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There’s a special sense of authenticity in Nüüd Studio projects.
Founded by Melbourne couple Brad Mitchell and Kerli Valk, the architecture and design studio has an undeniable talent for making a modest home shine, whether through a restoration that unearths a building’s true character, or a sympathetic reimagining for the current day and age.
In the case of this unassuming brick 1980s townhouse in Camberwell, the renovation required a bit of both.
When the clients — a family of four — purchased the property, the house was generally in good condition, with a basic white kitchen alongside carpeted and tiled floors, however the floor plan was congested. On the ground floor, the kitchen posed a major blockage to light and circulation, while upstairs revealed a confusing maze of corridors leading to the bedrooms.
The priorities were to untangle the awkward layout; draw in as much natural light as possible; and craft fresh interiors to match the character and history of the home’s street and surrounds, lined with grand Victorians sporting beautiful lacework, corbels, and filigree.
‘The materials of the house were quite simple: exposed brick, pine panelling and limewashed timber beams and ceiling,’ Kerli says.
‘As a practice, we are always drawn to warmth in our interiors through the use of natural materials, which innately have a warmth and patina over time.’
Initially, the clients were apprehensive about retaining the timber ceiling and beams in their current form, but were convinced once they saw Nüüd’s proposed palette, grounded in earthy materials. Bagged brick walls now sit alongside pine panelling that was mostly retained and treated with a light, muted green finish.
On the floors, blackbutt timber provides a sense of continuity in place of old tiles and carpets, as the kitchen’s vibrant stretch of deep red marble brings depth and opulence to the otherwise neutral backdrop.
‘There’s a balance in the joinery between the quiet opulence and refined details, and the humble, almost rural, quality of the rugged timber,’ Kerli says.
It’s a contrasting combination that was also influenced by the suburb’s history as a rest stop on the way to Gippsland during the gold rush.
The kitchen is now made up of custom ‘furniture-like anchors’ crafted locally by Mood Workshop. The central timber island bench and kitchen cabinet ‘float’ in the space, unattached to walls or ceilings, delineating zones without blocking movement or sunlight.
‘The small footprint of the project made us particularly careful in planning,’ Kerli says.
‘By consolidating the back of house zones together, we were able to free up the living area and access a previously enclosed window to borrow more natural light.’
The result is a relaxed atmosphere, where textured curtains and a collection of contemporary yet utilitarian furnishings brings the leafy courtyard garden into clear focus.
Upstairs, the serenity of simple styling continues in the bedrooms and bathrooms where a wall of captivating green tiles curves around the shower.
It’s a house that feels calming and harmonious, but never dull. And it’s clear that acute attention to detail is the unifying reason these interiors have come to life so beautifully.
‘I enjoy the calmness and tactile, crafted moments,’ Kerli says of the project.
‘All the new elements feel grounded, as if they had always been there.’
