‘When we first moved in there was an outside toilet, no real bathroom and a shower off the kitchen – it needed quite a bit of work to say the least!’ says Emily.  The previous owner had lived in the house for almost 50 years, and according to Emily, he was a lovely guy who won Neighbour of the Year!  ‘He used to deck the ENTIRE house inside and out with lights and Christmas decorations every year, to the point that it was a neighbourhood attraction!’ she recalls.  ‘It was a well loved family home. So we had a lot to live up to moving into the house!’ Nevertheless, after a couple of years here, it was clear to Emily and Rob that their home was in need of a significant update.  They decided to leave the front section of the house relatively untouched, and to concentrate on extending the home at the rear and side boundary.  They worked closely with local architect Olivia Van Dijk to create a unique space, striking a delicate balance between the existing old parts of the house, and the new additions.  ‘Liv did an amazing job of fitting old with new’ says Emily. ‘I didn’t want a totally modern exterior on the extension – they can be great, but I wanted it to fit harmoniously with the ‘old’ materials on the front of the house’. Another key part of Emily and Rob’s architectural brief was to bring more natural light into the home. ‘The house used to be really dark – the back of the house faces south – so we wanted to open it up to the North and get the lovely winter sun in’ says Emily.
This was achieved by introducing a large lightwell between the kitchen and dining areas, which allows warming sun rays to stream in, and has allowed Emily to cultivate an impressive collection of lush indoor plants! Internally, Emily and Rob were keen to include lots of natural materials like timber and stone.  Emily approached Nancybird HQ neighbour Damien Wright of Wright Studios to make their new kitchen. ‘It is a very special, beautifully crafted area and our favourite part of the house’ she says. Damien sourced Yellow Stringy Bark from rafters in an old Footscray factory for the table and cabinetry, and old Mountain Ash floorboards from a house demolition in Kew.  Emily and Rob were very intent on creating an open, ‘non streamlined’ kitchen. ‘I like seeing things like plates and cups out in the open, a little bit uneven, different materials, a little bit of chaos’ says Emily. Both Rob and Emily are garden enthusiasts, and being an ecologist, Rob was especially keen to create a water-efficient garden.  With a rainwater tank and a rain garden, the pair have vastly reduced the stormwater runoff on their property.  The plantings are a luscious mix of vege garden, raspberries, and indigenous plants, landscaped and planted by Rob and Emily.
The paving was (impressively!) done by Rob, using bricks salvaged from the home’s original fireplace. There is something so warm, inviting and just refreshingly relaxed about this home!  It’s so great to see a sensitive, thoughtful reno and extension that doesn’t overwhelm the existing house, and which has a unique character that really reflects the aesthetics and values of its owners.  I also love the ‘layers’ of texture, detail and and personal flourishes Emily and Rob have added here, creating a rich, eclectic space which really tells the story of its occupants, and ensures a seamless link between old and new. For their part, Emily and Rob are still very appreciative of the basic creature comforts here!  ‘I love the light, airy feeling that the living area of the house has, even in winter’ says Emily, adding that ‘after living in the unrenovated version of this house for a couple of years, it’s still amazing to have a functional (and inside) bathroom and kitchen!’ Huge thanks to Emily and Rob for sharing their home with us today!
Love everything about this place
Emily – the place looks beautiful! Very you. xxx
What a peaceful and serene looking home, Well done Emily & Rob.. I can imagine lots of hours spent in that garden. Thanks for sharing Lucy :)
What a gorgeous home, love to see how Emily and Dan have sourced so many beautiful things from local businesses. That bathroom is just stunning!
Sorry, Emily and Robert! Oops
Lovely…airy…clever use of space…and so much more
Living in the 70s with style . You have been able to ‘Australianise ‘ Victorian style and commit to the ‘look’ throughout the home , garden and studio .
What a fantastic facelift! Such a great use of space and light
This house is so beautiful, my favourite on TDF ever!
Amaaaaazing house!
My favourite part is the strip on the front of the house – simple and very beautiful. And that paving in the garden is also great. What a personal and warm place.
What a wonderful place to live in, such brilliant juxtapositions and textures! Love it!
wow! The design is just so clever, the kitchen is amazing!
I have long wondered what Emily’s home must be like. It’s even more gorgeous than I had imagined. Perfect in every way. Best house ever featured on TDF. Thanks for sharing Emily and Robert.
Gorgeous home and studio! I am totally crushing on the bathroom, kitchen and loft!! :)
love, love, love. love!!
Beautiful and interesting home, unsurprising for the creator of the beautiful & interesting Nancybird products. I absolutely love the light fitting in the living room – any chance of finding out the source?
Ignore question – just saw it in the second living room description :)
M favorite kitchen to date! Love your home it is absolutely stunning.
Any chance I could find out the supplier of kitchen tiles?
Thank you.
