MY HOME Vol. 1 - Lawler Project, Subiaco

Architect - Blank Canvas Architects
Tapware - MY AVENUE Antique Brass
Built by - Master Build Group
Captured by - Jody D'Arcy 

When an unloved, asbestos-ridden c1900 home in Subiaco is snapped up by an architect, the result is anything but ordinary.

The Lawler Project, owned and designed by Cecilia of Blank Canvas Architects and her husband, Geoff, is both deeply personal and architectural by nature. The transformation reflects a thoughtful balance between restraint and creativity, history and progress.

When asked about her vision for the home, Cecilia speaks of wanting to create a seamless connection between past and present - honouring the original heritage home while adding a contemporary but family-friendly extension.

Rather than competing with the original structure, the new extension reads as a modern reinterpretation - connected, but unmistakably distinct. The result is a home that feels grounded in its history, yet entirely suited to modern family life.

The heritage nature of the home set the tone from the outset, demanding a sensitive and respectful approach. But it was the sloping site that truly became the project’s organisational backbone.

Instead of imposing a singular, elevated form, the design follows the land’s natural descent, creating a series of terraced zones that gently guide you through the home - from the heritage entry, down into the main living areas, and out into sculpted outdoor spaces.

“The gentle progression reduces visual bulk, improves accessibility between spaces and subtly defines each zone. Each level has its own relationship to the landscape.”

Two light-filled courtyard gardens sit between old and new, acting as both visual pauses and functional lightwells. They allow natural light, cross ventilation, and greenery to permeate deep into the home -  ensuring every space feels connected to nature, something that Cecilia loves incorporating in her designs. 

At the rear, a long-established lemon-scented gum tree became the emotional heart of the design.

“Reluctant to remove such a beautiful tree, the house and landscaping bent to the shape and needs of it - and it was one of the best design choices in the build.”

The tree now casts dappled shade across the pool and outdoor areas, offering relief during Perth’s hot summers and grounding the home with a sense of calm that only a mature tree can provide.

Materiality plays a quiet but powerful role throughout the home. The palette was intentionally layered - creating contrast without visual discord. Deep, heritage-inspired greens and moody earth colours run through the interiors, creating a rich backdrop for MY AVENUE’s Antique Brass tapware, used consistently throughout the home. The warm, aged character of the finish complements the heritage tones beautifully, adding depth and a subtle sense of timelessness rather than shine.

The rendered heritage façade forms a soft backdrop to the new mottled brickwork, with colours carefully referenced across old and new. Sleek vertical cladding wraps the extension, clearly contemporary in form, yet tonally linked back to the original timber trims and posts.

“This approach allows the extension to both complement and elevate the existing building’s architectural narrative.”

It’s a design language that doesn’t shout, but instead reveals itself slowly.

Cecilia and her husband Geoff purchased the home in 2017 - famously described as the “worst house on the best street.” Rotten verandahs, asbestos back rooms, and even an outdoor toilet were all part of the package.

Still, they saw what others couldn’t.

“The potential! They say buy the worst house in the best street… so we did.”

Today, the home supports the rhythm of everyday family life in a way that feels intuitive rather than imposed. The original heritage rooms are darker and quieter, now housing bedrooms and office spaces. Moving into the extension, the home opens dramatically into a gabled, light-filled living zone designed for cooking, gathering, and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

Terraced levels give each area a purpose, while courtyard gardens soften transitions and filter light throughout the day.

When asked which space feels most “her”, Cecilia doesn’t hesitate.

“For me, it’s absolutely the bathroom that looks out into the garden.”

It’s a space that perfectly encapsulates her approach to design - elevating the everyday through thoughtful gestures.

“Bathrooms are ordinary spaces that can become extraordinary with just a little bit of extra thought… maybe it reflects how I like to live: a tiny bit indulgent, a tiny bit mischievous, privacy intact but nature on full display.”

More than a beautiful home, the Lawler Project stands as a quiet argument for preservation over demolition.

“We hope people feel inspired to retain and adapt existing homes rather than knock down and rebuild.”

It proves that heritage houses - quirks and all - can be reimagined to support contemporary living without losing the character and history that give suburbs like Subiaco their soul.

This is a home that respects where it came from, adapts gracefully to how families live today, and offers a compelling vision for how we might build - and rebuild - more thoughtfully in the future.