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An interior designer’s thoughtful and successful heritage renovation

By Amy Collins-Walker โ€ข 2 Comments

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We love a period home renovation around here and when this one crossed our desks, we couldnโ€™t help but sit up and take notice. A modern yet authentic take on a 1930โ€™s home, the home repeats the subtle curves of its faรงade inside, and combines them with a calm colour palette and an abundance of natural light. The overall result is really rather dreamy.

BEFORE lounge
AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge. That En Gold coffee table is a beauty.

As an interior designer, Alison Lewis had always dreamt of designing a period style home so when this one came up in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Kew, she jumped at the chance. But rather than throw herself into the renovation straightaway, the designer decided to rip up and replace the 40-year-old dust filled carpets and live in the space for a year.

โ€œThis process was crucial in helping me understand the flow and best use of each space โ€“ not to mention the best light!โ€ says Alison. Perhaps itโ€™s this approach that has produced such a thoughtful interior?

MASTER BED before
BEFORE master bedroom
AFTER master bedroom
AFTER master bedroom
Master bedroom
AFTER The ensuite is cleverly concealed behind cabinetry in the master bedroom

By living in the home, the designer was also able to visualise a new floor plan much more easily – living in it gave her the ultimate insight into what changes needed to be mae. The seamless end result has seen the home flooded with natural light, its period features preserved, and mod-cons installed.

BEFORE ensuite
BEFORE ensuite
AFTER Curved details continue in the ensuite.
AFTER Curved details, terrazzo and finger tiles feature in the ensuite.

“First and foremost, I wanted to create a beautiful space; one that I found it was a pleasure to be in and one that created calm in the often-chaotic world that comes with having a little person in our lives,โ€ says Alison who is a mother to a young daughter.

Floor plan changes included creating another bathroom, relocating the laundry and hiding her daughterโ€™s room behind some clever joinery so as to give her privacy and soundproofing when Alison was entertaining late into the evening.

Laundry
AFTER This concealed laundry adjoins the main living area.

The kitchen is full of clever design details too including a compact yet efficient utility cupboard. โ€œItโ€™s a beautiful space to put the kettle on, store my favourite ceramic mugs, tea and coffee but one that I also feel comfortable opening when guests come around,โ€ says Alison.

BEFORE kitchen
BEFORE kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER The curved kitchen bench is clad in mosaic finger tiles 

โ€œI love that weโ€™ve been able to open it up. The new open plan floorplan means the kitchen, dining and living spaces all have a harmonious and beautiful relationship to each other. Adding value to a home so that I leave it better than when I first found it is my definition of a successful renovation.โ€

BEFORE sitting room
BEFORE sitting room
AFTER sitting room
AFTER sitting room
AFTER backyard
AFTER backyard

Photography: Dylan Lewis | Interior Design & styling: Alison Lewis Interiors | Builder: CJ and C Construction

For more

Rear extension
Melbourne heritage overlay makes for unique renovation solution
When architect Nathanael Preston was tasked with transforming this Melbourne heritage home for a developer, not only was it severely dilapidated and virtually unliveable, but heritage constraints made things rather…

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May 19, 2021

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Did you see this cracking little transformation on Did you see this cracking little transformation on @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the finer details on the blog today via link in bio. Particularly love the kitchen refresh using the existing blue cupboards which really weren't doing anything for me before ๐Ÿ˜‚

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafterlivingroom #renoshow #realreno #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #bluekitchen #budgetkitchenmakeover #budgetdiy #budgetmakeover
How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: Itโ€™s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!โ€

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

#backyards #smallpools #smallpool #homesauna #pizzaovens #outdoorpizzaoven #landscapedesigner #mintdesign #holidayathome #resortstylehomes #landscapeartist #backyard #exteriorinspiration #exteriormakeover #exteriordesigns #pergoladesign #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno. L Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno.

Located inside a 1912 sandstone villa in Adelaideโ€™s Kensington, this bathroom makeover combines classic and contemporary elements that complement the homeโ€™s original, period features. 

Designed by the homeโ€™s owner @designby_Tahirih, who is a property stylist too, the renovation came sooner than expected after water ingress made the makeover of their only bathroom an urgent necessity!

The whole project cost an impressive $20k, project managed herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

#realrenovations #realhomes #realreno #heartyourhome #renoaddict #freestandingbath #classicbathroom #classiccontemporary #classiccontemporaryinteriors #theinteriorsaddict  #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #homestaging #laundrymakeover #bathroomrenovations #bathroomremodels
Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we find some of the most colourful interiors from my motherland, the UK!

