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While some clients need convincing to break away from conventional white walls, the owners of this Victorian terrace renovation by Studio Manifold weren’t afraid to try something different.
The family of three had downsized from a ‘much larger property’ to the 275-square-metre block in South Yarra, owning it for a few years before deciding to reconsolidate the series of fragmented updates in a new iteration.
However, their brief wasn’t too concerned about adding space; it was about making the existing footprint feel generous.
‘It’s a late-Victorian terrace typical of inner Melbourne, with the proportions and ornamentation you’d expect from that era,’ Studio Manifold co-director Lachlan Cooper says.
Using the original fireplaces, cornices, and stair detailing as the initial springboard, the designers focused on ‘reinstating spatial logic’ with a few strategic tweaks.
These included opening the kitchen fully to the courtyard with bi-folding doors, which brought much-needed light into what was originally the darkest part of the floor plan, while a new balcony was introduced upstairs.
But the most transformative part about the renovation lies in Studio Manifold’s inspiring use of colour. Rather than being driven by decoration, the selections serve a purpose — giving each space its own unique identity.
The front door now opens to an elegant living room featuring a green statement rug and burl timbers; there’s a grounding blue theme for the dining area; the powder room features glossy yellow walls as the bathroom
‘The clients were open to colour, but we approached it with discipline,’ Lachlan adds.
‘Because the palette is considered room-by-room, it feels immersive rather than loud. The blue dining room was the only contentious area that required extensively sampling. Since being in the house, the client said this is her favourite space that has a calming energy to it.’
In the kitchen, the contemporary stainless steel island contrasts with the home’s Victorian ornamentation while helping to bounce light deeper into the terrace footprint.
‘We were careful not to mimic heritage language in new work. Instead, we allowed the old to remain intact and the new to sit alongside it clearly,’ Lachlan says.
This deliberate and creative approach is what makes the resulting interiors feel so refreshing. The spaces feel fun, expressive, and yet, perfectly cohesive, designed to support the rhythms of the family’s everyday life.
