It’s not often a rental experience in Inner Sydney comes so beautifully put together, delivering the ambiance of a boutique guest house or an exotic hotel. 50 Little Riley Street is one of those designer homes and modern retreats, offering an eloquent illustration of how the past and the present can be combined for a space of contemporary elegance.  

Crafted by design duo Room on Fire, the residence unfolds behind an original sandstone facade with sleek interiors, thoughtfully detailed throughout with warm lighting and refined accents, delivering a tranquil atmosphere. 

Robust yet elegant, historic and refined, it’s a home designed with guests and tenants in mind, delivering a living environment of functionality, versatility, and longevity. 

It’s also an incredible lesson in unlocking light and space within a small terrace footprint, courtesy of the attention-to-detail that comes with being the passion project of a designer/builder couple. 

The transformation of a once-unused attic into the main bedroom, along with the extension of the floorplan to house the kitchen and living areas upstairs, has effectively doubled the home’s usable space. Sandstone walls now frame new outdoor spaces on each level, offering a sophisticated retreat that stands out for its sense of sanctuary in the inner-city. To find another house in Sydney with a 40sqm block and three distinct outdoor areas would be a hard task, further setting it apart from typical renovations.  

 

 

 

Every level of the home incorporates elements of nature, from the ground floor fern garden to the first-floor outdoor seating area and the upper-floor balcony. The newly created main bedroom up top features an outdoor shower and offers unexpected views of the city skyline and Sydney Tower. 

The use of solid tallowwood for the flooring, along with a metal grille in the terrace flooring, allows light, air, and water to permeate down to the fern garden below. Interiors are adorned with sanded stainless steel, Tasmanian blackwood, and vein-cut travertine joinery, creating a modern and refined ambiance. 

 

 

 

 

Lighting throughout the home is warm and dimmable, contributing to a moody and inviting atmosphere. Semi-recessed spotlights complement the v-joints and rafters in the ceiling, while small downlights and splashback uplighting enhance the kitchen space. The internals benefit from natural light filtering through a skylight over the attic stairwell and the perforated steel stairs, creating a visually striking appearance and ensuring an ever-changing mood. 

 

 

Additionally, a travertine mosaic-lined ensuite is discreetly hidden behind a wardrobe door, adding to the apartment’s aesthetic appeal and practicality. 

 

 

See the rental listing here: 50 Little Riley Street, Surry Hills.