It didn’t take much for artist Eliza Fugar and music producer/artist James Christowski to fall in love with this light-filled Art Deco apartment in Manly.

‘People often talk about the “feel” of a place, and for us, that feeling was palpable from the moment we walked in,’ Eliza says of her first impressions.

‘It felt warm and inviting, with a sense of history and character that made it easy to imagine ourselves living there.’

If that wasn’t enough, the 1940s building is appropriately named Frangipani — after the huge frangipani tree that blossoms over the building in summer. The fact that it was located near some of the Northern Beaches’ best nature walks and swimming spots was the cherry on top.

To enhance the home’s great bones and charming detailing, Eliza and James undertook a swift three-month renovation, focusing largely on the bathroom, kitchen, and opening up the connection between the living zones.

‘We love entertaining and wanted the home to feel welcoming, relaxed and designed around bringing people together,’ Eliza says.

Perhaps most importantly, at 70 square metres, the apartment had just enough space for the creative couple’s eclectic art collection — masterfully styled by Eliza, who also works as a curator and a high school visual arts teacher.

‘I’m very attuned to colour, texture, composition and the emotional quality of objects and spaces,’ Eliza says of her diverse creative practices. ‘I also love the unexpected combinations that can emerge when you allow things to exist together intuitively.

In the cosy living room, the fireplace is framed with built-in shelves, showcasing tactile ceramics and trinkets, while the couple’s record player and a pastel-pink painting by Emily Ebbs both take pride of place.

‘All of the artworks in our home have a sentimental story attached to them,’ she adds.

‘For our wedding, our friends gifted us a Remy Faint artwork, beautifully composed of layered textiles over a silk painting.’

Another treasured piece is the paper lamp by local Sydney designer Lana Launay, gifted from Eliza’s family, while her brother also handcrafted the timber table in the dining room.

The apartment’s Art Deco flair still shines through too, captured in the original light pendants, architraves, and in the sunroom, which has been repurposed as Eliza’s art studio.

‘Our fondest memories have been lounging in the living room with friends, drinking coffee in the morning while the sun beams in and music plays,’ she says.

‘It’s a space that invites a certain kind of ease; long conversations in the mornings that linger, with nowhere in particular to be.’

When the owners of this Northcote property asked Adi Atic, director of FIGR Architecture Studio, to renovate their family home, their brief focused as much on atmosphere and experience as on functionality.

‘The clients approached us with a desire to transform their existing Northcote residence into a home that could evolve with their young and growing family,’ he explains.

The original home, known as Wandilla, provided an important starting point.

‘We sought to preserve its established character and the qualities that had initially attracted the clients to the property,’ Adi says.

They retained the original red-brick facade — a feature the owners loved — and the rooms at the front of the house. The 90s rear addition, however, needed to go. In its place, a modern extension that opens out to the garden, courtyard, and swimming pool.

‘The ambition was for something contemporary that would sit comfortably alongside the existing architecture, celebrating its heritage rather than competing with it,’ he says.

The extension features folded roof planes wrapped in spotted gum timber, recycled red brick and black metal joinery.

‘We were conscious that the materials should not simply decorate the architecture. Each material needed to reinforce the spatial experience, contribute to the atmosphere and age gracefully over time,’ says Adi.

Inside, an open-plan kitchen, dining, and sunken living area is separated by surrounding shelving, level changes, and the freestanding fireplace.

‘Positioned at the transition between the kitchen and the slightly sunken living room, the fireplace acts as a sculptural element that visually anchors the space. Its slender black flue also reinforces the verticality of the soaring roof above,’ Adi says.

‘Previously, the home had a more compartmentalised arrangement with limited connection between its living spaces and the garden. The new design establishes a much more intuitive relationship between cooking, dining, relaxing, entertaining and outdoor activities.’

Calming timber hues, soft whites and natural stone ground the interior, allowing striking black exterior accents to provide contrast without overpowering the spaces.

‘Ultimately, we wanted the old and new to feel connected without disguising their differences. Each part of the house reflects its own time, while contributing to a coherent architectural whole,’ Adi explains.

A Charming Preservation Of A 1970s Suburban Brown Brick Home

When tasked with renovating this brown brick home in Brunswick West, Victoria, Fowler and Ward were briefed to embrace the character of the quintessential suburban build.

