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Self-taught owner builder transforms Melbourne home

February 3, 2020 1 Comment

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Todayโ€™s before and after project is brought to us by one of our readers, Ivy Huang, who despite her lack of formal design training has delivered something really special in her newly renovatedย Melbourne home. With a degree in engineering, and a background in project management, Ivy was experiencing something of a career crisis before quitting her full-time job to give her full attention to this amazing reno.

BEFORE front elevation
BEFORE front elevation
AFTER front elevation
AFTER front elevation

Sitting on 400 square metres in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale, the Edwardian weatherboard abode needed some serious love when Ivy spotted it back in 2017. โ€œThe renovation combined my project management, technical and site experience but with a really awesome element of creativity,โ€ says Ivy who lives in the home with her fiancรฉe Adrian and their rescue dog, Queenie.

BEFORE bedroom
BEFORE bedroom
AFTER bedroom
AFTER bedroom
AFTER ensuite
AFTER ensuite

โ€œI wanted to create a beautiful, functional family home that would also feel like we were on holidays all the time! I also love entertaining and we receive visitors often, so we really focussed on creating sanctuary-like spaces for bedrooms and bathrooms, and big open shared living areas with an emphasis on natural light and greenery. We leveraged every opportunity for indoor-outdoor spaces too,โ€ says Ivy.

BEFORE backyard
BEFORE backyard
AFTER backyard
AFTER backyard

Ivy specified all of the interiors herself and project managed the build using a variety of contractors. Prahranโ€™s Karl Degering & Associates drew up floor plans and assisted with town planning and a variety of other aspects of the renovation, which cost over $600,000 in total and took eight months to complete.

BEFORE lounge
BEFORE lounge
AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge

โ€œAs a professional project manager in business, I was always going to oversee the build myself. It was only when the project started that I realised how much I was loving the experience and started to think I could this as a full-time thing!โ€ says Ivy who reached out to Buildher Collective! (which aims to support female builders) throughout the build. โ€œItโ€™s a great support network of women who are going through, or have been through similar frustrations, trying to succeed in what is a male-dominated industry,โ€ says Ivy.

BEFORE kitchen
BEFORE kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER kitchen
AFTER kitchen

As for the renovation, the home now boasts an eye-catching cathedral ceiling, in the kitchen/living room, that echoes the 3.5 metre ceiling heights found in the rest of the home. โ€œThat ceiling has got to be one of my favourite features of the house. Walking in, your eyes are immediately drawn upwards and itโ€™s a โ€˜wowโ€™ moment,โ€ says Ivy of the space that is entirely glass on one side and opens out onto the lush backyard.

AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge

The main bathroom is another standout space; it features a black cast iron clawfoot bath centred on French doors that open onto a private jasmine-clad courtyard. โ€œIf the living room extension isnโ€™t drama enough, we also wanted to do something a bit special for the main bathroom, which is the one used during the day and by dinner guests,โ€ says Ivy.

BEFORE bathroom
BEFORE bathroom
AFTER bathroom
AFTER bathroom. The bath was sourced from Canterbury Sink and Tap.

Three of the homeโ€™s bedrooms also have ensuites and the fourth bedroom doubles as a second living area, depending on whether the couple have guests staying. And as for the homeโ€™s location, Ivy had always wanted to restore a heritage house in a blue-chip suburb and Armadale is one of her favourite parts of Melbourne. โ€œItโ€™s got boutique shops and cafes, gorgeous streetscapes and stunning period homes, all without being ostentatious, which I love,โ€ says Ivy who has been seriously bitten by the reno bug and already has her eye on the next one.

AFTER bedroom
AFTER bedroom
AFTER ensuite
AFTER ensuite

Photography: Dylan James Photography | Styling: The Real Estate Stylist

Follow Ivyโ€™s reno journey | More about BuildHer Collective

Coloured ceiling pops in Melbourne bathroom!

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The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
The unluckiest girl or the luckiest? Day 6 in int The unluckiest girl or the luckiest?

Day 6 in intensive care after suddenly coming down with a very serious necrotising fasciitis in my elbow on Sunday. Four operations later (with more to come) I'm out of the woods, alive and have my arm. But I won't be going home until after Christmas. Also picked up a bonus bit of pneumonia to keep things interesting.

I won't lie. This has been super super hard but I feel extremely lucky nonetheless. Have come across some exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who have been incredibly kind at my most vulnerable as well as great at their jobs. I'm really grateful. Huge thank you to my amazing husband who is holding down the fort with the help and cooking of our wonderful friends. And to friends who check in, send love, flowers, snacks and sushi, I will never forget it.

Of course I will be sad tomorrow but my boys can visit and we will have another Christmas next month.

I'll leave you with this. Never ever ignore those health niggles. @healthdirectaus is always a great starting point.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and will enjoy everyone else's celebrations on here with only a hint of bitterness ๐Ÿ˜‰

PS. Does this win the most unflattering photo of me ever published? I think so! No lippy for a WEEK.
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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. AvatarGuy Mason says

    August 19, 2021 at 10:06 pm

    Hi Amy,

    I love this house!

    Could you let me know the colours Ivy used for the exterior?

    Many thanks+

    Reply

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