2019-12-01_Australian_House_Garden

138 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE&GARDEN

O

ldhousesoftenhavecolourfulhistories.This 1905

homeinsouth-eastMelbourne– nowthehome

ofa familyofseven– is a caseinpoint.“Itwasbuilt

ona muchlargerblock,butthelotwassubdivided

in 19 64,” sayshomeownerNicole. “Conversely, the

housewasmuchsmallerthanit isnow.”

DuringWorldWarII,thehousewasusedasa privatehospital,

thenconvertedintoflatsin 1947 anda boardinghousein 1958.

Thehomewasrestoredtoa residentialpropertyintheearly

1980 s.BythetimeNicoleandherhusbandRossboughtthe

housein2017,ithadbeenrenovateda numberoftimesand

theoriginalFederationhomehadgrowntoincludea billiards/

entertainment room, family room and fifth bedroom. “One of

thedrivingfactorsbehindourpurchasewasthefactthelayout

wasessentiallyprettygood,”saysNicole.Theydid,however,

wanttoopenupthekitchenandfamilyarea,plusaddanextra

bedroomtoaccommodatetheirfiveteenagechildren– Olivia,

19 , Ben,1 7,Max, 14 , Imogen, 13 , and 12 -year-oldMitchell.The

homewasinneedofa cosmeticupdatetoo.“Wewantedtomake

theinteriorsfeellighterandbrightertoo,”addsNicole.

ThecouplecalledonJamesBuddlefromKateWalkerDesign

torefreshthebathroomsandkitchen,andtorejuvenatethe

interiordecor– fromfreshpainttonewfurniturethatwasin

harmonywiththeirexistingpieces.Thebriefwasfora warm,

inviting,family-friendlyandpracticalhousethatwasstillbeautiful

to look at. “A modern take on a period house,” says Nicole. >