This 1904 Federation-era home in Cremorne Point was once admired for its breathtaking harbour views that, over time, have sadly been obscured by surrounding developments.

Homeowners, parents of four, and practising surgeons, Tom and Edwina, wanted a practical and tranquil home to retreat to after leaving the sterile and stressful hospital environment.

They enlisted Toby Breakspear, director of Breakspear Architects, to make the most of their site and connect the home to its surroundings.

A clumsy ’80s rear extension was demolished to insert a two-storey rear addition, shifting focus from the front of the house to the back. The ground floor was organised around the larger-than-life cockspur coral tree that was retained in the demolition.

In the front Federation-style rooms, light and landscape spill in through two original — now unblocked — archways. Light also enters the home through the renovated roof, which acts as a sundial, letting shadows dance around throughout the day.

Beyond these original rooms lies the new extension — a cloister-like space where the kitchen and bay window sit adjacent to a tree canopy. This allows the family move seamlessly between the house, garden and laneway.

Toby describes it as a ‘hybrid indoor-outdoor realm that reconnects the Federation rooms to landscape.’

He took inspiration from the architecture of Spanish cloisters, admiring their quiet power, and how they restore Federation architecture while accessing the surrounding landscape.

‘This has turned out to be the most used part of the house — it’s flexible, informal and changes with the time of day,’ Toby explains. ‘Here it seems that people, architecture, and garden are well attuned. It’s nice when a design becomes something lived-in and enjoyed, something that brings people and their surrounds together.’

The cloister-like addition also works to slow time and movement in the house, suiting the family’s lifestyle and referencing in-between spaces often found in Japanese architecture.

The home’s name, Kyoto House, was chosen in 1905 by the original owners, not in relation to Japanese architecture but rather in memory of their trip to Japan.

‘We like to joke that, after 120 years, the home’s renewed character finally brings the Kyoto into Kyoto House,’ Toby says.

Beyond the two-storey addition lies the renovated courtyard garden, a pool, single garage, and outdoor entertaining areas.

From the front street view, the house still appears to be in its original single-storey Federation-era state. However, a step into the rear laneway reveals the light-filled and functional two-storey addition, just as Tim and Edwina had envisioned.

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It was a case of right place, right time, that brought Jamie and Marika Perrow to The Glass House — a mid-century modern home breathtakingly suspended above the treetops in Castlecrag, NSW.

In 2022, Marika and Jamie returned to Sydney, after a decade living overseas, in search of a family home where they could raise their three sons, Sunny (13), Teddy (11) and Cassidy (7). Ideally, somewhere close to relatives and the coast for surfing, but they were also open-minded — aware of the post-COVID real estate market’s rapidly rising prices.

One listing kept popping up in their searches: The Glass House. Completed in 1957 by architects Bill and Ruth Lucas as their own family home, the residence was built as an innovative experiment, both in engineering and its ethos.

Made up of economical materials and off-the-shelf components, the slender steel-framed glass and timber construction invites the outside in at every turn, with floating walkways that make minimal impact on the steep bushland site below.

Meanwhile, the 140-square-metre floor plan is uniquely shaped around a central deck and a void featuring a towering tree. Today, it’s recognised as a seminal example of the lightweight, shelter-in-nature buildings designed in Sydney after World War II.

Despite its inclusion on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2016, the architectural gem was in ‘terrible condition’ when Marika and Jamie first stepped inside.

‘Glass was cracked, decks were rotten, the roof had leaks, the floors were uneven. It was a huge and challenging project that no one else seemed to be willing to take on,’ Marika says.

And yet, the couple felt instantly compelled to give the special house a second life — bolstered by their deep appreciation of mid-century design and Jamie’s renovation skills.

‘He’s very hands-on and loves a project,’ Marika says.

Another twist of fate led the Perrow family to the perfect architect for the project, Peter Lonergan from Cracknell & Lonergan Architects.

Shortly after buying the property, Marika saw that Peter had curated an exhibition and self-published a book chronicling Bill Lucas’ work and his enduring legacy. As the custodian of the Lucas archives, Peter was uniquely placed to be their guide for the 12-month restoration that lay ahead: ‘His vision and understanding of it is unlike anyone else.’

