The overhaul of this heritage home in Middle Park is a lesson in smart use of space and proves that even smaller Melbourne terrace homes can be big on luxury and liveability.
The brief was to transform a dated, narrow heritage home into a sophisticated, modern residence that maximised functionality without altering the existing footprint. The family with two older children, wanted a refined and cohesive interior that felt elevated yet liveable, balancing heritage charm with contemporary elegance. A key focus was on reworking the spatial flow of the bathroom that also included the laundry. Being the only bathroom for a family of four, adding more toilets was also key!
“The home was tired and the layout was inefficient, featuring a combined bathroom and laundry, minimal storage, and poorly design kitchen,” says interior designer Kelly Donougher of 13 Interiors. “It lacked cohesion and didn’t reflect the clients’ lifestyle or aesthetic. While the home retained some charming period features on the facade, the interiors were tired and impractical, making everyday living feel cramped and dated.”
Kelly and her team reimagined the interiors from the ground up. The kitchen was completely redesigned with custom black joinery, integrated appliances, and a striking natural stone that wraps through the splashback and benchtops. Even though the footprint stayed the same, they designed the layout to function for the owners’ lifestyle, moving the cooktop to the rear, adding a pullout pantry, appliance nook and connecting a new laundry space through a secret door that acts as the scullery when they are entertaining.
“This laundry space utilised part of the existing bathroom that we redesigned,” Kelly explains. “We included hidden extras like an ice machine, wine fridge tucked into the island joinery and a pop-up power point. Every detail considered right down to a spice jar drawer. Its amazing how much you can fit it a small space.”
One of the most impactful changes was reconfiguring the existing combined bathroom and laundry into three distinct, highly functional spaces: a powder room, a main bathroom with a separate bath, and a fully integrated laundry. These spaces are cleverly concealed with secret doors that maintain the streamlined aesthetic given the close proximity to the kitchen and dining space.
“In the living space, we installed floor-to-ceiling black cabinetry with a built-in desk, entertainment unit, and display shelving, all designed to feel both luxe and grounded. Throughout the home, we layered natural materials and textures, refined lighting, and built-in elements to make every space feel tailored and considered.”
The biggest transformation came from rethinking the floorplan. “Reworking the wet areas into three distinct zones without extending the footprint completely changed how the home functions. Visually, the black joinery and continuous stone detailing created cohesion and contrast that made the home feel more expansive and high-end. We now have two toilets, a bath, storage and a separate laundry that acts as a dual scullery all within the same four walls and skylights!”
The custom natural stone benchtops and splashbacks, which are featured throughout the kitchen, living area, laundry, and bathrooms, were the biggest splurge, with Kelly saying the Washington tiles from Perini were a cost-effective option with a beautiful luxurious finish.
The redesigned home is a masterclass in thoughtful spatial planning. “It feels calm, tailored, and visually expansive despite the narrow footprint,” Kelly says. “The kitchen is now a statement in monochrome refinement, balanced by the soft texture of the timber floors and the vibrant blue velvet dining chairs that bring in personality and warmth.
“The bathroom is a spa-like retreat, the laundry feels like a natural extension of the kitchen design, and the living room is both cosy and sophisticated, with concealed storage, custom joinery, and textural contrasts that make it feel rich without being overwhelming.”
The new bathroom design with the secret doors into the three spaces, is Kelly’s favourite element of the renovation by far: “Every area is purposeful, beautiful, and deceptively spacious; proof that with clever design, even compact Melbourne homes can achieve luxury without large-scale renovations.”
Suppliers: Phoenix Tapware, New Age Veneer Navurban Black Mountain joinery, Kustom Timber flooring in Storm, Perini Tiles Washington range, Atilila Stone Dolomite natural stone (Silver Galaxy), main bedroom bedhead from Heatherly Design.
Photography: Armelle Habib | Shoot stylist: Heather Nette King
13 Interiors is a Perth and Melbourne based interior design studio specialising in creating and transforming their clients’ forever homes, Australia wide. They create beautiful spaces that are original and practical, whilst understanding individual requirements, budget, personality and style.
