house into a vibrant modern home.

Previously an overgrown garden and outbuildings, this space is now the perfect self-contained guest retreat facing a rear laneway.

The history of this home as well as the personalities of its owners shine through in this clever renovation of a Victorian cottage.

Far from the classic box-like addition, a series of unique spaces unfurl from the rear of the cottage, opening up to light and garden.

To create space for the kids as they grow, this new bedroom wing sits beautifully in the landscape and meets BAL requirements.

Others overlooked this heritage-listed home because of its exposure on three sides, but a playful addition turns it into an asset.

It's amazing how high ceilings can offer your home an extra sense of space, just take a look at this light and bright example...

Designed for simple living to enjoy the surrounds, this home uses naturally beautiful materials to create a relaxing bush retreat.

An L-shaped floor plan creates sheltered outdoor space, maximises the view and builds in flexibility to this beautiful home.

If you're squeezed for space but can't justify the disruption and cost of either moving or renovating, this might be the answer...

This flexible beach house is the perfect surf trips big and small because it's focussed on the outdoors to create extra living space.

On the corner of two main thoroughfares, a new room conceived as a large balcony gives this home a way to connect with the community.

A total rebuild of this terrace house was required, but glimpses of its history are exposed throughout the house.

This addition to a historic bluestone farmhouse doesn't match the original building, but it pays its respects in its own way...

Lean-tos aren't renowned for their good design, but rethinking the classic design led to a functional and flexible home for this family.

The clever design for this challenging site allows the home to deal with the threat of bushfire, while still taking in the views.

Living near the beach has its pros and cons. A great beach house needs to embrace the sunshine while protecting from cold ocean winds.

Just because this tiny house is affordable, sustainable and socially responsible doesn't mean it's not stylish to boot...

A house that was once a post office felt frustratingly disconnected from the outdoors has been transformed into a breezy beach house.

We're all a little bit obsessed with shipping container houses. You'll understand why once you take a look at this home...

A family of five create a joyful home with a series of open, colourful and light-filled spaces for their energetic young family.

This heritage home has been renovated with new living spaces. A covered outdoor space ties all these new spaces together.

Bucking the trend of bigger houses on smaller blocks, this compact home borrows outdoor light and views to feel more spacious.

An elegant timber extension at the rear of this heritage home is bathed in natural light thanks to its northern orientation.

Just a short walk from the beach and surrounded by Moona trees, a central courtyard is the link between this home and the landscape.

With the option to demolish and start from scratch, MRTN Architects instead create a sensitive addition to this Victorian cottage.

An architect squeezes a new study and bedroom in the only available space on this tight Melbourne block - above the living area.

Take a tiny, acutely triangular site, add a demanding heritage context and you've given your architect a challenge. But look what she did!

Measuring in at just 11 square metres of additional space, this tiny addition punches above its weight for its size.

The curse of the modern open-plan home? Noise. With flexible social spaces, parents in this house can entertain separately to the kids.

The most minimal house you could imagine - a platform for living within a translucent shell, set in a beautiful natural landscape.

Everyone loves to get away to the beach for the weekend, luckily this house can accomodate all of the extended friends and family.

This modern beach house wraps around courtyards and open spaces to blur the lines between inside and out - perfect for a beach retreat.

Located in a tight lane way in Fitzroy, Little Gore Street Studio is a truly unique response to urban densification...

This welcoming house has a verandah so generous it blurs the line between a courtyard house and a traditional Australian verandah.

In a natural clearing of bushland, this home with simple detailing and an earthy palette captures the spirit and joy of camping.

This off-the-grid home is close to the beach in the Daintree Rainforest — an ancient ecosystem deserving a thoughtful approach to site.

Seal Rocks House takes the qualities of a family home and distills them down to the basics to suit leisure and the serene seaside site.

In an effort to find more space for a growing and ageing family, Andrew Maynard Architects created a home that has shared space and more private zones.