The painstaking restoration was a collaboration between Jamie and Peter, who also brought in Bill Lucas’ son Peter Lucas, a skilled builder and master craftsman.

Conservation work included installing new decks, floors, glass, roof and the kitchen, which was all informed by original drawings, sketches, photos, and handwritten notes by Bill himself.

Every element was reshaped in The Glass House’s original image, ensuring the essence of the home and its floor plan remained very much intact.

Rooms inside don’t have traditional doors — in fact, none at all — forming an inviting, maze-like arrangement, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms located at the back of the house, overlooking the endless greenery of a nature reserve.

The front of the home features the kitchen, dining and two lounge rooms; one now nicknamed the ‘adult’s lounge’.

Marika notes while the house might be considered small, the floor plan is highly functional for their modern family of five.

‘Australia’s got such an enormous amount of space, and the houses seem to just be getting bigger and bigger, which I think was probably why the house was not appealing to a lot of people,’ she says.

‘But for us, coming from our 10 years abroad living in very high-density locations like Shanghai and New York City, we had been accustomed to smaller spaces. If anything, it forces you to be more connected with each other as a family, and with the natural environment.’

The Glass House’s immaculate restoration has since won a range of awards, all recognising how the ethereal abode models a different form of family housing that is modest, economical, and environmentally conscious.

Its structure remains utterly enchanting and, best of all, liveable, even 70 years since it was first built — a true testament to Bill and Ruth Lucas’ enduring visionary design.

An edited version of this story originally appeared in The Design Files Magazine Issue 04. Subscribe to the biannual print magazine here.

You’ve probably noticed an influx of electric vehicles on the roads lately.

The Electric Vehicle Council reported full electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids reached 35.8% of Australian new passenger car sales in June this year — up from 11% just 12 months earlier.

If you’re considering making the switch, you might be asking one of the questions below, which we put to AGL Head of eMobility Mabelle Reyes.

Why should I consider purchasing an electric vehicle?

With a growing range of electric vehicle (EVs) models across different sizes and price points available in Australia, there has never been a better time to buy an EV. ‘Public charging infrastructure continues to expand, making long-distance travel easier, while home charging remains cost effective and convenient for everyday driving,’ says AGL Head of eMobility Mabelle Reyes.

For many households, the biggest benefit of an EV is the lower running costs compared to a petrol vehicle. Savings vary depending on driving distance, car model, electricity prices, and charging habits, but for a typical driver travelling around 15,000 kilometres a year and mostly charging at home, Mabelle says EV drivers can save around $1,500-$3,000 per year in fuel costs alone. To find out how much you can save for your individual circumstance, try AGL’s free EV savings calculator.

For those not yet ready to purchase an EV, an EV subscription can be a great way to try an electric car with the flexibility to swap or return the vehicle.

EVs also produce significantly less carbon emissions, noise, and air pollution than comparable petrol and diesel vehicles. When considering the total carbon emissions life cycle of an electric vehicle (including vehicle production, operation and disposal), it’s estimated that an EV can offset the emissions from its production within two years of use.

How can I charge my EV at home?

Charging an EV at home can be as simple as plugging your car into a standard power point, which can be handy for car owners without a garage, or for those with lower daily driving needs. Seven hours of charging via a standard power point typically adds 100km to an EV battery’s driving range.

To charge your car more efficiently and quickly, most drivers will benefit from a higher-powered dedicated EV wall charging setup — purchased separately and installed by a licensed electrician. In addition to much faster charging times, dedicated wall chargers often include smart features that allow charging to be scheduled when electricity is cheaper or when solar generation is available.

The cost of a home EV charger varies depending on the brand, features, and installation requirements, but basic home chargers typically start at around $1,000-$2,000 for the hardware, says Mabelle. Premium chargers with advanced smart charging and solar integration features typically cost more, and installation is usually an additional cost based on your home’s electrical setup. Explore home chargers available through AGL here.

How can I minimise the cost of charging my EV at home?

The price of charging your EV changes based on multiple factors, one being your electricity provider and plan.

AGL offers customers a Night Saver EV plan, which provides low rates from 12am to 6am. Depending on your EV model and battery size, you could charge your EV overnight for as little as $5*.

