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When it comes to working on a home with a storied past, sometimes it’s best to call in the professionals.
This was the case for Bob Beriotto and Rose Antoun, the owners of a unique Petersham apartment within a converted Victorian mansion. The couple had already renovated the bathroom, but with the quirky kitchen and dining room also in need of a makeover, the couple reached out to Without Studio for guidance.
‘This building, Buena Vista, has seen a few different eras,’ Without Studio co-director Mel Hasic says.
‘Originally, it was a late Victorian mansion, which has over time been altered and ultimately repurposed as nine separate apartments.’
The kitchen in Bob and Rose’s apartment is especially unusual, as it sits in place of the mansion’s verandah, complete with grand openings, pillars, and moulding, while the floors reveal an eye-catching geometric pattern of tessellated tiles.
While it’s unclear if the tiles were original or part of the 1920s conversion, this feature played a big part in the home’s old-world charm — something the owners and designers alike were keen to preserve.
The renovation focused on improving the kitchen’s functionality for the family, without drastically altering the existing U-shaped layout.
‘Rose loves to cook, and her freestanding cooktop and oven took pride of place centrally in the kitchen — so this was to remain’, Without Studio co-director Sarah Shinners says.
Retaining the position of the stove, sink, and fridge, the designers introduced new cabinetry that stretches further into the long, narrow room, creating almost two metres of additional marble benchtop space.
The disconnected cabinets along the dividing wall were also replaced with custom, double-sided joinery between the kitchen and dining room. Crafted from durable walnut laminate, the new unit forms a generous pantry, storage and a practical drop zone for shoes, keys and dog leads.
At the client’s request, a sliding door was integrated into this addition, allowing the kitchen to be closed off from the dining area when required.
The new palette offers a beautiful combination of past and present. Vixel tiles from Artedomus line the splashback in a textural mosaic that feels like a contemporary counterpart to the original tiled floors, as the delightful croissant-shaped handles and a brass utility rail add extra character and charm.
After the renovation was complete, Rose and Bob reached out to Without Studio for the final detail: a custom dining table made from oak, and a banquette seat with a tessellated pattern — another subtle nod to the apartment’s tiled flooring.
‘One of the things we love most is that the kitchen feels as though it was always part of the original house. The same is true of the dining area,’ Rose says.
‘We feel that we have created something that will stand the test of time, and hopefully last for another 100 years.’
