Melbourne Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel in Mint
See how an architect brought a family's much-loved 1940s Melbourne home up-to-date while honouring its past
This 1940s semi-detached brick home in Flemington, Victoria, has been treasured by the same family since it was built. Having been left largely untouched, many of its original features still remained decades later. However, there comes a time with every old house where that ancient kitchen or decrepit bathroom needs an overhaul to bring it up to contemporary standards. Enter architect Lisa Breeze, who was tasked by the current owner – the great-great nephew of the original owner – to bring the house up-to-date and add more usable space while honouring its heritage.
The rear of the house before works.
While the old house had good bones, it felt tired and ready for an update when Breeze first came onboard, with everything from water damage to dated electrics. “Plus, it had a clunky layout at the rear of the home with a poor aspect and access to the backyard. The backyard needed an overhaul too,” she says.
But it was not withouts its magic, says Breeze. “Having been largely untouched meant the house had wonderful original detailing, such as curved mint cabinetry in the kitchen.” At her client’s request, this mint hue in the kitchen formed the basis of the new colour scheme.
Ready to revamp your own home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
While the old house had good bones, it felt tired and ready for an update when Breeze first came onboard, with everything from water damage to dated electrics. “Plus, it had a clunky layout at the rear of the home with a poor aspect and access to the backyard. The backyard needed an overhaul too,” she says.
But it was not withouts its magic, says Breeze. “Having been largely untouched meant the house had wonderful original detailing, such as curved mint cabinetry in the kitchen.” At her client’s request, this mint hue in the kitchen formed the basis of the new colour scheme.
Ready to revamp your own home? Find an architect near you on Houzz
The rear of the house before works.
The client lived here on and off for around 10 years before taking the plunge and renovating. Work was completed in 2020 and the couple moved back in, just as Melbourne went into its first Covid-19 lockdown.
This gave them plenty of opportunity to enjoy the newly revitalised spaces. “They were grateful for the natural light and new hydronic heating system as we rolled into winter,” says Breeze. “Now that we have more freedom, they entertain with dinner parties both in the kitchen and meals area, and in the backyard.
“The footprint of the house is fairly small by Australian standards and it was a pleasure to work with the challenge of including so much function and detail in a compact home,” she says.
The client lived here on and off for around 10 years before taking the plunge and renovating. Work was completed in 2020 and the couple moved back in, just as Melbourne went into its first Covid-19 lockdown.
This gave them plenty of opportunity to enjoy the newly revitalised spaces. “They were grateful for the natural light and new hydronic heating system as we rolled into winter,” says Breeze. “Now that we have more freedom, they entertain with dinner parties both in the kitchen and meals area, and in the backyard.
“The footprint of the house is fairly small by Australian standards and it was a pleasure to work with the challenge of including so much function and detail in a compact home,” she says.
The floor plan after works.
Breeze’s brief was to renovate, upgrade, repair and improve the home, making it suitable for the future, while at the same time honouring its past.
“Every detail, material choice and colour in the home was inspired by the original features and the era of the dwelling,” she says.
Breeze’s brief was to renovate, upgrade, repair and improve the home, making it suitable for the future, while at the same time honouring its past.
“Every detail, material choice and colour in the home was inspired by the original features and the era of the dwelling,” she says.
The kitchen before works.
“The rear part of the home was gutted and a small, new extension was added. We relocated and replaced the bathroom, and put in a new kitchen and meals area in the new extension that opens onto a freshly landscaped backyard,” says Breeze.
The front bedrooms and living room were given a simple refresh with paint and furnishings.
“The rear part of the home was gutted and a small, new extension was added. We relocated and replaced the bathroom, and put in a new kitchen and meals area in the new extension that opens onto a freshly landscaped backyard,” says Breeze.
The front bedrooms and living room were given a simple refresh with paint and furnishings.
The kitchen before works.
“The client sought a balance between retaining the heritage features and creating a contemporary home, which is easier said than done without creating a kitsch copy of the original,” says Breeze.
“The client sought a balance between retaining the heritage features and creating a contemporary home, which is easier said than done without creating a kitsch copy of the original,” says Breeze.
The kitchen after works.
“They were looking for better space, not a lot of extra space,” says Breeze. “Quality over quantity suits my approach well. More light was another thing they were after.”
“They were looking for better space, not a lot of extra space,” says Breeze. “Quality over quantity suits my approach well. More light was another thing they were after.”
The new mint kitchen is, without a doubt, the centrepiece of the revitalised home. “It is both beautiful and very much of the era, so it really suits the brief of creating a contemporary home that honours its past,” says Breeze.
Joinery painted in Beckett: Dulux; Point Leo terrazzo floor tiles: De Fazio Tiles & Stone; Calacatta Statuario marble on the benchtops and splashbacks.
The detailing in the new kitchen draws its inspiration from the home’s original cooking space, with its mint cabinetry, fluted glass, curves and picture-frame detailing. Breeze even managed to reuse the original kitchen’s Bakelite cabinetry handles to create a delightful link with the past.
The detailing in the new kitchen draws its inspiration from the home’s original cooking space, with its mint cabinetry, fluted glass, curves and picture-frame detailing. Breeze even managed to reuse the original kitchen’s Bakelite cabinetry handles to create a delightful link with the past.
By relocating the kitchen to the new extension, Breeze has made it bigger, brighter and easier for the owners to navigate.
Lenny the cat exiting his concealed litter tray area.
The owners’ two cats were also factored into the new design, with a kitty-litter tray cleverly concealed in the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. “The cats are an important part of the family – and who likes seeing a litter tray out on display?” says Breeze.
The owners’ two cats were also factored into the new design, with a kitty-litter tray cleverly concealed in the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. “The cats are an important part of the family – and who likes seeing a litter tray out on display?” says Breeze.