If you are on a time-of-use or EV-specific electricity plan, make sure you’re charging during off-peak times. Use solar power if possible to charge during the day when your system is generating energy, and take advantage of smart charging features that automatically schedule charging for the cheapest times.

What do you wish more people knew about EVs? 

Living with an EV is often much easier than people expect, says Mabelle, and they’re fun to drive!

There’s also a few myths to dispel — one being that EVs aren’t suitable for long drives, or they require charging every night. Current EVs have an average battery range of around 400kms — enough to meet the average Australian’s driving needs for over a week — and some new models can drive for over 600kms on a single charge.

For those regularly driving longer distances, more service stations and towns are investing in public charging infrastructure that uses commercial three-phase power infrastructure, providing 100km of battery charge in as little as three minutes, usually for a fee.

Those who drive long distances more regularly may prefer a plug-in hybrid, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor and a plug-in battery, allowing drivers to use electricity for short trips, and petrol for longer distances.

‘In the future, technologies such as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) could allow EV batteries to also share energy back into our homes, or into the grid when it’s needed, helping reduce pressure on the grid and keep energy more affordable and reliable for everyone,’ says Mabelle.

*Estimated charging cost based on a Tesla Electric Vehicle Model 3/Y RWD standard range with a 62kWh usable battery and a usage rate of 8c/kWh applicable from 12 to 6am. The charging cost may be greater for other electric vehicle types or battery sizes.

Learn more about how to electrify your home with AGL’s Electrify Now™ tool. Estimate your potential savings on energy bills or running costs and find out about available rebates, payback periods and more.

A Courtyard House by Office MI—JI is a newly built ‘forever home’ for a couple who’d spent the last four decades living on the same block in bayside Melbourne.

‘They had retired and wanted to ensure their home, which they loved, could accommodate living well into their retirement life, no matter what happened,’ Office MI—JI co-director Jimmy Carter says of the clients.

‘Being an artist, a businessperson and involved grandparents, the two main occupants hold different interests and requirements, while also needing strong collective areas for themselves and their larger family.’

Their existing home was a two-storey 1920s building framed in timber. However, the raised floor level made it ‘impossible’ to renovate in line with the client’s brief focused on accessibility — including providing allowance for wheelchair access and the removal of all steps.

Deciding to demolish the property, the architects made way for a new residence on the 692-square-metre site, deliberately arranged into four quadrants.

Each quadrant differs in its roof and aperture design, while the second level provides separate sleeping and entertainment quarters for the owners’ extended family whenever they’re in town.

On the ground floor, there’s a garage, workroom, living room, and a main bedroom with a study, with a series of courtyard gardens nestled along each zone. In addition to giving every room its own outlook, the unique configuration affirms the central kitchen as a unifying place for the family to gather.

‘The space extends out into each east and west courtyard, to give a sense of being outdoors when in the middle of the house,’ Jimmy adds.

From a structure and material perspective, the house is clad in limestone concrete block with render sponged brickwork, in keeping with the site’s 1918 covenant.

‘All walls and visible roofs were to be tile, brick or concrete, and the house follows this with double cement block walls on ground level and cement-rendered brick walls on level one and visible roofs,’ Jimmy says.

Securing the home’s sustainability, all available roof space is taken up with PV panels connected to a battery storage system and car charging facilities, alongside all-electric appliances.

Light is also central to the home, with skylights tucked into its angled rooflines and floor-to-ceiling glazing drawing the garden and sky deep into the interiors. A continuous band of pale blue steel wraps around the house, separating the concrete blockwork at ground level from the rendered brickwork and tiled roofs above.

Referencing the sky, the steel element also acts as a lintel, rainhead, awning and soft boundary. It’s a simple but considered detail that speaks to MI—JI’s broader approach: making a lot out of very little.

The result is a house that takes inspiration from the past, while marking a new chapter that will carry its owners comfortably into the future.

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When Corinne and Sam Titterton planned the build of their new home, they had a clear vision for the kitchen: warm, inviting, and somewhere between mid-century modern and farmhouse.

