A grand Victorian terrace house positioned just one block from the beach in St Kilda West, Melbourne has been beautifully restored by Steven and Carole Whiting of Whiting Architects. Not wanting to erase the history and memories of the house, Steven and Carole set out to create a practical family home for themselves without compromising on the authenticity of the original building. Retaining feature elements was a key starting point, and many details including wall panellings, arches, and mouldings were left intact.

While the house had great height and proportions, there was a need for the three levels of living space to be better utilised. A flexible floor plan was devised to keep up with the evolving needs of a growing family, where a “collection of precincts were created for different uses and users to enable privacy.” Spaces were designed to overlap to keep the family connected but also completely separate when needed. Walls were demolished on the ground floor to create a large kitchen, dining and family space, while upstairs 2 bedrooms and a bathroom provide a self-contained space for children or guests.

The ensuite is Steven and Carole’s favourite room. “The integrity of the period room remains with the beautifully detailed window and panelling as well as the marble fireplace next to the bath.”

SEE MORE DESIGN NEWS!

Steven designed special spaces for his children, converting an attic into a bedroom for his daughter that is accessed via ropes and ladders from a small landing/reading area.

Grand proportions and period detailing in the main bedroom keeps the authenticity of the home.