Love everything about this place, the colours, earthy textures, fabrics and eclectic mix of stunning homewares – just as beautiful and appealing as everything in the Nancybird range!
What a beautiful home, what a pleasure it must be to live in. Do you have any details on where the cream couch was sourced? Beautiful shape and Nancy Bird upholstery .
What a delightful home! thanks for sharing
What a beautiful home. And so lucky to have that amazing tree out the front.
so much light and all around goodness – love it!!!
That bathroom… swoon. I can’t stop staring at the gorgeous blue tiles. A truly beautiful home, Emily and Rob. Thanks for the feature, Lucy. xx
The warmth of a real home is what I get from this house. Such a lovely welcoming feeling. Your architect did a superb job, I presume she did the interiors as well. All the boxes ticked – taste, colour and design….congratulations! I wish it was mine!
It is gorgeous, what a beautiful balance of old and new, original details, great colors. The architect Olivia Van Dijk is a star!!
Such a beautifully curated home with so many lovely details. Thanks for sharing! X
Such a beautiful and authentic home. Super refreshing to see such a honest representation of a real living space. Gorgeous!
First time I have commented on a home but this lovely gentle light filled house with its eclectic mix of art and furnishings has lifted me up and inspired me for my two year stay in England.
Just back for my 6th look ;)
I love the blue tiles and the storing shelves in the kitchen!
This is gorgeous! I love all the timber and natural light. And the little handpainted detail on the front of the house :) xx
Absolutely love this house! We are currently renovating a house the next suburb along from Northcote and this is so inspiring.
Just gorgeous. I can’t fault anything! I love the kitchen tiles, backyard, the openness and light, front fence, and the wonderful warmth that someone above mentioned. Do you need a roommate?!
Oh my gosh! The lounge is the most gorgeous space I’ve seen in a long time. The slanted ceiling, the vintage couches and the big windows… swoon.
Such a lovely series of spaces! And I think you photographed the studio previously haven’t you? I’m sure I’ve seen a photo of Lucy on the stairs… Maybe I’m dreaming!
What a lovely home! All the art works are just stunning – especially the Colleen Kantawarra. So much work has gone into the paving and stonework.
gorgeous home! I love all the bright colors and plants against the pretty white background. and, then the pleasant surprise of the blue tiled bathroom, and the pretty contrast it is to the rest of the house. gorgeous!
So unique!!!! It’s pure LOVE
Gratulujemy. Bardzo ładny dom. Super. Helena i Stanisław.
Just so classic & beautiful. Love the fern in the Shower!
I love this beautifully-designed home that is welcoming especially the kitchen slightly tucked away; the treasures collected over the years; and the paving and stonework in the garden.
such a heartfelt home! filled with warmth and soul.
looks like a display suite. do people even live in these houses?
when will we see the design files mix it up a bit? seriously guys. lets see something a little less curated. living in such an art directed manner must be exhausting and shallow. the kitchen is nice though :)
Wow Livvy, I love your work very inventive use of space
I knew this one was north of the river long before I got to the part about it being in Northcote…
Love the blue tiles
hello Emily and Rob,
félicitations pour la réalisation de votre nid douillet! Vous avez fait preuve de beaucoup de goût!
cela change avec la maison que l’on avait vue il y a 2 ans !
amitiés
Em and Rob! Your place looks amazing! Nice work. Great post TDF :)
Sublime. One of my ultimate favourite houses so far on TDF. Looks like a relaxing haven.
Absolutely stunning space, every single bit of it! A perfect blend of minimalism with lots of spunk and character. That kitchen! Thanks for sharing! xo
I love everything about this house. Thanks for sharing .
Love this home and the Cheminees Philippe fireplace.
I’ve come back to revisit this house for a third time! Love it
Nice place Mr D
Very homely and quite chic. Making me look forward to moving to Melb x
This house is beautiful. I particularly love the bathroom. Emily, can I ask how it goes functionally – do you get water all over the place not having a screen? Is it cold and drafty? It looks amazing – well done.
Aaaaargh it is so light and gorgeous! Those open shelves in the kitchen!!!
Hello! I’ve been searching for Olivia Van Dijk’s details but I cant seem to find a web page? If anyone has found it or knows it, I would really appreciate it if you could post it here. Ill keep an eye out! Thank you. I really like this house, it’s very cosy and filled with light.
…and does anyone know what the light is called/supplier in the picture titled ‘hallway details’? They are very cool
Hi there Katrina,
I just noticed your comment, it’s really lovely to hear such great feedback!
If you’d like to get in touch my email address is info@oliviavandijk.com.au…looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
Olivia
Very curious about the lovely storage shelves in the kitchen. Was the drywall taken off to the studs & then shelves added?
Trawling through some archives and saw this – what a beautiful home. Gorgeous pops of colour in the artwork against the white walls.