In fact, it only took a few fundamental moves dealing with light, views and spatial connections to completely transform the house from its dark and poorly connected former state.

Now, with a nostalgic palette of rich, warm hues that hark back to its origins, an open-plan layout and even a sunken lounge, this home stands as a shining example of ‘retention before reinvention’.

Read the full story here.

A Humble Brick Home, Cleverly Reimagined

Instead of being knocked down, this post-war home on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula has been expertly reimagined as a nostalgic holiday house.

The strategic renovation by JAK Architecture enhanced the house’s humble facade with maroon-coloured guttering, new masonry, and a striped awning — revealing the untapped potential of these ordinary brick buildings.

Read the full story here.

A 1940s Brick Duplex Renovation Bursting With Bold Colours

Located in Melbourne, this 1940s brick duplex is ushered into a new era with WOWOWA’s signature flourish of radiant colour.

See how hues of rich purples, earthy reds, bright orange and dusty pink are expertly woven together to create a home that’s both bold and rejuvenating.

Read the full story here.

What’s Old Is New Again In This Revived 1970s Eltham Home

With its brick facade and exposed timber ceilings, this 1970s house is a familiar sight in Melbourne’s outer north-east.

After more than a decade in the home, the owners knew the interiors needed updating — but they were equally clear about what they wanted to preserve.

See inside the thoughtfully renovated Eltham home by Demardi Builders, interior designer Tiano Studio, and building designer Levan Design.

Read the full story here.

Turning Back Time In A Classic Melbourne Brick Home

This existing brick house in Yarraville, Melbourne was in decent condition — you just couldn’t tell under the layers of disjointed renovations.

The long-time owners engaged Agius Scorpo Architects to strip back the ‘incredibly congested and agitated arrangement of rooms’, creating a central communal area connecting to the west-facing backyard.

Just 22 square metres of mostly external space has been added to the family home, but the impact has been colossal.

Read the full story here.

A Brick Veneer Home Transformed To Embrace The Outdoors

To say Michael Ong Design Office (MODO)’s renovations have changed this post-war brick veneer Brunswick West house would be an understatement.

The addition of a new living area and a sunken internal courtyard has brought new life, literally, into the Melbourne home, which pushes the family outdoors at every opportunity.

Read the full story here.

A Classic 1930s Brick Home Masterfully Reimagined

Rather than seeking to imitate or conceal, this striking extension of a 1930s Newcastle home offers a conversation between old and new.

Find out how owner-builder Guy Bunder (of Made Homes) and architects Curious Practice reimagined the original red-brick home within strict heritage confines to create something fit for family living in the 21st century.

Read the full story here.

An Interior Designer’s Heartwarming Family Home

Interior designer Jane Kilpatrick, co-founder of Pipkorn Kilpatrick, lives in this Northcote home with her husband and three sons.

When the family purchased the property in 2016, its original Victorian features were almost completely disguised by exterior metal columns, paired internally with a kaleidoscope of wallpapers, shag pile carpets, and closed-off living areas.

With the assistance of Ancher Architecture Office, Jane returned the original home to a calming palette and added an earthy, optimally oriented extension with outdoor space on three sides.

Read the full story here.

An Architect’s Thoughtful Six-Year Family Home Reno

A six-year renovation, completed over four stages, has completely transformed the triple-fronted, post-war home of Wilson Tang, director of Sonelo Architects.

It’s now a serene sanctuary for connection and valued cultural rituals.

Read the full story here.

How A Breezeblock Tower Reimagined This Modest Mid-Century House

The humble character, scale, and charm of this suburban mid-century home in Melbourne’s south-east remain unchanged after an inspiring renovation.

Driven by the idea of ‘repair rather than replacement’, House Freddie by Studio Bright adapts a single-level brick house for modern family life, thanks to an innovative breeze block tower.

Read the full story here.

Blair Smith Architecture believes a home should bring its owners security, belonging, and connection. This philosophy shaped their renovation of an inner-city Melbourne house for a family of five returning after 16 years abroad.

Having rented their double-fronted, semi-detached Federation house in Richmond while living in London, the owners knew a renovation was needed to restore the home’s modest 30-year-old single-storey addition and make room for their grown family.

