Former Blockheads Dan & Dani list their two-year reno project

Photography by Elizabeth Allnutt

Located in the inner-west Melbourne suburb of Seddon, this property was renovated by former Blockheads Dani Wales and Dan Reilly recently, and with great results. It’s now for sale if you’re in the market! Starting with just a Victorian façade and the shells of two bedrooms, the couple’s two-year renovation saw them add a second storey to take in 180-degree city views, amongst many other things.

“We wanted to produce a spacious three-bedroom family home that had a cohesive feel. There was also a focus on using high quality and natural materials and finishes,” says Dani of the home that, despite its history, had no heritage overlay.

“There was no requirement to restore existing interior elements, which was what prompted the modern interior renovation and extension. There was also no heritage overlay, however the existing facade was re-cladded and re-roofed like for like. There are too many period knock-downs happening in the area so it was important to us to retain what little was left of the existing property which was originally built in 1900,” says Dani.

From the generous ceiling heights to the use of custom joinery and bi-fold doors, the aesthetic is a slick one. “We worked extremely hard to ensure the living, dining and kitchen area feels larger than it is by adding floor to ceiling bi-fold doors that open fully onto the rear deck. Custom joinery was also used in every area to ensure that no additional storage furniture was needed in any room,” says Dani.

“We also made a real effort to keep a common aesthetic in every room of the house. All the wet areas are cohesive in their design, fixtures and fittings and all the joinery is the same materials throughout. We reintroduced the super tall ceilings the house would have had prior, which means our ceiling height is 3m. All of our internal doors are floor to ceiling which adds a real sense of scale which is noticeable as soon as you walk through the front door,” says Dani.

The kitchen and living area is the couple’s favourite space in the home. “We both really love the entertaining hub on the ground level. The way the dining room spills out onto the deck when the bi-fold doors are open is incredible. It’s the ultimate entertainer’s house! I also love the kitchen as it’s so darn practical. It’s going to kill me to have to leave it when we sell,” says Dani.