To bring it to life, they enlisted SpaceCraft Joinery senior designer Sarah Katsaros, who set out to create a space that reflected the warmth of the family themselves.

‘I really wanted the space to embody the warmth that the clients brought with them and create an inviting, textural space,’ Sarah says.

Her original design centred around American walnut timber veneer joinery and solid timber feature legs on the island. But when the budget couldn’t quite stretch to accommodate the materials, Sarah began exploring alternatives that could achieve a similar look.

The answer was Polytec’s Florentine Walnut — a melamine finish that captured the rich tones of American walnut while working more comfortably within the project’s budget.

Sarah did, however, keep the solid American walnut legs on the island. It was a gamble, given the natural timber could have differed significantly from the Florentine Walnut joinery, but thankfully the combination worked.

‘The risk paid off and the solid timber legs look fantastic against the background of the Florentine,’ Sarah says.

The island is also anchored by an emerald quartzite benchtop, introducing another layer of colour and texture to the earthy palette. The solid timber legs cut directly through the stone — a detail that shifts from honed quartzite to satin timber grain, and one Sarah considers a highlight of the project.

‘I’m proud of how this came together and proud of the work by our workshop/install team and stone fabricator to nail this detail.’

Corinne and Sam agree: the stone benchtop is their favourite element in the finished kitchen. ‘It literally took our breath away. And every visitor thereafter,’ Corinne says.

Elsewhere, Sarah made the most of the long wall connecting the kitchen and pantry, incorporating a coffee nook, fridge and additional bench space. A textured tiled splashback adds further depth to the warm, earthy scheme, while the walnut tones continue seamlessly into the adjoining pantry.

The result is a kitchen that balances practicality with personality — and proves a few clever material substitutions can sometimes lead you exactly where you wanted to go.

As a counterpoint to today’s fast-paced digital world, analogue pleasures are making a comeback — from vinyl records and print media to the simple joy of reading.

And few things capture this shift quite like a well-styled bookshelf, which can be both a reflection of personality and a signifier of personal taste.

It’s also a fail-safe design strategy to instantly introduce character, colour, and charm into your home.

If you’re looking to make a bookcase a hero feature of your home, why not line an entire wall with floor-to-ceiling storage?

One of the most incredible examples of this we’ve ever seen is in the family home of Freehand Projects architects Michael and Tamara Bell. Their renovation created an enormous double-height bookshelf made from plywood in the living room — inspired by the library in the 1964 film, My Fair Lady!

On a smaller scale, the white shelving in this Melbourne home shows how shelving on a blank wall in the dining space can become a personal archive of design books and magazines.

Another clever option is to build custom shelving onto an underutilised corner, like across the stairwell of this Sydney home, where Sibling Architecture made every design decision with reading in mind.

For a more traditional look, we love how romantic a brick fireplace looks when flanked by two tall bookshelves, while floating timber shelving at varied lengths works perfectly in this contemporary Brunswick apartment.

Or get creative and embrace cool curves, taking inspiration from the sculptural bookshelf in this DKO project, which even has space for the owner’s record player.

But no matter what kind of shelving you create, don’t forget to style it with all your favourite trinkets, homewares, and artworks too.

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Winner Australian House of the Year + House Alteration and Addition Over 200 Square Metres: Half Light House by John Ellway

John Ellway took home the title prize, Australian House of the Year, along with the House Alteration and Addition award for his work on a Brisbane timber cottage.

Responding to a desire for outdoor living, John added a transparent extension to the rear of the cottage, wrapped around a new pool.

Levels in the extension create distinct kitchen, living, dining, bedroom, and studio zones. These areas remain separate but are connected by views between each floor, feeling simultaneously intimate and expansive.

Winner Apartment or Unit + Emerging Architecture Practice: Apartment on The Loop by Billy Maynard Architects

This thoughtful NSW apartment renovation from Billy Maynard Architects — also named this year’s Emerging Architecture Practice — makes a once small top-floor apartment feel generous in size.

The team took advantage of the apartment’s floor position to install skylights, which fill the home with natural light.

The renovation minimally altered the existing floor plan, opting instead to conceal visual clutter through integrated storage and joinery, opening the space for attention to be drawn to views of the bay.

