Photography: Martina Gemmola
After living in Italy for six years, a couple and their three young daughters bid arrivederci to the European dream and returned to Australia. They were greeted with open arms by loved ones but the period home they bought in Melbourne didn’t extend as warm a welcome. Dark and dated with an impractical floor plan resulting from decades of mismatched renovations, the house lacked modern comfort and cohesion.
Fortunately, Mikayla Rose, director and principal designer at Heartly, knew where to begin. She set to work masterminding a top-to-toe renewal of the original house, coupled with a two-storey addition at the rear. “We needed to create a spacious and uplifting contemporary home for this joyful family,” Mikayla says of the 18-month project.
Who lives here?
A couple with three young daughters.
Where? Melbourne’s north-east suburbs.
Original property? A three bedroom, single level 1920s California bungalow.
Time frame? 18 months.
Why renovate? Located in a quiet street 7km from Melbourne’s CBD, the home’s period facade held great appeal but the owners wanted the home to be brighter and roomier.
Must-haves? A strong link between the living spaces and rear garden, a playroom that grows with the family and two additional bedrooms.
The works? Restoring the original rooms and constructing a doublestorey rear addition.
Favourite aspect? “The void in the entry that drops light over the stairs, drawing the eye to a view of the sky,” says Mikayla.
The makeover
The classic California bungalow facade was retained, along with the two rooms facing the street, but the ‘bits and pieces’ added over the decades were demolished and replaced by a contemporary two level extension, including a new garage. “This allowed us to establish a very convenient floor plan, where groceries can be dropped in the walk-in pantry, which is now connected to a mudroom and the kitchen,” explains Mikayla.
A pared back palette of grey and white Elba dolomite and European oak flooring gives the home a timeless feel, with bursts of pink and green providing cohesion throughout. “The spaces feel uplifting, joyful and deeply personal,” says Mikayla. The result is a beautifully renewed home imbued with happiness and harmony. Keeping within budget, the renovation ran smoothly. While the family has since sold the home, it will always hold a place in their hearts.
The original front doors were revived with Dulux Piglet, a request from the owners’ daughters who wanted the whole house painted pink. This casts a rosy glow across the Made by Storey ‘Sesame’ flooring.
Proving pattern and colour can be calming, vibrant linen from Kip & Co is teamed with white cushions from Adairs and a Waverley Mills throw. The original leadlight windows and a new ceiling rose provide period charm
A full-height picture window frames a wall of greenery in the ensuite. A sculptural freestanding Kaskade ‘Aveo’ bath is positioned to soak up the leafy vista.
Style secret…All natural stone is porous and care needs to be taken to avoid staining. Mikayla used TuffSkin Surface Protection on the Artedomus Elba dolomite benchtops in both indoor and alfresco kitchens.
Best advice
Mikayla suggests using art to tell a compelling tale throughout the home. “Art should invoke emotion, whether it’s joy, drama or intrigue,” says Mikayla. “I encourage clients to collect and gather art as they move through life, rather than ‘go shopping’ for a specific piece. Art should not sit blandly in a room without any relationship to you.”
Lessons learnt
White doesn’t have to be clinical. “The brief called for a fresh, clean aesthetic with an emphasis on predominantly white selections,” says Mikayla. “The balance of materials and textures, and the inclusion of warmer finishes, such as timbers and fabrics, is critical when working with a such a monochrome palette.” Mikayla also considered how the outlook to the garden, as well as the owners’ art collection and furnishings, would inform the extent to which she was able to repeat white on white.
“It’s wonderful to be able to open up the entire house to the garden with the big sliding doors,” says the owner. The outdoor kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with a BeefEater barbecue, Schweigen outdoor rangehood, joinery in Laminex’s Compact Laminate ‘Polar White’ and honed Elba stone benchtop. A Fenton & Fenton sleek ‘Sundowner’ outdoor dining set continues the white on white scheme. The owner adds, “This is such a lovely home to entertain in.”
Source book
Interior design Heartly, heartly.com.au
Builder LVL Group, lvlgroup.com.au
Landscape design, Peachy Green, peachygreen.com.au
Landscape construction, Modern Outdoor Living, modernoutdoorliving.com.au
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