Cohesion and refinement

From bachelor pad to warm, welcoming family home – a reinvented kitchen and bathrooms are at the heart of this interior renovation while heritage elements are celebrated afresh

Renovated entry hall with heritage detailing retained and

Designer: "Each space has its own character."

Natural materials and tones add to the refined

Main bathroom – a fluted freestanding bath beneath

The new kitchen – reoriented layout establishes clear

Main bathroom corner – Tuscan bronze fittings, and

Lighting was updated to enhance atmosphere.

Walk-in robe forms part of the revamped master

Kitchen – before. - Cohesion and refinement -

Main bathroom – before. - Cohesion and refinement

Designed by Melanie Sa'u, Sa'u Studio

From the renovating interior designer:

Once a dated bachelor pad, this Grey Lynn villa has been transformed into a layered and resilient family home for a young couple balancing two children, busy careers, and a love of travel.

The brief was to create a residence that could withstand the realities of daily life while offering spaces of calm, connection, and quiet luxury.

Reimagined kitchen

At the centre of the home, the kitchen has been reimagined for both function and feeling.

A reoriented layout establishes clear zones for storage, preparation, and cleaning, supported by an integrated pantry and a bespoke island that balances sculptural detail with everyday utility.

By elevating the window line, bench space is maximised, while materials such as organic woodgrains, brushed nickel, and marble-inspired porcelain tie the room together.

Heritage features and lofty ceilings reframed

Heritage features and lofty ceilings were not disguised but rather reframed, allowing the old and new to sit comfortably side by side.

The bathrooms further the sense of retreat.

Master ensuite inspired by boutique hotels

In the master ensuite – inspired by boutique hotels – dark timber tones, Tuscan bronze fittings, and Carrara marble floors create a private sanctuary layered with bespoke detailing, from reeded glass partitions to custom mitred niches.

The family bathroom continues this narrative, balancing hard-working functionality with crafted elegance.

A concealed laundry is seamlessly integrated behind heritage-profile doors, while a fluted freestanding bath beneath the original villa window becomes a sculptural focal point.

Melanie Sa'u, Sa'u Studio

Travertine-look tops, aged bronze tapware, and deep green tiles add tactility and depth, delivering a room that feels both practical and composed.

Minor renovation works throughout the home complete the transformation.

New lighting enhances atmosphere

Lighting is updated to enhance atmosphere and task performance, while flooring has been refreshed to align with the warm and natural material palette, and walls have been repainted to sharpen and unify the architectural detailing.

Each layer works to bring cohesion and refinement to the villa as a whole.

Together, these interventions create a home of balance between hustle and stillness, heritage and modernity, practicality and poetry.

Each space has its own character, yet collectively they tell a story of family life elevated through design: resilient, refined, and designed to evolve with its occupants.