While this Edwardian house in Melbourne’s leafy Eastern suburb of Malvern had great bones, it was previously lacking personality and didn’t function for the needs of a modern family. The existing kitchen was small and dysfunctional, and oddly positioned, with very little room to move around the benches, while an existing dining space felt too formal and remained unused. So, a full revamp was in order – and wow, did interior designer Georgina Jeffries deliver!
Walls were removed, and the kitchen, dining, pantry and laundry spaces were completely redesigned to create flow and connection into the living spaces. The kitchen and living zones were connected to become the hub of the home, linked through an informal and open meals area featuring built-in bench seating. ‘We wanted to create a zone that wasn’t only designated to meal time, but a space that was unpretentious, inviting, and became a place to connect’, says Georgina.
While the Edwardian heritage of the home was the first point of inspiration, there are so many special moments to be found here. The grand hallway features a striking geometric patterned floor, while the kitchen is a harmonious balance of pale greys and greens with marble and gold accents and shaker details – a nod to the client’s English heritage. Colour plays a massive role in the character of this home (the formal living room is pink, the bedroom is blue, and the study is green!), and 2-pac joinery was custom made in four different hues for pieces installed throughout.
Georgina’s favourite part of the house is the powder room – an unexpected delight featuring cloud wallpaper by Fornasetti, with a custom vanity and mirror that bring a little bit of old world charm.
‘It’s a bit of a mishmash of styles that comes together and takes shape as one harmonious language,’ says Georgina of the finished result. We agree wholeheartedly!
