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Millie and Dave Wells rented in Warrandyte (24 kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s CBD), for six years before deciding to buy in the area.
It took 12 months to find the right property, but the house was worth the wait. The property was large, surrounded by an established garden, and in need of a renovation – exactly what Millie and Dave were after. ‘We wanted to make something ours,’ Dave says.
Works undertaken since include renovations to kitchen, living, dining, family, and outdoor areas, all constructed by Sanctum Homes.
One of the most significant changes has been the relocation of the stairs. ‘The staircase was situated in the middle of the lounge, which also meant it was in the middle of the master suite above, and severely limited the usability (and design elements) of both areas,’ says Dave. ‘We moved the staircase, then incorporated a study nook under the stairs to make best use of all the space.’
A new wraparound deck has also been added, to better take advantage of the home’s natural surroundings. This sentiment is continued indoors throughout the interiors, which Millie has styled with plenty of indoor plants. ‘The best term to describe the design is ‘biophilic’ says Dave.
Further accentuating the home’s connection to the outdoors is the interior design by Open Door Design, featuring Dulux Grid on the exterior.
‘Open Door Design suggested that along with the extensive opening up of windows and doors, we should create a cooler scheme that was dark outside and bright inside, therefore giving an instant feeling of lightness when you walked into the house,’ says Dave. ‘It works very well. The house feels light and bright inside – well connected with the exterior.’
With the renovations now complete, this enchanting home is set to see the Wells family through many more years to come!