A series of separate, disconnected rooms are transformed by a central, open planned living space that maximises north light.

Sliding cedar shutters provide this otherwise glass box with shelter, privacy and a camouflage cloak — preparing it for every situation.

This Artist's Studio is a beautifully detailed, creative space for painting and sculpting to encourage and inspire creativity…

Eyrie Houses demonstrate just how decadent the holiday home has become. And how rewarding returning back to basics can be…

Holly Tree Farm replaces a home which was sadly lost in a fire in style — by reusing salvaged materials and mimicking surrounding buildings.

Kids Pod is just for the little ones, connected to the house proper by a glazed bridge. And it couldn't be more fun…

The clients of Brighton East Interior wanted to ensure their home met the hectic requirements of the family while preferring to not build up.

Turning this tight inner-city terrace into a light-filled, open-plan home for a family of five was a challenge. But was it a success?

When a family of four decide to renovate their terrace on a tiny site, some big ideas need to be packed into a little space.

This innovative prefabricated studio was the first of its kind in New Zealand, and what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty!

A Collection of Spaces new spaces arranged around two courtyards revitalises a traditional worker's cottage without compromising its historical significance.

A cleverly designed holiday home enjoys beach views and opens directly to the garden but is screened by a mature Pohutukawa tree.

Renovating and extending a typical Victorian terrace always poses a unique set of challenges. Hawthorn House exceeds those challenges.

With the help of friends and neighbours this beautifully crafted home was realised on a budget closer to a caravan than a family home.

Middle Park Studio isn't a house. But if it were, it would be a great example of how we can develop backyards with laneway access into smart, sustainable homes.

As you round the corner of this quiet street, a cheery extension greets you. Quite literally… It says 'Hello'.

A tiny barnacle-like extension creates a sense of camping or sleeping in the berth of a yacht, but with framed views of the landscape beyond.

Easterbrook House uses a humble set of materials and simple forms to ensure the landscape its rightful place as the highlight.

Just like the Doctor's TARDIS this home has a surprisingly big interior. Inside is a completely self contained studio apartment!

A series of spaces at this small weekender create numerous places sit and enjoy the inspiring surrounds which are comfortable year round.

A modern interpretation of the traditional granny flat is a very stylish summer pad for this family's grandparents from overseas.

Dramatic topography, bush setting and diverse climatic conditions were the driving forces in this environmentally friendly design.

A quintessential tin shed is reworked into a modern living/working space in Syndey's gritty inner city.

A project home from the 1970s with poor solar orientation is reconfigured and realigned. Now it catches the sun for energy efficiency.

Two homes. Both owned by the same family. A new extension designed to flank the rear of both homes to provide extra space.

Designed more like a sophisticated tent than your traditional home, The Mook can be built on any site with minimal disturbance.

This modern replacement for a derelict weatherboard cottage takes full advantage of the sun, the surf and views of the rolling hills.

Tucked away in a subdivided backyard in Melbourne's Inner North, Nest Architects created a delightfully compact two-bedroom home with a beautiful sunny garden.

Southern Highlands House's new tiny work space, feels more like an art piece than an office - well proportioned, beautifully curved and effortlessly simple.

Yarra Street House is a pavilion-style extension designed to fit perfectly with a family who loves cooking, outdoor living and entertaining in style.

The location was right. But it would take a lot of imagination and a leap of faith to transform this dilapidated shed into a home...

The Dragonfly is a self-contained addition to an existing holiday home. It maximizes views and appreciation of the site as a model for compact living.

Tight site, stringent planning and heritage controls, and a difficult orientation -- Nic Owen Architects pull off the architectural equivalent of a miracle.

The Studio is inspired by Mighty Mouse. Bright red, yellow and matte black, this tiny apartment is designed to pack a punch -- in spite of its size.

Pump House is a compact, off-grid home for simple living. Owners and guests can enjoy a quiet night, a cup of tea and quality time with their horse, George.

