KEY POINTS:
When PJ and Viv Burrowes finished renovating their villa, a vicious crack ran through the ceiling, front to back.
It pierced the hallway, ran a jagged line through the living space and ended up slashing through the wall at the back.
But they weren't disturbed by it at
all; in fact they loved it.
The "faultline" was a device designed by Serban Teodorescu, who planned it as a clever way of having two layers of history existing on view, one on top of the other.
The crack acts like a peephole, revealing the villas more decorative past beneath, showing that the original ceilings and their mouldings are still hiding above the modern lowered floating ceiling.
The crack is painted black and varies in width on its journey through the house, also holding spotlights on tracks.
Its one of the designer's clever solutions to the couples brief for modern living without losing the character of the original building.
"We had told Serban we wanted to blend the old house into the new renovation, because we were keeping the traditional villa feel in the front bedrooms with their ceiling roses, but opening out the rear to a more loft-style living space", says Viv.
"Serban didnt want people to feel as if they were stepping from the old and then suddenly found themselves in the new."
The pair had trouble imagining how the crack would work when Serban first explained it, so he sketched it for them. "We trusted him so we just took his word that it would work", laughs Viv.
They were delighted with the effect. "The new ceiling just floats below the old one, and it feels as though the high stud hasn't been lowered at all. It just gives a freshness and a modernity to the living space.
As soon as the visitor opens the door, they see the ceiling fissure, drawn along the length of the new space and out the sliding doors to the courtyard beyond. The couple has kept the faultline clear of furniture so there's no clutter to spoil the effect.
Outside in the courtyard, a crack that mirrors the ceiling faultline splits a plastered wall, exposing the black-painted log retaining-wall hiding behind.
Throughout the house modern and traditional rub shoulders. The original fireplace sits below a metal-framed modern mirror. The high-tech kitchen features a steel support that has been left as unfinished bare metal.
Graphic designer Viv has decorated the space in loft style, with contemporary sofas and a glass dining table that continues the theme started in glass-fronted kitchen cabinetry.
She says the house matches their dream. "The crack has certainly added something special to the house that no one else has."
Villa checklist
Love old houses? Restore, rather than renovate, but consider opening up some rooms if your villa is dark.
Love modern houses? Strip out mouldings and replace with modern detailing (but stow the mouldings beneath the house in case the next owners want to restore them).
Love both? Consider the loft style, which enhances the character aspects of old buildings (brick walls, beams or mouldings) but uses contemporary furniture and styles.
* Brenda Ward is the editor of Your Home & Garden. See this issue for more pictures of Viv and PJ's home