Joint Winner House in a Heritage Context: Borland Crossman House by WOWOWA Architecture

WOWOWA Architecture were named joint winners of the House in a Heritage Context award  for their careful adaptation of a ’70s modernist home by Australian postwar architect Kevin Borland.

The judges appreciated the team’s considered approach to renovating this home and sustaining its heritage significance, specifically their understanding of Borland’s original design, commending WOWOWA on their ability to strengthen the existing qualities of the home rather than replacing them with contemporary designs.

Repairs, upgrades and additions improved the home’s environmental impact and eliminated previous building issues while retaining and repairing its original brickwork, timber linings, parquetry flooring and iconic yellow kitchen.

Joint Winner House in a Heritage Context: The Homestead Renewal at Wybalenna by Taylor and Hinds Architects with The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania

The Homestead Renewal at Wybalenna by Taylor and Hinds Architects is a Victorian-era farmhouse, maid’s quarters and kitchen arranged around a brick courtyard, all set within the former Wybalenna Aboriginal Settlement on Flinders Island.

The restorative design considered the significance of the building’s site to Palawa people — as both an Aboriginal mission and a recognised site of genocide — and carefully removed layers to reveal deeper histories, positioning the building as a place of truth-telling and healing.

The process was completed using repurposed materials to align with the project’s environmental responsibility and care for Country.

Winner New House Under 200 Square Metres: EA House by Bokey Grant

Built directly into a rocky clifftop in the lush Southern Highlands of New South Wales, EA House by Bokey Grant Architecture is engulfed by nature, both in its striking architecture and warm timber interior.

A bridge paves the way to the entrance of this concrete and brickwork abode and offers breathtaking views of the highlands.

Bokey Grant designed the home to minimally impact the surrounding flora and fauna and considered the high bushfire rating of the area in its design.

The judges appreciate how EA House provides ‘an alternate approach to the lightweight tectonic often adopted for rural and ecologically significant sites.’

Winner House Alteration and Addition Under 200 Square Metres: Olaver Architecture for Gore St House

Renovating this Fitzroy terrace home was no easy feat for Olaver Architecture. To combat its lack of natural light, a double-height courtyard was placed in the centre of the home, bringing in bonus airflow.

From its exterior, this abode presents like any standard narrow terrace home, but stepping inside reveals split levels that create an atmospheric and generous space.

The judges praised how ‘these skilful moves defy the site’s dimensions, finding spatial inventiveness within a small footprint.’

Winner Sustainability: Gerroa House by Scale Architecture

Gerroa House by Scale Architecture is the definition of sustainable living, taking home this award for its thoughtful material use and long-term environmental impact.

The home has a low carbon footprint and is designed to be disassembled for future reuse, extending the life of its materials and reducing construction waste.

Its rooftop solar generation, along with natural ventilation design, means there is no need for mechanical heating and cooling systems.

Perhaps the most thoughtful part of the design is the home’s regenerative nature. The house is an active contributor to biodiversity and ecological repair, as the site was transformed with more than 2000 native plants and integrated a productive food forest.

Winner New House Over 200 Square Metres: Hislop Hill House by Clare Cousins Architects

Set on a block of post-war brick houses, Hislop Hill House’s square floor plan includes multiple courtyards, adding greenery to the home beyond its exterior gardens.

Clare Cousins Architects removed the front fence from the house, opting to share the garden with the street. The emphasis on the home’s surroundings follows in the series of terraced levels that lead down toward Hislop Hill Reserve.

The judges commended how the altered floor plan and connection to the landscape show what can be designed on a suburban site.

Winner Small Project: Magenta Outhouse by Atelier Marks Gaal

The jury refers to Magenta Outhouse as a ‘delightful small project’ that demonstrates how considered design can create meaningful human experiences.

The design contains a toilet, shower, basin and tub, creating a place for immersion in both body and nature.

The silhouette, perched like a bird of prey, sits unassuming on the landscape; its cleverly folded design is an example of the power of simplicity.

After success in both Carlton and Surry Hills, Australian furniture brand Eva marks its most significant retail milestone yet with a new flagship store on Church Street, Richmond.

