In 2019, Angie Rehak, Nick Rehak, and their three kids Ziggy (11), Casper (9), Daisy (5) bought a house in Clifton Hill, marking their return to Melbourne after an eight yr stint dwelling in Sydney.
The house was a run-down Victorian inbuilt across the Nineties, with a Nineteen Sixties extension that solely detracted from the general design.
Angie and Nick engaged architect Alex Lake of Due to this fact to design a complete renovation, which might see the unique rooms restored, and new northern dwelling areas to interchange the outdated addition.
‘That complete extension was eliminated,’ says Angie, who’s the co-owner of grazing and occasion styling enterprise, Blossom.
‘It ran alongside the again of the home with a tiny kitchen, laundry and one other rest room. No home windows for that wonderful north-facing sunshine!’
The unique home was fully retained, however reconfigured for contemporary household dwelling. A proper lounge turned the principle bed room, a bed room was changed into an en suite, and a proper eating room is now the ‘gallery’ house that bridges the brand new and outdated parts of the home.
Hidden doorways within the gallery’s timber panelling cleverly conceal entrances to the principle rest room, linen cabinet, and laundry.
Unique options all through these entrance rooms have been uncovered and restored, together with the open fireplaces and pressed metallic ceilings.
‘All the unique floorboards stay, besides within the new bogs,’ says Angie. ‘We sanded them again from darkish wooden to mild and added a slight whitewash to brighten up the home.
The brand new extension hosts all of the dwelling areas, that are open plan, however subtly outlined by modifications in flooring stage (making a sunken lounge) and color.
New glass doorways operating the size of the rear facade present a seamless connection to the yard, permitting the youngsters to run between the home and their separate playroom (as soon as a small freestanding construction) behind the block.
‘We requested our architect to attach it to the principle home,’ says Angie. ‘It’s shut sufficient to us for them to really feel linked, however separate sufficient that after they have associates over they’ve their very own house to play or watch motion pictures in.’
Each the back and front gardens have been landscaped by Gardens of the Solar in line with the structure, whereas referencing the backyard of Angie’s childhood Castlemaine house.
‘With over 300 several types of roses, it was fairly magical! I hoped to recreate that on a a lot smaller scale in our backyard,’ Angie says.
Out the entrance, the restored facade gives the proper backdrop for the cottage-style entrance backyard, full with a pastel pink entrance door.
‘We selected pink because it matched the pale color of the corrugated roof, suited the gorgeous Victorian options, and I’ve at all times needed a pink door!’ says Angie. ‘We obtain many beautiful feedback about it from everybody that walks previous!’
Angie selected a lot of the finishes and fixtures within the house herself, drawing on her expertise in visible merchandise and styling, and once more taking inspiration from her dad and mom’ Castlemaine home.
‘I grew up in houses that had been crammed with artwork and color. My mom labored in trend and my stepfather is the late artist, Robert Jacks AO,’ Angie explains.
‘They gave me confidence to be daring with fashion selections, to like taking part in with color and to by no means base design selections on “what if we wish to promote our home sooner or later!”
Angie’s personal color alternatives are whimsical and fairly, whereas nonetheless sitting harmoniously alongside the house’s unique options. Patterned tiles within the rest room invite a playful vitality, and the kitchen encompasses a contemporary shade of pastel inexperienced (Liberty Inexperienced by Porter’s Paints) accentuated by a skylight behind the cabinets.
The complete renovation was accomplished by builders Urge for food for Building in a speedy 10 months in and round Covid lockdowns.
Coming house to her dream house day-after-day isn’t misplaced on Angie.
‘Each single time I arrive house, our pink door, fairly home, and lovely backyard makes my coronary heart sing,’ she says.
‘I’m reminded of how fortunate we’re to have such an attractive house… Extremely tacky, however true!’
