A renovation defined by what it brings together
Mary Ryan
Project
Mary Ryan
Service
Architectural Renovation
Build Type
Renovation & Extension
Completed
2026
Project Philosophy
Old and New, Brought Together
Award-Winning
2026 Master Builders Brisbane – Excellence in Home Sustainability & Innovation
Project Snapshot
The most compelling renovations do more than preserve what came before or introduce something new. They create a relationship between the two – one in which contrast feels intentional, transitions feel natural and the home reads as a complete work.
Mary Ryan began with that ambition. Designed by Tim Stewart Architects and delivered by O’Shea & Sons Builders, the project transforms an existing residence into a generous, highly considered home without smoothing away the depth that gives it character. Its architecture moves confidently between familiar domestic warmth and a more elemental material language: concrete, timber, glass, stone and landscape.
Project at a Glance
| Location | Brisbane |
| Beds | 4 |
| Baths | 4 + powder room |
| Living | 4 |
| Garage | 2 car + carport |
| Completed | 2026 |
| Architect | Tim Stewart |
Composed, Not Imposing
At approximately 860 square metres, the scale is substantial. Yet the experience of the home is not driven by size alone. Privacy is carefully held at the arrival, circulation is generous and intuitive, and living spaces open progressively towards light, air and garden. The result is a home that feels composed rather than imposing – its complexity present in the richness of the spaces, not in the effort required to inhabit them.
A Shared Work of Architecture and Building
Mary Ryan holds a special place in the O’Shea & Sons portfolio because it reveals what becomes possible when design ambition and construction knowledge develop together. Tim Stewart Architects established a strong architectural language; the building team translated it through structure, sequencing, material expertise and an exacting approach to detail.
The home has since received the 2026 Master Builders Brisbane award for Excellence in Home Sustainability & Innovation – recognition of another dimension of the project’s integrated thinking. Yet its success is perhaps best understood through the finished experience: a home that feels generous but grounded, technically accomplished but deeply liveable.
Design Highlights
Kitchen
Timber joinery and a stone island anchor the kitchen, with the dining table drawn directly off the bench.
Living
A brick fireplace grounds the living room beneath board-formed concrete – open to the kitchen without losing its own calm.
Outdoor Living
Flagstone paving carries from inside to out, where the covered terrace opens the full width to lawn and garden.
Main Suite
Sheers soften the light in the main suite, and the balcony is borrowed as an extension of the room.
Bathrooms
Stone, timber and tile are held to the same restraint as the rest of the house – quiet, tactile, built to last.
Street Presence
Brick, timber and a retained tree settle the home into its street rather than announcing it.
Materials & Finishes
| Benchtops | Silica-free Caesarstone in Cloudburst and Raw Concrete, with a stainless steel pantry bench |
| Feature stone | Honed Taj Mahal natural stone |
| Tiling | White biscuit tile in vertical stack bond, with Eco Outdoor stone externally |
| Flooring | Engineered oak boards, with 100% wool loop pile carpet to bedrooms |
Project Gallery
Walk Through the Home
Built to Endure
Old and new do not compete here. Structure and craft do not call attention to the labour behind them. They settle into a home shaped for real life – confident in its character, quiet in its complexity and built to endure.
Awards & Recognition
Master Builders Brisbane 2026
Winner – Excellence in Home Sustainability & Innovation. Read the story.
ArchiPro
Editorial feature – ‘Building complexity without compromise’, August 2026.
More character home renovations – and how we work as custom home builders in Brisbane.
Ready to Create Your Own Story?
Every project begins with understanding how people want to live. If you’re planning an architecturally designed renovation, a luxury custom home or a boutique development in Brisbane, we’d love to explore what’s possible together.