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After completing an apartment renovation in 2020, Lucy Rouw had the bug. She wasn’t necessarily looking for a new project, but when this Balaclava home came up for sale, everything ‘just felt right’.
‘It felt like something I could really shape into my own, and before I knew it, I was completely immersed again in that same cycle of discovery and creating,’ Lucy says.
Lucy lives here with her partner Robbie Lynn (they’re both optical dispensers at Wink Optometrists) and Lucy’s two children Spencer (12), Stevie (7).
At the time of purchasing, the house was perfectly functional, yet it was lacking any architectural pedigree, especially in the interiors. A 1990s renovation had introduced a basic kitchen and uninspiring bathroom tiles, and while original floorboards remained in the front bedrooms, they became unsalvageable after re-stumping.
Lucy and Robbie’s plan was to undertake a full renovation, but when building costs and materials started to rise, they decided on a smaller scale, DIY approach. Finding reliable tradespeople was also a challenge, further inspiring the couple to go at it alone.
Lucy recalls, ‘We had ongoing issues with the travertine; it was cut to the wrong size multiple times and at one point even installed broken, hoping it would go unnoticed. It made us realise pretty quickly that unless we absolutely had to, we’d rather do things ourselves.
‘It took a couple of years to complete, working around full-time jobs; mostly across weekends and school holidays.
‘Not much went to plan, to be honest, but we learnt to pivot and embrace those moments and in a way, that’s what’s shaped the house into what it is.’
Lucy and Robbie started with the back garden to allow the planting time to establish. They wanted to make this space feel like a natural extension of the interior, where the doors stay open, and people gather easily. ‘Even though we’re in a built-up area, it feels like a bit of a sanctuary, with that same European sensibility of living between indoors and out,’ Lucy says.
Another exterior update was stripping back the ’90s front porch back to reveal the original, and painting it the same warm grey-beige colour as the new interiors.
Inside, the most impactful change was updating the kitchen with IKEA VÅRSTA stainless steel fronts. Lucy and Robbie built the kitchen themselves, and worked with a stonemason to install the benchtop. ‘We wanted something we could install on our own and it came highly recommended by friends,’ says Lucy. ‘The whole process from design through to installation was surprisingly easy and dare I say, even fun. I couldn’t recommend it enough.’
Lucy has made the conscious decision to style the home only with pieces she feels emotionally connected to. ‘I have to love the piece but I also want to know who made it and what it’s made from, the story – the people and journey behind it are just as important as the object itself,’ she explains.
She describes her style as ‘nontraditional, warm and easy… Filled with things that are a little unexpected and probably don’t make sense to everyone.’
At the same time, this is very much a family home, so nothing is too precious. The house is at its best when filled with friends and family, which is often, as Lucy and Robbie love to entertain.
A typical day starts with coffee and a chat with neighbours, impromptu wines on the street, kids playing out front and running in and out around bikes piled up on the porch.
