A sunny pavilion-like extension has brought a thrilling new dimension to this 1920s beauty and injected some serious style credentials into the two-storey home without sacrificing its authentic period charm. On one of Balmain's finest tree-lined avenues, around the corner from the village heart, the freestanding home has been given a new lease of life by local firm Oikos Architects that takes full advantage of its sunny corner position while a newly completed rebuild by master builder Pioneer Projects echoes the enduring quality of the century old classic. Windows on the north bring in the light with leafy greenery all around underscoring a sense of wellbeing but it's the interiors that are the real showstopper with every detail carefully selected to deliver a highly tailored feel. Consciously designed to retain the original fabric while catering to contemporary living, the old meets the new via a checkerboard marble gallery and glass-fronted wine cellar that sets the tone and leaves a lasting impression.