Married professionals with two boys, my clients previously lived in and renovated a gorgeous old property in Richmond, Melbourne. Their appreciation for old charm, traditional styling and quality made the decision to purchase this 25-year-old, original prize home in desperate need of a renovation a foregone conclusion.

Being a prize home, it exuded character and charm, a sense of grandness, and had beautiful old bones, it simply needed some serious TLC. Centrally located in Mountain Creek on the Sunshine Coast, it made sense that this beautiful old home would undergo a renovation in a blend of coastal yet traditional styling. With three males versus one female in the household (unless of course, you count Rosie their cute pooch), a masculine approach to the design was just as important as getting the coastal elements right. Hence the introduction of lots of lovely blues!

Whilst some of the interior styling is still a work in progress, as is the exterior renovation, you can see here the new kitchen, flooring, bathrooms, entry and classic coastal stair case.

the kitchen…

Creating a functional and practical kitchen was paramount to allow family members unobstructed entry in and out, all while the space was used for its main purpose of preparing and cooking. I was challenged with spatial design concerns and cabinetry placement as new doors to the outdoor entertaining area meant losing a wall in the existing plan. Simple recessed two-tone cabinetry, bench to ceiling vintage subway tiles, quality stone and traditional hardware created seamless lines and form, bringing to fruition this beautiful coastal kitchen.

the bathrooms…

Lined up like ducks on the second level of this home, you’ll find an Ensuite, separate toilet, and main bathroom. Originally this space would undergo a straightforward “rip out and replace” style renovation. However, after numerous designs and discussions, it became apparent the abnormally small width of 1900 of each space was not going to suffice “the land of the giants” – as my female client often refers her husband and young boys as. The outcome was to cantilever 700mm off the exterior wall, extending the width of each bathroom and providing the giants lots of room for shaving and showering. The bathrooms came together visually using a combination of tongue and groove wall paneling finished with a top rail, subway tiles, faux marble, statement vanity’s, nautical-inspired light fittings and coastal mirrors.

the entry and staircase…

There are so many beautiful aspects of this home, however the new signature front doors leading onto the newly transformed staircase are my personal favourite. The exterior will eventually undergo a Bahamas x plantation inspired renovation, hence the beautiful cross panel and VJ front doors with antique satin hardware. After removing the old carpet from the stairs only to reveal solid pine treads and risers, there were subsequently numerous high fives to be had. In traditional coastal style, the stairs were painted black and white and a beautiful Dash and Albert runner was installed to curate the finished look and feel.