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Originally a small shopfront, this 1900s terrace in Melbourne’s inner north is now home to design researcher Sarah Hyne, music producer Matt Redlich, and their one-year-old son.
It’s a building that has evolved many times over the years, and for its latest iteration, the creative family focused especially on the kitchen, enlisting the help of interior designer Alexi Robinson.
‘The property was in relatively good condition for its age, with expected movement and cracking of plasterwork and some water damage on both floors,’ Alexi says.
The brief was to create a warm kitchen and meals zone that could serve as a place for cooking, eating, unwinding and hosting family and friends. Being able to move around the space with ease was important to Sarah and Matt, as well as having all the right tools for the job in the kitchen.
All of this was at odds with the existing kitchen’s small horseshoe-shaped lay out, which was completely stripped out in favour of new linear joinery running lengthways to the rear courtyard.
The original hardwood flooring was able to be retained, sanded back, and stained slightly to disguise faded areas.
‘With under 30 square metres to work with for the main space, the challenge was fitting everything in,’ Alexi adds.
One side now features all the functional ‘cooking’ appliances and timber veneer cabinetry shaped around a central island bench.
The built-in elements cleverly extend the length of the wall to create a cosy dining nook with a banquette seating, topped with blush-toned upholstery and the same pink stone from the splashback.
On the opposite wall — painted a soothing green — a bar with reeded-glass joinery serves as the perfect spot for the family’s regular ‘apéritif’ hours listening to music. There’s even dedicated space for the client’s beloved record player, and storage for their expansive collection.
‘The space was conceptualised as two different yet complementary aesthetics, designed to offer a variety of atmospheres, depending on mood,’ Alexi says. The compact powder room hidden tucked behind the kitchen was also transformed with moody burgundy-toned walls and a luxurious stone vanity.
Alexi says the renovation not only successfully opened up the kitchen, but turned it into the social hub of the home — allowing for newfound activities and interactions that make life in the little terrace more joyful than ever.
