Moody dovetails modern

Interior design by Sarah Reid, S R & O

From the designer:

This project was a timely re-work of a gorgeous Victorian era home on the cusp of Melbourne city, in Albert Park. 

The urban setting created some challenges in balancing zoned regulations with the desire of increasing the building footprint. 

Extensive modelling was done to ensure both aspects were maximised.

This included a full re-fit and considered re-plan of the downstairs areas, as well as the addition of further bedrooms and family spaces upstairs. 

The owners were driven to create more open and connected living spaces, with the hope of achieving better natural lighting throughout the spaces. 

The brief was also centred around creating more functional spaces, with growing children and the need for more break out zones.

Consequentially, access to light and nature were guiding principles behind the floor plan, as we worked alongside Webster Architecture (in the initial design and documentation stages) and then later Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture to bring the project to life. 

The resulting floor plan introduces some small – but effective – light wells into the downstairs spaces, to assist with planning and also access to natural light.

New external openings and increased opening heights also assist in achieving this solution.

A well planned and slightly extended upstairs footprint allowed us to achieve the desired zoning of children and adults in the upper floor.

We have also explored an interesting combination of interior palettes on both levels, to give some depth and variation to the spaces. 

The front ‘good rooms’ (or original spaces) of the home take on a moodier tone, against the more refined and lighter rear living zones. 

Materials have been layered together to create further depth, with an overlay of locally sourced and imported fixtures & fittings. 

We also selected a range of final furniture, artworks and objects to finish off the spaces.

Story by: Trendsideas