Co-founder and co-CEO Amanda Niu says, ‘[We’re] excited to be the youngest player on a block full of legendary furniture brands with decades behind them.’

Designed by In Addition, Eva’s third showroom continues the brand’s tradition of drawing on the location for its design.

‘As with its predecessors, the design eschews the conventions of a typical showroom in favour of an environment that feels lived-in, approachable and quietly refined,’ says Josh McLean, director of In Addition. ‘Eva’s collection is presented as it is intended to be experienced: furniture that supports the rituals of living well and living simply.’

While the Carlton and Surry Hills showrooms match their smaller heritage-protected buildings, Eva Richmond House — at three times their size — takes its cues from inner-city apartment living, demonstrating how the brand works just as well in larger homes as it does smaller ones.

‘This building demanded more imagination from us,’ says Amanda. ‘What makes an Eva showroom was never the four walls; it’s the feeling customers get when they walk in, that instant sense of welcome and connection, like arriving at a friend’s house. We wanted to prove that feeling could translate into a completely different kind of building.

‘Because the space is so symmetrical, it naturally reads as a warehouse apartment or loft, so we leaned into that rather than fighting it.’

Visitors enter through an internal courtyard and into the open-plan space, each zone separated by columns. The layout feels lived-in and welcoming with textured walls, timber floors and dark walnut joinery, the perfect backdrop for Eva’s best-selling pieces.

‘We wanted this to feel like a grown-up version of our existing showrooms,’ explains Amanda. ‘More confident, more bold.’

Distinct dining, living, and kitchen spaces feature the brand’s iconic designs, including favourites such as the Everyday Sofa and the Kin Dining Table. Plus, there is space to test new designs with the public before they officially launch.

‘This customer-centred approach reflects our B Corp commitment to considering how its decisions benefit people, community and the planet,’ Amanda explains.

The elevated mood continues upstairs where a conversation pit offers a dedicated area for customers to receive interior design support and browse the material library.

The highly anticipated showroom opens this weekend with a jam-packed schedule of workshops, complimentary interior design consultations, and sweet treats from Dua Bakehouse, Slow Article and Coffee Supreme.

There will be complimentary styling consultations with interior decorator Alessandra Smith on Saturday (book your spot here), while on Sunday, interior designer Lauren Li will host a workshop on translating inspiration into a unique home (secure tickets here).

With more workshops to come, design-lovers can come together under the one Richmond roof. Don’t miss the chance to be one of the first to step inside this exclusively designed space this weekend.

Visit Eva Richmond House

575 Church Street, Richmond VIC

Opening Hours:

Monday – Saturday, 10am-6pm
Sunday, 10am-5pm

There’s a real art to styling a home. And while being able to splurge on designer furniture and expensive art certainly does help, as the saying goes, money can’t buy taste.

With some creative thinking, cost-saving strategies, and patience, there are plenty of ways you can elevate your space, even while on a budget.

Balance the budget based on your priorities

Interior decorator Lauren Egan says you should approach the budget with your priorities in mind. The spaces where you spend the most time — or those hero pieces you use frequently — are ideally where you should invest the most money.

‘A comfortable and gorgeous sofa, a sculptural dining table, and good quality lighting are all things that I think are really important,’ she says.

Invest in a good sofa, but it doesn’t have to break the bank

While the living room is generally the most expensive part of your home to furnish, Sisällä founder and interior designer Lauren Li says a good sofa doesn’t have to cost the earth.

‘Interestingly, I think the sofa is somewhere you can compromise a little these days. There are so many good, more affordable sofas available now, so I don’t necessarily think you need to spend an enormous amount to get something comfortable and good-looking,’ Lauren says.

Don’t neglect your artwork collection

Lauren Li continues: ‘Personally, I would rather spend less on the sofa and put more of the budget towards artwork. Art creates an incredible amount of atmosphere in a room and gives a space an identity that is difficult to achieve through furniture alone.’

‘I also think artwork is often left until last, and I would actually push it much further up the priority list.’ Follow emerging artists online, look at local galleries, platforms like Bluethumb, and you’ll start compiling a wish list of affordable art in no time.

Shop second-hand for affordable homewares

For pieces like armchairs, side tables, and homewares, you can find so many great pieces for affordable prices at second-hand stores and op-shops.