You don't get homes much more unusual than Cocoon -- a zeppelin-shaped home lofts above its steep site, nestled in the canopy of Australian native treetops.

Sled House sits in two sleds making relocating it with a tractor a cinch. The whole area is within a coastal erosion zone; All structures must be removable.

Polygreen is a printed fiberglass box in a neighborhood of red brick warehouses. The contrast is striking - a home covered in vibrant green.

Transforming a run-down, dark and poorly insulated Californian Bungalow into a comfortable, efficient and sustainable home...

Two pavilions offset to capture light and views and create a sheltered courtyard help this home look and feel much larger than it is.

Getting the transition right is a challenge in any addition. Here, a courtyard creates breathing room between old and new.

A terrace house typically makes you think, long, narrow and dark. This terrace might be long and narrow, but it's also light and lush!

Taking advantage of a mature native landscape, this home captures all the right views so it feels like you're floating in the treetops.

A series of expert moves brings in more light, improves livability and connects this terrace to its courtyard all without extending.

Chimneys of the old brickworks immediately caught the architect's attention and she knew this renovation needed to capture that view!

A refined and considered home in a new estate shows the power of using an architect versus buying off-the-plan from a bulk builder.

With hints of those classic beach houses, but all the modern needs of a family home, living here would feel like an endless holiday.

This family home was designed with best-practice sustainability and Passive House standards to be a comfortable home for years to come.

Using passive design techniques, this new living space embraces the outdoors and will be comfortable year-round without relying on AC.

Can you have too many beds at a family beach house? A reno retains the character of this beloved beach house but maximises flexibility.

This stunning modern Australian beach house has a whole wall of glass, taking in spectacular views of the beach and headland beyond.

Running the two homes perpendicular to the street allows this dual occupancy design to maximise views and maintain privacy.

This environmentally-considerate home is carefully planned to ensure it's compact yet spacious: the least house necessary.

With exposed structure and a galley-style kitchen, this renovation takes its cues from the economical and practical fit-out of a ship.

By designing a new, open-plan addition to this heritage home, the owner has a light-filled space to inspire his creativity.

Buying an extra slice of land from the owners' corporation enabled this 1960s one-bedroom unit to become a modern three-bedroom home.

The good qualities of both old and new are highlighted by creating an addition which is the binary opposite of the original.

Splitting this home into two separate pavilions creates flexible spaces which also solves a number of challenges.

An architect wrestles with the romance of renovating a historic home and the challenge of meeting planning and regulatory requirements.

By designing a separate, self-contained studio, this family have gained the extra space they need now and flexibility into the future.

Thanks to recycled brick, this new studio looks like it could be the oldest building in this Richmond laneway.

A deceptively simple and elegant addition which could be considered a prototype for sustainable, affordable homes.

Armed with a fun and adventurous brief, the architects of this apartment reno created a family home with surprises around every corner.

Black sheep. Odd one out. Dark horse. Whatever you want to call it, there's something different about this home - and we love it!

Unlike many of the ubiquitous lean-to-style additions in the area, this modern lean-to transforms the original home.

Arranged around three courtyards, this new open-plan extension is a delightful counterpoint to the existing Californian Bungalow.

Clad in zinc, this simple rear addition creates a light-filled, low-fuss extension for a young family to grow.

Both architecture and furniture, the joinery unit designed to fit in the middle of this studio apartment allows for numerous functions.

If you're an introvert you'll know that the world we live in can be overwhelming at times. Sometimes you need somewhere to hideout...

Searching for a sustainable alternative to urban sprawl, REFRESH*DESIGN have developed an infill-development branded ‘my gardenhouse’.

Small in both budget and footprint, but clever thinking and innovative solutions have produced a home which ticks all the boxes...

With a fun colour scheme, humble materials and nooks to while away the day, Field Way Bach reminds us of back-to-basics beach holidays.

This understated addition to an historic sandstone cottage is designed to age and weather gracefully to fit into its surrounds.