A holiday house in the city: The renovation of a country-inspired weekender

Infusing the relaxed comfort of a country weekender into an inner-city house is no mean feat, yet this perfectly turned-out Melbourne home embodies just that.

“Creating and designing a home that is practical, warm and effortless is always paramount,” says Steven Whiting of Whiting Architects.

“It is a very personal thing so the type and quality of space is what is important. With this project, we wanted to capture the ease and casualness of a holiday home – nothing precious, merely simple and practical.”

Maybe the holiday vibes flew fast because of its setting – the home is located not far from Albert Park and its beautiful boat-studded lake.

To create such a distinctive home and the perfect setting for modern family life, the first order of business was how to resolve budget restrictions and innovative design ideas in resourceful ways.

“Given the home’s small footprint, every square metre needed to be used effectively,” Whiting says.

“Developing a compact plan allowed for maximum amenity from minimal space, so doors and corridors were eliminated, and the kitchen and dining areas were merged through a step down at the table edge that encouraged ‘multi-purposing’ of the space. It also allows the area to double as a workspace.

“We dispersed unexpected seating nooks throughout that allow family members privacy when needed, as well as lamps and spotlights that are not only practical, but used to highlight specific design aspects.”

Existing materials and repurposed elements were used to create perfect order, inside and out.

“Box-forms help carve out different zones and delineate areas, as well as screen, clad and contain,” says Whiting. “They house kitchen appliances and clothing, and also help conceal walls and services while providing a unified theme between the home’s interior and exterior.”

It’s a bold solution, and one that makes the entire renovation look easy.

With an aim to infuse a relaxed weekender vibe and create a chic minimalist farmhouse, modernity is merged with the rustic through traditional country-inspired elements that sit effortlessly alongside more modern touches.

Externally the barn-like facade and old brickwork help merge city home-style with country workshop. The home’s interior is based around a simple monochromatic colour scheme that serves as a backdrop for textured rugs, unfussy furnishings and a sleek pot belly stove.

The bathroom features tongue and groove walls, a sliding barn door, and elegant black and white claw-foot bath that are perfectly complemented by contemporary black tapware and striking floor tiles.

“It is a home that properly reflects its owners,” says Whiting. “The furniture, decoration and artwork sit comfortably within its context and there is no more than needs to be.”

The home’s simplistic, aged, and textured materiality not only works in seamlessly with the design brief, but also addresses important sustainability issues.

“The use of recycled plastic joinery kitchen doors means there was no need for painting and little maintenance,” says Whiting.

“We reused salvaged bricks from the demolition of the existing dwelling in the new extension, and used 1930s steel doors and a stainless steel bench top sourced from a commercial kitchen remodel. Large box windows are inserted into the top floor of the house to make use of the northern sunlight that helps harness natural light and warmth in winter, and good shading during the warmer months.”

The result is a chic home and a modern take on a country-inspired weekender that just may be the perfect antidote for hectic city life.