‘Get involved in the vintage market or find something quirky on Facebook Marketplace, Leonard Joel, or Bazaa and build on the key pieces you’ve invested in,’ Lauren adds.

‘I think enduring spaces often have furnishings that are from many different eras, so if anything, sourcing a few vintage treasures will make your space feel even more interesting.’

Embrace high-low styling

Similarly, By Zahli interior designer Zahli Napier (who’s carved out a niche for her affordable styling advice) agrees that smaller homewares are where you can compromise and save some money.

Zahli advises that big box brands can be great for bedding and storage; mid-range brands have plenty of options for lamps and homewares, especially when mixed and matched alongside a selection of more high-end pieces that you really love — as these will stand the test of time.

‘This may be somewhat controversial, but I think it’s important to invest in any furniture pieces that truly make your heart sing, regardless of whether they’re a little overpriced or if you can get a cheaper version. The second-best option will not have the same longevity,’ she adds.

Get creative to give old things new life

Before buying anything new, do an audit of your existing pieces to see if you can give them a refresh. A simple DIY project might be to refinish an old table, while a good quality sofa can be revitalised with some fresh upholstery, which is a much better investment than replacing the whole thing.

Plus, Lauren Li says painting is one of the most impactful ways to transform an entire room: ‘It’s relatively inexpensive for the amount of transformation it creates, and it’s something you can potentially do yourself or engage someone to do quite affordably. Colour can completely change the feeling of a room without replacing a single piece of furniture.’

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This renovated 1950s Dandenong Ranges home is right in the heart of one of Victoria’s greenest areas.

It’s what initially drew wedding photographer and videographer duo Lucy Spartalis and her partner Alastair Innes to the home nine years ago.

After living in Melbourne’s inner north for many years, the couple were ready to find a house ‘closer to nature, while still retaining a sense of vibrant community.’ They knew they had found it when they stumbled across this property on a late-night search.

‘The moment we walked in the front door, we knew this was the one for us,’ Lucy says.

The property was originally built in the 1950s by a couple who lived there for years, before it was bought, flipped and sold to Lucy and Alastair.

‘Although the layout had been improved [through an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area], the home had lost some of its original personality in the flip, so over our nine years here we’ve tried to bring warmth, texture and colour back,’ Alastair explains.

In the couple’s many renovations, they re-landscaped the gravel driveway, added a modernist-style carport and entertaining space — designed by architect Ben Gray and built by Timbervisions Carpentry — and replaced the hollow interior doors with solid mahogany bungalow-style doors.

‘We kept coming back to earthy colours and materials with lots of texture… We wanted the house to feel warm, relaxed and lived-in rather than too polished or precious,’ Alastair says.

‘Our biggest project was the kitchen,’ Lucy says. ‘Inspired by a trip to Japan, we designed a modernist space with Japanese tiles, terrazzo benchtops and Mountain Ash cabinetry — the same timber as the enormous trees visible through the windows.’

All these changes work with the original character of the house rather than reinventing its entire style.

‘The living spaces feel cosy and distinct but flow into one another so easily, and we’ve had so many long dinners and celebrations, and lazy lunches out on the back deck in the sun,’ Alastair says.

The couple also transformed the garden space from a concrete lacklustre area into a lush central part of the home by adding established trees, gravel, and rocks. Layered painting paired with bursts of colour in spring from the smokebush, echiums, and Japanese maple make this garden unmissable.

When asked what they’ll miss most about their home, Lucy answers simply: ‘Everything.’

‘Seeing lush garden and forest through every window. All the King Parrots, Rosellas, Cockatoos, Galahs and Kookaburras that land in our backyard. Entertaining the many friends and family who come to stay, and taking them on hikes through the spectacular fern and Mountain Ash forests.’

While the couple say it’s bittersweet to leave the house (and Kallista) behind, they are excited to trade their oasis in nature for a seaside abode.

75 Monbulk Road, Kallista, VIC, 3791 is listed for private sale with Katie Woods from Woods Estate Agents and is available to inspect by open home or private appointment until sold, with the first open on Saturday September 12th at 1:30pm.