Inside designer Anna Thomson and her household moved into this basic Federation residence in Melbourne’s interior North again in 2019, proper earlier than the delivery of her son.
‘We cherished the situation. It’s on a full of life avenue in Thornbury with plenty of younger households like us,’ Anna says.
It was barely smaller than they hoped, however when no bidders turned as much as the public sale, they snapped it up. Then, a 12 months later, the pandemic hit.
‘Spending a lot time at residence throughout COVID, we rapidly realised we nonetheless wanted more room,’ she says.
‘I used to be engaged on the eating room desk in a small open-plan dwelling/eating space, which wasn’t preferrred. We cherished our avenue and our neighbours, so we determined to renovate somewhat than transfer into an even bigger residence.’
Some buddies, who had not too long ago up to date their very own residence with Three C Architects, beneficial Anna attain out to the Melbourne-based design agency for the renovation.
There was by no means a query that the prevailing ‘attractive facade’ could be retained, with the true transformation coming within the type of a dramatic extension on the rear.
A brand new second-storey crafted from darkish metal mimics the prevailing pitched roofline of the Federation frontage, giving a nod to the trendy areas it hides inside.
The unique home opens to a sweeping lounge with industrial-inspired particulars, that includes polished concrete flooring and outsized home windows shaded by perforated screens on the outside.
Inside, pure timber joinery, pops of sage inexperienced, and Anna’s lived-in styling softens the strong structure, giving the home a heat, nearly mid-century temper that channels particulars from her Dutch heritage.
‘My styling is impressed by northern European design. I like the simplicity, performance and heat of Dutch design specifically, which conjures up the furnishings choice for my residence,’ she provides.
On the centre of the dwelling zone, there’s a much-loved gray Weylandts couch that’s been with the household for greater than a decade, and nonetheless stays in prime place beside the sliding glass doorways overlooking the leafy yard. However, Anna admits they’ll usually combat over who will get to take a seat on the yellow Jardan armchair — Fletcher, her six-year-old son, often wins.
‘The home is greater than we ever dreamed of. We love entertaining, so the open-plan format of the home fits our life-style completely,’ she says.
‘Sitting on the bench seat on the eating room desk, I’ve a view of all 4 features of the property. I like having my lunch right here within the early afternoon when the solar floods in from the north and I can watch Fletcher enjoying within the yard.’