‘The previously completed addition had held up well over the decades, but it was much more compact, and because the family had grown up, their needs had changed quite a bit,’ explains architect Blair Smith.

So, the previous addition was replaced with a contemporary, two-level extension, designed around an open staircase within a slender, double-height void.

‘The walk-in robe and en suite are positioned around this void, offering continuous visual connections through the entire length of the site and out to the city skyline,’ Blair says.

‘The new addition makes a delicate connection to the period building, sleeving itself under the retained eave with a linear skylight illuminating the threshold between old and new,’ says Blair.

Cream brick, light-coloured timber, and white steel honour the existing heritage streetscape while introducing a contemporary edge alongside the retained steel awnings, feathered shutters and rebuilt porch.

The reconfigured front of the home now fits three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a powder room.

‘Unusually, this meant that the original feature fireplace is a part of the bathroom,’ Blair explains.

A key part of the owners’ brief was capturing city views from the home’s upper level. In response, Blair designed a secluded retreat featuring a living space and main bedroom, divided by an internal curtain.

‘It’s a space where one can become ensconced, tucked away from the outside world, while also having an incredible view to it,’ he says.

The design also considered the family’s privacy, especially since the rear of the home opens to a street filled with neighbouring garages and fences.

‘An integrated car gate and a brick screen to the rumpus room facilitate passive surveillance, secure ventilation — as well as an opportunity to extend the yard/playscape into the lane to foster community engagement,’ Blair explains.

Shutters also cleverly offer a city outlook while restricting views down to neighbouring windows.

By the time the owners returned from London, their home was ready: primed for connection, light and space.

Homes designed to withstand extreme weather can often take on a heavy, defensive appearance, with resilience coming at the expense of their relationship with the surrounding landscape.

This was front of mind for Marker Architecture when designing a new guest cabin on a sprawling rural property in Millers Forest, around 50 kilometres north of Newcastle.

‘It’s beautiful, peaceful country with big old gums, views down to the Hunter River, and the pool and tennis court nearby,’ studio director Ben Nemeny says of the setting.

‘Its biggest shortcoming is that it floods. Water moves across the land in a flood event and wildlife moves across it every day, so we knew early on that the ground had to stay open so that the cabin and nature could peacefully coexist.’

This pushed the architects to look at the surrounding bushland and at the flooded gum trees for inspiration, which became the project’s namesake.

‘The tree has a rough “stocking” of bark around its base that gives way to a smooth, pale trunk above,’ Ben says.

‘We loved that idea of a tough base protecting something more refined up top, and it became the whole strategy for the cabin. There’s a robust, flood-resistant base clad in stone-filled gabions, and a lighter timber cabin sits above it.’

Much like a tree, the cabin was ‘planted’ atop a stabilised earth embankment, with stilts and a footbridge that also hovers above the ground, providing a safe path away from flood waters.

With the approach to build less, but ‘build better’, the 77-square-metre dwelling reveals a simple floor plan.

Two flexible rooms used for sleeping and living are split by a central bathroom, kitchenette and boot room. Every room opens to a deck, as the spotted gum plywood walls and oak floors reinforce the cabin’s treehouse-like atmosphere.

The exterior cladding and decking are made from Thermory, a thermally modified ash timber that naturally resists rot without the need for chemical treatments.

‘Every material outside had to be able to go through a flood and come out the other side without needing to be replaced,’ Ben adds.

An integrated bench and platform create a connection between the cabin, pool and tennis court, positioning it at the heart of the property’s outdoor activities. The design prioritises outdoor living, reflecting the way the property is intended to be enjoyed.

It’s also off-grid, and operates largely from solar power, rainwater, and a wood fire fuelled by fallen timber from the property.

‘We really see this project as a prototype for how we might live in flood-prone places,’ Ben says.

‘Rather than avoiding these landscapes or bulldozing them into submission, it shows you can live gently alongside the water and wildlife and have a beautiful time doing it.’

When Erica George and Damon McKinnon sold their Templestowe home in 2023, they were pleasantly surprised to come across this mid-century modern home in Research, originally designed by local architect Tony Gilligan in the ’70s for his own family.

‘We had driven past this home for years; however, it had never come across our radar as it was hidden behind a large front paling fence,’ interior designer and homeowner Erica recalls.

