Natural light plays a vital role in how we experience a home. It can elevate everyday spaces, highlight architectural features, and make period homes feel fresh and inviting. In heritage restorations, thoughtful lighting design isn’t just a finishing touch—it’s a strategic element that bridges the past and present.
At Secon Constructions, we’ve spent over 15 years working on some of Melbourne’s most iconic heritage homes. Our projects are proof that when used well, natural light can redefine how a home looks, feels and functions—without compromising its historical character.
Here are five ways skylights and windows can completely transform heritage spaces.
Heritage homes often feature traditional layouts with smaller rooms and fewer open-plan zones. While this adds character, it can also limit the flow of light.
By introducing well-positioned skylights and strategic glazing, we create brighter, more open interiors that feel connected without altering the home’s fundamental layout.
In our Hawthorn project, for example, we added a series of VELUX skylights to brighten up the living and kitchen area. The result was a warm, welcoming space with natural daylight enhancing the room’s textures and materials—from the engineered timber flooring to the honed stone island bench.
Light can be a powerful tool for showcasing the beauty of heritage detailing. Cornices, ceiling roses, archways and fireplace mantels gain depth and dimension when they’re properly illuminated.
In the Brighton project, we used expansive rear glazing and carefully considered window placement to draw natural light across original Victorian features—including restored fireplaces, ornate cornices and reclaimed timber floors. The interplay between light and shadow helped bring these period details to life while blending seamlessly with the new modern extension.
When extending a heritage home, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring the transition between the original structure and the new addition feels cohesive. Lighting can serve as the common thread that ties the two together.
In our Cheltenham House renovation, a large skylight was used in the open-plan living area to connect the rear extension with the restored front of the home. The natural light became a unifying element—creating flow between old and new, and enhancing the home’s warmth and livability.
Even a modest room can feel generous when flooded with natural light. Skylights in particular can draw the eye upwards and create a sense of vertical space—ideal for heritage homes with high ceilings or attic conversions.
Our Courtyard House project is a great example. With cleverly positioned skylights and courtyard-facing windows, we created a visual connection to the outdoors while increasing perceived space inside the home—without disrupting its historical proportions.
Thoughtful lighting design can do more than enhance aesthetics—it can also improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
At Secon, we consider window orientation, thermal performance, and glazing types early in the planning process. In homes like our Richmond Terrace project, large windows and a central skylight not only brought in light, but supported the home’s passive heating and cooling strategy.
Lighting may seem like a finishing touch, but in a heritage home, it’s often the difference between a good outcome and an exceptional one. At Secon Constructions, we treat light as one of the most important materials in a build—planning it with care, detail and respect for the home’s original form.
Whether we’re introducing modern skylights into an Edwardian terrace or restoring arched sash windows in a Victorian home, our goal is the same: to create beautiful, functional spaces that feel light-filled, liveable and timeless.
Let’s talk. Our team of experienced builders, designers, and restoration specialists can help you make the most of your home’s architectural potential—without compromising its character.
Contact us today to discuss your project or explore our work for inspiration.