A little built-in credenza in the meals area makes the perfect spot to display the couple’s collected objects, while visually framing a new artwork above it (Esther Stewart’s ‘After the Gold Rush’).
Being right next to the dining table, it also makes a handy spot to rest platters when they are entertaining.
Being right next to the dining table, it also makes a handy spot to rest platters when they are entertaining.
“The site and the existing dwelling, which is semi-detached, are both narrow. It is always a challenge in these situations to create a sensible layout and ensure the quality of natural light and fresh air to the home,” says Breeze.
The owners were keen for Breeze to modernise the living area in a practical sense with new lighting, wiring, heating/cooling and a fresh coat of paint, while retaining its heritage features, such as the brick fireplace and fluted-glass sliding doors.
As the living room receives the least amount of natural light in the house, Breeze opted for white-washed walls rather than the mint seen elsewhere in the home, to make the living space feel bright and open.
Blues and greens continue in the living room artwork and furniture.
The bathroom after works. Point Leo terrazzo floor tiles: De Fazio Tiles & Stone; Vogue Giada and Ghiaccio gloss wall tiles: Classic Ceramics; Yokato tapware: Brodware; custom vanity designed by Lisa Breeze Architect with Calacatta Statuario marble benchtops.
The original bathroom had seen better days, so it was gutted and replaced with a new one in a more convenient location in the middle of the house.
The client was after a light, airy and contemporary feel in their new bathroom, as well as a large shower and storage. They were also keen for the room to include thoughtful detailing that honours the home’s past – thus, the retro-inspired curves in the vanity and mint tones.
The original bathroom had seen better days, so it was gutted and replaced with a new one in a more convenient location in the middle of the house.
The client was after a light, airy and contemporary feel in their new bathroom, as well as a large shower and storage. They were also keen for the room to include thoughtful detailing that honours the home’s past – thus, the retro-inspired curves in the vanity and mint tones.
“The mint tiles are beautiful, but they’re an intense colour, especially in a smaller space such as a bathroom, so we only ran them part-way up the wall to tone down the effect,” says Breeze.
The main bedroom after works. Lower walls painted in Baltic: Dulux.
The main bedroom was refreshed with new lighting, wiring and heating/cooling.
It was given a new look courtesy of new paintwork, curtains and a pendant light that was brought in from another room in the house. Breeze broke up the acres of white paintwork on the walls with a thick band of Dulux Baltic that runs right around the room – a clever paint effect to introduce some colour and visually reduce the height of the ceiling so the modest-sized room feels balanced.
The main bedroom was refreshed with new lighting, wiring and heating/cooling.
It was given a new look courtesy of new paintwork, curtains and a pendant light that was brought in from another room in the house. Breeze broke up the acres of white paintwork on the walls with a thick band of Dulux Baltic that runs right around the room – a clever paint effect to introduce some colour and visually reduce the height of the ceiling so the modest-sized room feels balanced.
The facade after works.
Apart from a few minor updates that included repainting the metal and timber features and adding a new awning, Breeze left the home’s facade in its original form.
Apart from a few minor updates that included repainting the metal and timber features and adding a new awning, Breeze left the home’s facade in its original form.
The side of the house after works. Bluestone crazy paving: Bamstone.
After years of having zero connection to the backyard, the owners were eager to create a lush, landscaped area at the back of the house that flowed seamlessly from their indoor space.
“The outdoor area had a complete overhaul with new paving, drainage, Corten steel planters, a new barbecue bench, outdoor furniture and plenty of planting,” says Breeze. The area is small but they use it in myriad ways, she says; “From entertaining and barbecuing to sunbathing”.
After years of having zero connection to the backyard, the owners were eager to create a lush, landscaped area at the back of the house that flowed seamlessly from their indoor space.
“The outdoor area had a complete overhaul with new paving, drainage, Corten steel planters, a new barbecue bench, outdoor furniture and plenty of planting,” says Breeze. The area is small but they use it in myriad ways, she says; “From entertaining and barbecuing to sunbathing”.
Breeze used the same tiles in the bathroom to clad a new barbecue bench outside. “The owners and I couldn’t get enough of that beautiful colour,” says Breeze. “And why not have some fun with the barbecue area?”
Your turn
Do you love this retro renovation as much as we do? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more homes with colour? Don’t miss this story: A Colourful, Top-to-Toe Renovation of a Run-Down Sydney Terrace
Your turn
Do you love this retro renovation as much as we do? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more homes with colour? Don’t miss this story: A Colourful, Top-to-Toe Renovation of a Run-Down Sydney Terrace
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two cats
Location: Flemington, Victoria
Architectural style: A 1940s bungalow
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Two bedrooms, one bathroom
Size: 95 square metres
Architect: Lisa Breeze at Lisa Breeze Architect
Builder: Silverstream Constructions
Joinery: Silverstream Joinery
Landscape design: Greenbits
“My great-great uncle and aunt, Horace and Beatrice Kernaghan – Horry and Beat – rented the house and then bought it in the early 1950s,” says the owner. “Horry and Beat lived here their whole lives until they passed away. They were like grandparents to my father, and like great-grandparents to my siblings and me. I spent a lot of time in the house from when I was a baby, as Horry and Beat would often babysit us. I have very fond memories of Beat’s amazing wholesome cooking and being allowed to stay up late to watch the Bill Collins’ Saturday night classic movie,” he says.
“The house was left to my family in 2006 and I purchased it. I’ve had plans to renovate a few times since then, but I’m really glad I waited until I had the means to do it well. For me, there’s a large amount of sentimentality connected to the house. I wanted to maintain the look, era and feel of the home, with the original 1950s kitchen inspiring the brief for the colour and style,” he says.