The spacious 2.5-acre property’s drawcards were instant: the home had a solid foundation, split-level design, and a blend of mid-century influences with Australian modernism. However, neglected maintenance over the years called for a thorough renovation to bring it back to life.

The roof leaked; there were no gutters; the carport was collapsing; concrete pavers were dislodged by tree roots; the outdated kitchen required a refresh; and the stark white bathroom and laundry didn’t align with the rest of the home’s aesthetic.

‘We wanted to bring it into the present while remaining sympathetic to the home’s architectural character. Apart from the Hawthorn brick shell, floor-to-ceiling windows and the original Daniel Robertson Terracotta floors, the home required a full overhaul,’ Damon explains.

The renovation resolved these issues by replacing the entire roof; adding new stormwater, heating, and cooling systems; and inserting a much-needed garage and mudroom.

The new layout maximises space and comfort in the living room, transforming the master bedroom into an oasis, placing the kitchen at the heart of the home, and retaining the guest residence in the original stables.

‘The kitchen is now proportionally correct for a home of this size; it is functional, has plenty of storage and preparation space, all whilst nestling into the existing bones of the home,’ Damon says.

The couple loved selecting each finish, fixture and fitting, and working with their builder, Jason from Treehouse Constructions, who had previously worked under architect Alistair Knox’s son Hamish, where he gained a thorough understanding of the architectural character of Research homes.

‘Jason’s experience with similar construction also meant he could offer thoughtful, practical solutions to design challenges as they arose, helping us achieve our vision while remaining sympathetic to the home’s original architecture,’ Erica says.

Their selected palette of warm colours and natural textures complements the existing brick and terracotta floors. Japanese tiles appear throughout the home, contrasting with the rich natural stone, warm timber tones, and brass accents.

‘We also wanted to pay homage to the home’s 1970s origins through the considered selection of finishes, incorporating high-gloss mosaics, sculptural resin baths and rich textures that reference the era while bringing a contemporary sophistication to the interiors,’ says Damon.

A subtle Japanese influence appears in the property’s sweeping curves, landscaped berms, new lawns and planting. An outdoor entertaining area with a secluded fire pit, a built-in barbecue and a pizza oven sits near the pool.

‘We carried out major earthworks to reshape the land, creating large natural rock retaining walls, tiered garden beds and more usable outdoor spaces while maintaining the natural character of the surrounding bushland,’ says Erica.

Erica and Damon have relished the privacy, tranquillity, and freedom in this character-filled home, but the time has come to move on to another architectural adventure.

‘While we’ll certainly miss the home and everything we’ve created here, we’re excited about what the next chapter might bring,’ says Erica.

310 Reynolds Road, Research, VIC, 3095, is listed for sale with Aaron Yeats from Jellis Craig North East.

When Sandra Georges moved into her childhood home in Melbourne’s east, originally built by her parents in 1956, she saw an opportunity to give it a new lease on life.

‘The home had a lovely mid-century character and a number of original architectural features that we were keen to retain and celebrate,’ interior designer Jenni Robin explains.

‘While the house was in a generally liveable condition, it lacked some of the comforts and functionality expected of a modern home.’

With single-glazed windows and minimal insulation, the home fell short on thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Limited storage and an awkward layout also meant it didn’t entirely support the needs of Sandra, her husband Gerald and their son Alexandre.

‘The brief was about creating a home that would evolve with [them]… We wanted to preserve the charm and personality of the original architecture, while introducing contemporary functionality and considered design solutions,’ says Jenni.

Catherine Ruffle from Lateral Building Design devised a new layout and added a small extension to make room for a larger kitchen, pantry, laundry, and bathroom. A new bedroom was also added, alongside a new outdoor entertaining area.

‘The extension provided an opportunity to create more usable space and address some of the shortcomings of the original home, without significantly increasing its footprint,’ Jenni says.

With the layout resolved, Jenni turned her attention to the interiors.

‘A big part of the design approach was finding a balance between celebrating the home’s original mid-century character and introducing contemporary elements that would allow it to feel fresh,’ she says.

Throughout the home, delicate decorative details are expertly balanced with harder, industrial materials, such as the stainless steel used in the kitchen.

