Objective
To extend, reconfigure and renovate a Post Edwardian home in Malvern East to suit, and grow with, the lifestyle of a young family while creating a functional, light-filled, elegant family home.

Design Approach
The design was heavily influenced by the redesign and improvement of a previous extension to the back of the house, which had been completed prior to the owner purchasing the property. Although some of the original features of the home had been retained, the rear living areas were poorly segmented and lacked the integration to other parts of the home that would otherwise create a seamless flow. The result was that there was a marked disconnect between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ parts of the home and the connections between felt small, narrow, and substantially lacking in natural light.

Prior to the renovation, the owners deliberately avoided using certain areas of the home due to their dark and uninviting features.

The renovation has added a unique blend of functionality, comfort, space, connectivity, and, most importantly, an abundance of natural light which now permeates all parts of the home. The owners have since remarked that “the light in each room changes during the day like the seasons.”

The covered Alfresco area, also with an abundance of natural light, now acts as an extension of the interiors, and will provide an all-seasons entertaining space for years to come, which has delighted the owners.

Enhancing the indoor to outdoor connection has dramatically increased their usage of the Alfresco and outdoor area and has given the home a feeling of openness, space, and connection with nature that was previously not there.

Further, increased storage solutions inside the home have markedly increased the functionality and liveability of all spaces by reducing clutter and creating purposeful zones.

Separate study and multi-purpose areas have also enhanced privacy for both the parents and children, which has resulted in a more comfortable and harmonious environment for the young family. With the first floor now acting as a dedicated wing for the children, the addition of their own suites, including ensuites, walk-in-robes and study desks, will ensure that these spaces grow with the children into adolescence and beyond.

The purposeful sectioning of the home through the placement of glazed doors between areas of the home has both increased thermal comfort and facilitated more efficient heating and cooling zones and provided a clever way to separate noise without impeding visual connection through the home.

The family have articulated what a significantly different lifestyle experience the renovation’s careful design planning has afforded them in terms of how they live in, and utilise, the residence. The indoor-outdoor living and entertaining spaces, functionality of the interiors, and the abundance of natural light have noticeably elevated their comfort and enjoyment of their home.

The impact of the renovation on how the family experience the home is perhaps best summarised by the owners themselves: “While our new home is relaxing, it’s also elegant and timeless. It is filled with light, and every inch is utilized. We are thrilled with the outcome.