Photography: Kate Enno/Styling: Annalese Hay
When Chelsea and Michael purchased this Melbourne terrace, their plan was to tackle a major renovation down the track and undertake some minor tweaks in the meantime, just to make the old Victorian more liveable. Replace the dated kitchen cabinetry, perhaps. Add some nice storage for the couple and their two daughters. And, come to think of it, that odd upstairs room with a bath in it needed a rethink – and it wasn’t the only space suffering from an identity crisis.
“The poky, casual living area wasn’t functional and didn’t suit our busy, informal household flow at key times – before and after school and work,” says Chelsea, who runs a not-for-profit organisation and craved a welcoming family home.
“We have a big extended family and often host many people, so I wanted that to work easily. I also like everything to have a place to be stored – and in inner-city houses storage is an issue – so thoughtful, considered storage design was important.”
Who lives here?
Chelsea, Michael, their daughters Matilda, 11, and Annabelle, eight, plus Pippa the Labradoodle.
Your favourite feature? Chelsea: “The big Greek-style dining table, which I squeeze 20 people around for our big family lunches, is awesome and creates an easyto- use space that brings joy.
Is this your forever home? “I want to say it is… My husband would definitely say it is!”
Chelsea and Michael had engaged interior designer Melissa Balzan to revamp their previous home and loved the outcome, so they swiftly organised a consultation with her to discuss what they hoped were modest changes. “The initial meeting with Chelsea was to help with the decoration of the house to make it comfortable and functional for her and her family,” recalls Melissa.
However, as old homes often do, the terrace had its own agenda. Crooked, wayward walls and uncooperative, slanting floors made major jobs of the minor alterations the couple proposed. One issue snowballed into another and, as their dream of completing a more substantial future renovation stubbornly refused to wane, they decided to bite the bullet and enlarge the scope of work.
“Needless to say, the ‘small’ renovation happened very quickly and grew to be slightly larger than expected,” recalls Melissa, who untangled the puzzled floor plan and added storage and style in equal measure. “In the end, new flooring was laid, walls were demolished, a bath was removed, joinery was installed and spaces were created that function well and will hopefully see Chelsea and Michael through the next few years with ease.”
The couple tasked Melissa with creating interiors that were “not showy,” says Chelsea, who wanted an artistic scheme that balanced pretty aesthetics with a practical design suited to family life. “I like things to feel bright, happy and welcoming with an understated ease,” she says. “I love art and whimsical design and wanted the spaces to provide an ‘experience’ with interesting pieces.”
The newer rooms at the rear are now defined in rich navy, while the older front rooms bask in earthy pinks, browns and greens – a palette Chelsea plucked from hues in Jai Vasicek prints she found at Fenton & Fenton, which hang in the formal dining room. “We have a lot of pink in this house – I am not sure how much input my husband got with that decision!” shares Chelsea.
Classic yet contemporary, the finished abode radiates a cosiness that ensures the entire family feels comfortable and at home. “Our little one loves the animal decals on her walls and her reading nook. There is also great storage for all her little trinkets and favourite treasures,” says Chelsea. “And my tween loves her tweeny wallpaper and comfy reading swivel chair, which seems to be regularly tested for speed, Formula One style!”
Kitchen
Polytec cabinetry in Adriatic spruces up the kitchen, which bathes in natural light courtesy of the existing greenhouse-style glazing.
On the benchtop, the pear vase is from Kimpton & Co and the bowls are from Horgans.
A slim banquette, crafted by MBD Joinery and covered in Walter G fabric, stars in the casual meals area. Custom cushions in Inge Holst textiles chime with the colours in the wall plates, most of which hail from Heirloom Tableware. ‘Tangerine’ dining chairs from District Furniture surround the Carrara marble table (for similar, try the ‘Kelsey’ dining table from Castlery). An Anna Charlesworth pendant illuminates the dining nook.
Living
It’s light, bright and has great airflow,” says Chelsea of the informal living area. Grounded by a ‘Bijou’ rug from The Rug Collection, the coffee table and sofa are Globe West finds, while the armchair is from Arthur G.
The couple reused their existing custom sofas, upholstered in Mokum ‘Ficus’, in the main living zone. “When we have guests, the more formal areas are ready to go and it makes life a lot easier,” says Chelsea. The bespoke cushions in pretty Colefax and Fowler fabrics echo the hues of the artworks.
The original marble fireplace stands proud below a verdant artwork by Rachael Little, commissioned through Forman Art & Framing, and a smaller painting by Katie Wyatt.
Karndean Flooring from Allfloors underscores the interiors and is warmed by sisal carpet from Floorspace, which Melissa layered with a Cadrys rug for extra comfort.
Dining
Lyrical Jai Vasicek prints from Fenton & Fenton inspired the palette of earth-drawn pinks in the formal dining room. The parquet-style timber dining table from Oak Road is the hero of the space and pairs perfectly with dining chairs from Xavier Furniture and twin timber storage chests from Wisteria. The stately space is finished with an opulent Cafe Lighting & Living chandelier, which was specified by Melissa.
The pinks in the dining and living areas were inspired by Jai Vasicek prints Chelsea found at Fenton & Fenton.
Bedrooms
The palette of desert pinks flows into Chelsea and Michael’s first-floor bedroom, where the bespoke bedhead and cushions, covered in Colefax and Fowler fabric and crafted by MBD Joinery, take centre stage. Neutral bedlinen from Aura Home tempers the sweet scheme, while an artwork by Alexandra Plim from The Moree Gallery is the cherry on top.
“The home has some lovely bones with its high ceilings and well-appointed front rooms both downstairs and upstairs,” shares Melissa. “As the ceilings are so high, we needed statement light fittings that once again reflected that it was a home belonging to a young family.”
For a similar pendant, try Early Settler’s ‘Mirella Capiz’ chandelier; for a similar mirror, try Middle of Nowhere’s ‘Bjorn’ oval mirror.
Brass accents add a hint of opulence to the couple’s room with ‘Le Forge’ bedsides from Boyd Blue and ‘Ivory Lacquered’ boxes from Cromwell.
Melissa kept the existing carpet in Annabelle’s bedroom and freshened up the space with a lick of Dulux Natural White paint. The swivel function on the Brosa armchair is regularly put through its paces, while the sage colour complements the curtains and bespoke bedhead from Xavier Furniture (for similar, try Andrew Martin ‘Picket’ fabric in Leaf).
Annabelle’s Pottery Barn ‘Penny’ desk and Provincial Home Living bedside are finished with a custom lamp and shade that are pretty in pink (for similar, try Bragg & Co).
Bathrooms
Schumacher ‘Tiah Cove’ wallpaper in Sage Leaf adorns the powder room and is picked up in the green Polytec vanity in Topiary. For a tactile touch, Melissa introduced Hepburn Hardware ‘Rope Pulls’ and a cane mirror (for similar, try ‘Orbit’ mirror from Republic Home).
Interior design: Melissa Balzan Design, melissabalzandesign.com
Builder: Pete Stewart Projects, petestewartprojects.com.au
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