‘We were keen to explore a soft, feminine colour palette that would bring warmth and personality to the home, while providing a beautiful contrast to the more commercial aesthetic of the stainless steel benchtops and splashbacks’, says Jenni.

‘Sandra had a real aversion to grey, so this was never a consideration… Instead, we embraced warmer, more expressive colours and materials that brought personality and a sense of individuality to the interiors.’

These warm tones appear in the burgundy gloss tiles covering the kitchen rangehood and the rich red Axminster carpet in the living room — a colour inspired by the couple’s Rosso Rubino Murano glass vases.

While the revised layout meant a few existing windows had to be removed, a new internal stained-glass panel was installed at the top of the staircase to honour the home’s heritage.

‘Small fragments of glass were salvaged from an original window in the home that was unfortunately damaged during construction, allowing a little piece of the original house to live on in the new design,’ Sandra says.

1950s-inspired glazed panels replaced solid internal doors, while old fabric light fittings were swapped for beautifully detailed glass shades, adding a sense of craftsmanship and further celebrating the home’s original character.

‘These details provided a connection between the home’s past and its future,’ says Sandra. ‘While the house has been transformed, its memories, character and history remain very much part of its story.’

Under $5k

No matter what budget you’re working with, there are some key pieces that every living room needs, starting with the sofa.

Luckily, there are some excellent options around the $2000 mark, including the Sunday Sofa from Fenton & Fenton. It’s a modular design, which is especially great for those on a budget, as you can start with the two-seater and always add in more pieces later down the track!

A rug is another must-have, and we love the balance of earthy browns and pops of colour in this limited-edition design by Zouzou Rugs and Double Studio.

With the big-ticket items out of the way, you still have room in the $5000 budget for a few other cost-effective pieces. Instead of a large coffee table, opt for a simple but colourful side table, or consider adding a feature wall using a pop of blue paint from Tint.

Total spend: $4796

Under $10k

Six figures is a very healthy budget for styling a living room! It means you can splurge on statement pieces with slightly more detail and elevated materials, like the oak timber-and-tiled Palm Drive Coffee Table by Trit House.

It pairs nicely with Eva’s Eclipse Sofa, which has a chaise for extra comfort. You can also factor in a bigger rug, like the Emilio from Weave, a side table, and an elegant pendant light.

And don’t forget to invest in some styling objects to make the space sing! Think patterned cushions or a little original artwork from Sunday Salon.

Total spend: $9841

Under $20k

With $20,000 to play with, the world is your oyster. We suggest investing in some distinctive luxury pieces; think ELLISON STUDIO’s ultra-plush Float Sofa, which has been designed to mimic the feeling of a 1970s conversation pit! Sometimes with a bigger budget, less is more, so focus on furniture with strong silhouettes.

You can also have more fun with multiple light sources. Pair the Ingo Maurer Floatation Suspension Lamp from Space Furniture with a sculptural floor lamp to fill your living room with a soft glow every evening.

Embrace an eclectic look by mixing timber with stainless steel in the side tables, while using a substantial rug like the Malawi hand-knotted wool rug from Armadillo as an ‘anchor’ that ties all these pieces together in the space for a high-end look.

Total spend: $19,648

Sydney’s inner-city streets are full of century-old workers’ cottages that are just waiting for the right person to unlock their untapped potential.

Before its recent renovation by Architect George, this house in Rosebery was one such home.

Like many heritage dwellings from the era, it had the usual faults: little to no connection to the outdoors, a lack of sunlight, and a footprint that was too tight for the growing family of four who had moved in a few years before.

‘Our clients [Sarah and Justin] loved their old, humble home and the mix of eclectic buildings that are situated in the street and the rear laneway,’ Architect George director Dean Williams says.

Their brief expressed a particular love of mid-century architecture’s sleek lines and material honesty. The family tasked the architects with finding ways to incorporate this look and feel in the renovation, which also had to find room for new spaces and maintain the original cottage’s modest expression.

It all started with a refurbishment of the facade. Inside, the front bedroom and living space on the ground floor remain in place, alongside a refreshed attic bedroom nestled into the original roof pitch.

The rest of the residence was reimagined around a new central courtyard with terracotta tiles. The garden’s careful positioning was crucial to overcome the constraints of the narrow site, ensuring the new spaces could stretch the full length of the property.

