With their picture-perfect facades, ornate balconies, and narrow floor plans, Victorian terraces are a distinctive part of the inner-city streetscape in many Australian cities.
Especially popular in Melbourne and Sydney, these heritage homes were built throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as an early version of the high-rise apartment block, and the rooms inside often suffer from being dark and tightly packed.
Unlocking the full potential of a two-storey terrace is no easy feat, but today we’re revisiting 10 of the best terrace renovations ever featured on TDF!
Emie sofa by CLO Studios. Coffee table from Rachel Donath. Vase from Jardan. Rug by Milk & Sugar. Art by Jesse Cleay. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
The pastel yellow terrace caught Nikki Keijzer and Tom Gibson’s eye from the first visit. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
Vintage dining chairs and second-hand travertine dining table. Vase from Casa by Carolina. Art by Jesse Cleay. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
This charming Sydney terrace was advertised as ‘The Yellow House’ when it came up for sale in Paddington a few years ago.
After the initial sale fell through, it fortunately ended up in the hands of banker Tom Gibson and lawyer Nikki Keijzer — whose favourite colour just happened to be yellow!
Now, the owners are on a mission to make the interiors glow with the same warm energy as its sunny exterior.
TRW Terrace by Studio Manifold is a renovation in South Yarra, Melbourne. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
The garage was reimagined to comfortably fit two cars. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
The walk-in wardrobe leads to the ensuite. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
Bi-fold doors open the kitchen completely to the courtyard for natural light. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
Classic Victorian bones meet unabashedly creative interiors in this Melbourne terrace house after a renovation by Studio Manifold.
The designers approached the colour palette room by room, allowing for a distinctly different energy as you move through each space — ranging from the calming blue living room to the modern stainless-steel kitchen!
A masterful Surry Hills terrace renovation by Akin Atelier. Photo – Tim Salisbury.
The rear courtyard with the addition clad in custom fluting. HAY Palissade Table and Palissade Dining Armchair from Cult. Photo – Tim Salisbury.
The exposed hardwood joists emphasise the handmade reference to the area’s industrial and creative past. Artworks: In Case of An Emergency Ask An Old Person by Daimon Downey (Saint Cloche). Photo – Tim Salisbury.
Timber shutters provide privacy from the street. Photo – Tim Salisbury.
Amongst rows of Sydney’s inner-city terraces, this house stands out from the moment you step inside.
Rather than pursuing a full restoration to revive the home’s character, Akin Atelier used its fragmented state to inspire a new narrative, using warm materials and unexpected details across the soulful interiors.
Mess Hall by Architecture architecture is a reimagined family terrace in Melbourne. The flexible living and kitchen area is referred to as the ‘Main Hall’, where mobile benches accommodate ‘crafternoons’, and activities. Photo – Tom Ross.
In Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs, this quaint 1870s Victorian terrace has been transformed into a unique haven for the daily rhythms of family life.
The owners engaged Architecture architecture to create a flexible home that would come alive at the end of the school day, with an open-plan ground floor that feels like a welcoming ‘mess hall’.
It’s part living room, part library, with plenty of room for activities, and a garden studio — all with views of a sunny courtyard.
A renovation by Porebski Architects. ‘The Gathering’ by Marisa Purcell (enquiries to Day 01 Gallery). ‘Sea Spray’ and ‘Tidal Pool’ ceramics by Katarina Wells (enquiries to Curatorial & Co). Photo – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Alexandra Gordon.
The architects restored the front of the house with new porch tiles and paint. Photo – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Alexandra Gordon.
Photo – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Alexandra Gordon.
This 1890s Victorian terrace in Paddington already had wow-factor, it just needed more thoughtful interiors to match.
After several years in the home, the owners engaged Porebski Architects for a full renovation to refresh some tired spaces and improve its overall flow.
The long and narrow layout has been optimised, ensuring the view takes centre stage at every opportunity.
A long custom island bench was designed to include an adjoining dining table. Bowl and vase from Pepite. Artwork on left by Eleanor Louise Butt. Photo – Dan Preston. Styling – Elizabeth Bird.
The charming restored exterior. Photo – Dan Preston. Styling – Elizabeth Bird.
Photo – Dan Preston. Styling – Elizabeth Bird.
When it comes to working with narrow inner-city plots, Healy Ryan Architects director Tom Healy says the design is often informed by the challenges of the site.
This Victorian terrace in South Melbourne is a shining example of how clever thinking can overcome these hurdles to unlock a home’s potential — even when it’s on an ‘extremely narrow’ block.
Steps link the yellow-coloured kitchen into the living area. Photo – Martin Siegner.
Timber-framed glass doors open the living ‘pavilion’ to the courtyard garden. Photo – Martin Siegner.
House in Surry Hills by Studio George. Photo – Martin Siegner.
A small courtyard and the rear gardens envelop the floorplan in greenery. Photo – Martin Siegner.
In this Surry Hills terrace, Architect George took an experimental approach to transform what was initially an unliveable 1880s Victorian into a home for owners who’d lived their whole lives in apartments, and longed for a playful space that could ‘heighten their mood’.
And the resulting residence is a masterclass in architectural expression.
Inside Fitzroy Laneway House designed by Andrew Child Architect. Photo – Tom Ross.
From the street, architect Andrew Child’s own Melbourne family home appears like any other single-fronted terrace in its neighbourhood.
But his renovations have turned a narrow laneway into an extension of the elegant Victorian, hidden behind a discreet black addition.
This innovative expansion made room for a central courtyard and lush greenery, a free-standing studio at the rear, as recycled red brick and robust materials combine to create an adaptable home that feels quintessentially Fitzroy.
Annalisa Ferraris’ Paddington home. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Sarah Hendriks.
The leafy view from the upper level. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Sarah Hendriks.
The dining space. Romance is a place artwork by Annalisa Ferraris. Anduze pots imported from France. Marble bust from Lawsons Auctioneers. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Sarah Hendriks.
Sydney-based artist Annalisa Ferraris and Smokebush Studio landscape designer Nathan White felt like they’d ‘struck gold’ when they came across a dated, but light-filled, 1880s terrace in Paddington.
The creative couple has since put their own spin on the Victorian home, drawing inspiration from old-world hotels in Europe to create dreamy personal details — like a blue bar designed for serving martinis, to the kitchen that feels like it’s straight out of a French bistro!
Haiku House by Kim Kneipp Studio and Steffen Welsch Architects. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
The kitchen looks out into a light-filled courtyard. New Volumes Cove Chair and Echo table by Artedomus. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
Baskets from Pan After. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
The glass balustrade for the staircase is reminiscent of shoji screens. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
The owners behind this heritage-listed terrace in Brunswick East, Melbourne, have a soft spot for terraces.
Having originally met in a similar three-storey sharehouse back in their twenties, the couple were delighted to find a Victorian residence to call home once again — this time, as a sanctuary for their young family.
Renovated with help from Kim Kneipp, the 1890s terrace house now features Japanese-inspired flair and light-filled spaces inside.
