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Apartment transformed with luxury finishes and space saving ideas

By Amy Collins-Walker •

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Located in Carlton, just north of the Melbourne CBD, this circa 1902 apartment was once home to a trio of university students before it underwent a gorgeous makeover courtesy of The Stylesmiths. “The owner had lent the apartment to their son and his uni mates and needless to say, the transformation from uni lodge to angelic home has been tremendous!” says The Stylesmiths interior designer Kristen Dahl-Feathers who worked on the project with fellow designer Carlie Ng.

Lounge and dining
Lounge and dining

“When we were first engaged, we weren’t sure if the owners wanted to renovate it and rent it out or move into it as a retirement pad. But we are thrilled that they fell in love with the design and decided to go ahead and live in it themselves,” says Kristen. 

Kitchen and mezzanine
Kitchen and mezzanine

With a design brief that focussed on contemporary classic design, with a pared back palette, The Stylesmiths team set about making the compact home feel open and airy. Downstairs, in the communal area, the kitchen is highly detailed yet simple and classic with panelled joinery and curved marble benchtops set on top of a custom designed fluted base.

Mezzanine
Once a makeshift bedroom, the mezzanine now functions as a library

Already part of the apartment, the mezzanine was made larger to create room for a library and its adjacent spiral staircase was replaced with a beautiful new timber design with concealed laundry below. “After a few proposals we landed on a built-in library with bookshelves and a large desk up on the mezzanine,” says Kristen.

Kitchen and lounge
Kitchen and lounge

Notable products feature throughout including Artedomus marble, Cromwell lighting fixtures, the Bell table from The Woodroom, Armadillo & Co rugs and Mokum fabrics. Bathroom and kitchen hardware was sourced from Perrin and Rowe, The English Tapware Company and Brodware. 

Dining
The Woodroom’s gorgeous Bell table features in the dining alcove

A standout feature of the home, large bay windows draw the eye in three of the rooms. In the main bedroom, soft roman blinds bring attention to a custom window seat, the living room features a custom tan leather banquette that forms seating for the dining table, and the second bedroom uses the alcove to house an antique desk. “The unique alcoves really make the project special, and each has been given individual purpose, successfully maximising every inch of the available space,” says Kristen.

Bedroom
Bedroom

Overall, the designers were thrilled with the end result. “We loved the aesthetic. The way the stone, fabrics, furniture and colours came together and are bathed in so much natural light makes the home feel at one with its environment.”

Bathroom
Bathroom

Photography: Nicole England

For more on The Stylesmiths

AFTER kitchen
Minimalist makeover gives dark Melbourne terrace a light new look
Another project by the talented Melbourne architect Bonnie Mills, this Richmond home was renovated recently with a clean, minimalist design…
MODO
Statement brick ‘lacework’ features in Melbourne new build
Located in Melbourne’s Mount Waverley, this expansive 600 square metre home was designed by architect Michael Ong, of MODO. Tasked…

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November 10, 2022

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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. Marilyn says

    November 13, 2022 at 7:30 pm

    Absolutely Beautiful !

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      November 14, 2022 at 8:33 am

      We agree!

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