This beautiful lilac kitchen is found in a renovated apartment by @llidesign in a grand mansion block in London's Bloomsbury. You can tour the rest of it on the blog now, via link in bio.

#londonapartment #bloomsbury
#bloomsburylondon #luxuryapartment #westendlondon #lilackitchen #colourfulkitchen #londonhome #londonhomes #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsdaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #kitchenshelf #kitchenshelves #kitchenshelfie #openshelves #openshelvingkitchen
I remember the chair being such a key purchase whe I remember the chair being such a key purchase when I put together my first ever baby room for Seb. I spent many an evening relaxing on mine while pregnant as I tried to get my head around impending motherhood! Not only are glider recliners like the Chelsea fromย @iltuttoย the most comfortable chairs EVER for those many hours spent feeding and settling, why shouldn't they look this good too, am I right?!

Did you love your nursery chair? Did it look this good?!

See more on the Il Tutto Chelsea Glider Recliner Chair via link in bio now.

#feedingchair #nurserychair #nursingchair #reclinerchair #nurseryroomdecor #nursery #nurserygoals #nurserydesign #babyroomdecoration #babyrooms #babyroominspo #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #iltutto #newmumlife
Here's a sneak peek of the kitchen and powder room Here's a sneak peek of the kitchen and powder room to whet your appetite! 

Head on over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest of this gorgeous Sydney reno by @_studio_trio 

Pix by @mareehomer.photography and styling by Jackie Brown.

#interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realreno #housetour #australianhomes #australianhouses #sydneyhomes #sydneyhouses #texturedtiles #kitchenshelfie #kitchenshelves #kitchenshelf #powderroomdesign #powderroomwallpaper #studiotrio #kitchenhooks
There's a LOT of goodness in @sageandclare's lates There's a LOT of goodness in @sageandclare's latest collection Marguerite but the Aida rug has to be my personal fave.

Handcrafted from wool, it features a rustic check design with a rainbow of nostalgic colour. Embroidered edge stitching furthers its handcrafted feel. 

โ€œThis is pure colour joy bundled up in a hard-wearing and happy rug that will lift any room with ease," says creative director Phoebe Bell.

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see more, including Phoebe's 5 faves.

#sageandclare #rugshopping #rainbowrug #tartanrug #checkeredrug #flatweaverugs #statementrug #handcraftedhomedecor #handcraftedhomewares #funhome #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
A DIY dining nook bench seat with storage for $120 A DIY dining nook bench seat with storage for $1200!

After 4 years of saying โ€œa dining nook would be great thereโ€ฆโ€ South Australians @the_groves_abode finally got a quote from a local cabinet maker for a built-in bench seat with storage. When the $4,000 price tag was revealed, criminologist, chronic over-achiever and wannabe carpenter Andrew decided to have a crack at it instead.

And we're so impressed with the end result which cost just over a grand. Read what they did, what they used and how in the blog now, via link in bio.

#diningnook #benchseat #benchseating #builtinbench #upholsteredbench #diybench #diycouple #budgetdiy #bunningsdiy #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #realreno #diningroomideas #breakfastnook #breakfastnookdesign #homediyproject
Mess = stress! Today on the blog, @little_label_c Mess = stress!

Today on the blog, @little_label_co founder Natalie Manoushian is sharing her top tips for a more organised home. I'd love you to share your best tips in the comments too!

"Disorganisation puts barriers in the way. Imagine how much quicker you would get things done if your home or work space ran smoothly. Researchers have found that clutter can actually make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. From the frustration of not being able to find what we need, to the feeling of being constantly surrounded by chaos, a disorganised environment creates brain fog and can lead to procrastination and reduces productivity. It can also trigger feelings of stress and anxiety, making it difficult to switch off, relax and sleep well."

Read the full post via link in bio now 

#littlelabelco #labelling #labellingeverything #homeorganisation #homeorganizationtips #homeorganising #homeorganisation #organisationtips #tidyingtips #homehack #storagegoals #pantrymakeover #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #cupboardstorage
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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatarchinenye says

    July 4, 2021 at 5:42 am

    Hi ,
    Beautiful reno.
    What colour is on the ‘after master bedroom walls’ – l love it

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      July 5, 2021 at 9:19 am

      You can contact the designer via the link at the bottom. Thanks!

      Reply

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