How Colour Gave This Single-Brick Victorian A New Lease On Life

After two decades in her single-brick Victorian home in Fitzroy North, art curator Bernie Alibrando was ready to give it a thoughtful refresh, setting it up for the next twenty years.

It took just five months for Cantilever Interiors to revamp the home — from concept to completion — injecting it with contrasting texture and colour.

‘Bernie’s brief included minimal site intervention with little disruption made to the existing service pathways, captured in her concrete floor,’ says Kylie Forbes, creative director for Cantilever Interiors.

Bernie’s extensive travels to Japan and the Mediterranean became the main inspiration for the renovation.

‘Both cultures influenced her appreciation of form, colour and presence,’ Kylie explains.

‘In practice, Bernie takes great care of her home and belongings, with each drawer, surface and material meticulously appreciated. Designing with a view of needing “only the essential”, Bernie shared a great appreciation of design for longevity.’

The colours chosen for each room were carefully selected to tell a story of contrast as one moves through the home.

A sweet apricot fills the terrazzo-tiled bathroom while the bedroom adopts a warm, honey yellow. The kitchen — the centre of the renovation — features cooler tones that ground the space, while dark green marmoleum complements the resin flooring.

Rearranging the layout of the kitchen around the concrete floor and the existing green resin coat proved to be the most difficult part of this project.

‘In the previous design, the sink sat adjacent to the window. The windowsill was low, conflicting with the relationship between it and the bench height, blocking light and making it difficult to open the window,’ explains Kylie.

This, combined with the awkward positioning of the bulky fridge, meant a thoughtful design was required to optimise functionality.

In response, Cantilever Interiors moved the sink to the back wall and installed a lower, terrazzo-tiled benchtop under the fluted window — an ideal spot for Bernie to sit and prepare food. They also added a tall block of joinery, which doubles as a living room bookcase and cleverly conceals the fridge.

‘[The integrated fridge joinery] maximises its functionality on three sides, shielding elements of the kitchen from view, creating a sense of intrigue as you walk in the door, with light wrapping in the surround,’ explains Kylie.

This refurbishment has given Bernie’s home splashes of warm colour and a functional kitchen to take her through the next twenty years.