Floor-to-ceiling glass doors unfold to the garden, located alongside a 12-metre galley kitchen with jarrah timber joinery, followed by the dining room and the main bathroom — a hardworking sequence designed to accommodate the demands of modern family life.

‘This provides ease for the family [juggling] bath time for the young kids, whilst dinner is on the go. Their son Arthur can be in the bath playing with toys and debriefing about the day with parents Sarah and Justin while they cook,’ Dean says.

Drawing on the client’s love of mid-century modern design, the renovated palette is full of texture. Polished concrete flooring meets exposed brick walls, as timber rafts on the ceiling emphasise the rich red theme that continues throughout.

In addition to maximising natural light throughout, the courtyard also helped split the private and public areas of the home.

The new two-storey extension houses the garage and utility spaces at the rear, providing laneway access where the family can kick a ball or host a party, with the bedrooms nestled upstairs.

‘The design avoids drawing attention to itself within the urban context. From the street, no architectural additions are visible. From the laneway, the building’s presentation is a pared-back curation of timber, brick, operable screening and steel detailing,’ Dean adds.

He sees the renovation as a continuation of Architect George’s exploration in avoiding ‘a one-size-fits-all kind of architecture’, instead seeking to create homes that are equal parts practical and personal.

Best of all, the project also extends the life of the old cottage for the next generation, with plenty of room for the family in the years to come.

In every community, there’s usually one house that is known as the designated host — the place where you know you can drop in for dinners, celebrations, or just to see a familiar face.

Located about 25km from Melbourne, the Craigieburn/Galgi Gnarrk family home of Studio Affogato founder Afraa Ahmed and accountant Adnan Mir is exactly that.

‘We designed our home for the community; I have hosted wedding parties, Eid prayers and so much more,’ interior architect Afraa Ahmed says.

The couple first came across their property about a decade ago, when the empty block was listed for just $210,000.

‘When we were renting in Essendon back in 2014, we would drive here to purchase the fresh fruit and veg from a Turkish vendor. On one such Sunday, loaded with grocery bags, we saw a sign advertising the land [for sale],’ Afraa says.

In 2017, with a limited budget, they engaged a modular builder to create the residence. At the time, the focus was on investing in the home’s infrastructure, leaving the cosmetic updates for after they moved in.

But over the last eight years, Afraa has slowly but surely elevated each space with a series of practical and personal updates.

Externally, they built a new deck that maximises views across Aitken Creek, and installed solar panels, while also transforming the interiors with expressive colours and textiles, drawing plenty of inspiration from her hometown in Chennai, India.

‘Being South Indian, when I moved to Melbourne 16 years ago, I was disappointed to see such restraint in colour and expression. We come from colour, pattern and a history of storytelling,’ Afraa says.

‘Chennai was the city I grew up in, once called Madras, which is known for its handicraft work, and you can see a lot of that in my home. Everything I have collected has been to support an independent artist, manufacturers in India, and from my travels.’

The family’s Muslim culture has also deeply influenced the home’s design and functionality. The front lounge now doubles as a dedicated prayer room, with terracotta-toned walls influenced by the tranquil sunset skies they often watch from the windows in that space.

The study is painted a deep red hue, reminiscent of henna pigment; the cosy dining room is drenched in a deep green; the high-traffic staircase features a pop of plum, deliberately chosen to hide marks from foot traffic.

An original bentwood chair is one of the many Facebook Marketplace gems inside the family home, styled alongside Afraa’s proud collection of tapestries, artworks, and about 50 indoor plants.

There’s an enduring warmth to the resulting interiors, which in large part comes down to Afraa’s belief in having a vision and sticking to it. Even if it takes a little while to bring it to life.

‘I have spent 16 years successfully convincing corporate clients to use colour and identity for a memorable experience. If you can persuade 20 suited men to paint a room yellow, you build enough confidence to trust your instincts,’ she adds.

You can see why their place is known within Afraa’s community as ‘that Aunty’s house’, where family and friends can always gather with ease: ‘It is hard to explain it, but in our culture we don’t lock the door,’ she says.

‘We invite you to break bread with us any day, and my space reflects that. The way we designed it lets the light through, so you are welcome to come in and not feel intimidated – you know you’ll fit right in.’