Inside photographer Eve Wilson's gorgeous Cremorne renovation by Studio Bright

Who: Eve Wilson, Jon Atchison, and their daughters Elliot, 7, and June, 5

What: Photographer Eve Wilson’s palette-perfect inner-city family home

Where: Cremorne, Melbourne

Photographer Eve Wilson and her husband Jon Atchison moved to Cremorne (a tiny Melbourne suburb next to Richmond) 10 years ago. They fell in love with the area, so they decided to raise a family here, and they’ve lived on the same street ever since.

Originally, Eve and Jon lived next door to the home they occupy today. They purchased their current house just before the birth of their second child to take advantage of its north-facing lane, providing more natural light, and the opportunity to renovate and extend.

The original cottage had previously been owned by the one family since the 1950s and had been virtually untouched.

As an interiors photographer, Eve has seen plenty of amazing houses. So, when planning to renovate her own home, she initially struggled to choose a “style”, but everything fell into place after speaking to architects Studio Bright. “Finding Studio Bright and letting them get creative was the best way,” Eve says.

The brief Eve and Jon gave Studio Bright was relatively open except for a couple of key requests: no white plaster, and lots of texture.

The original cottage remains at the front (housing two bedrooms, a new study and bathroom), followed by the new extension, spanning two connected buildings (containing the living area and kitchen respectively) clad in breeze blocks.

Above the kitchen on the home’s second floor is the main bedroom and en suite, followed by a rooftop deck with city skyline views.

Both buildings open to a lush central courtyard that injects light and greenery into the heart of the home.

“The house is designed in such a clever way,” explains Eve. “Keeping the living and kitchen dining separate helps give the feeling of more space, as you’re not all on top of each other all the time. Jon and I can be in one room while the kids are in the other, and you can still see through to each space through the courtyard – to make sure they’re not getting into trouble!”

Jon and Eve’s block is just 4.22 metres wide and covers a total 144 square metres. To create a functional three-bedroom home on this relatively tight footprint, every inch of space had to be carefully considered.

Studio Bright designed built-in storage and furniture – including beds – throughout the home to make the most of the compact floor plan. “It was a big outlay, cost wise, to have so much cabinetry, but then we only needed half the amount of furniture to fill the home,” Eve says.

COVID caused a few headaches during construction (“We had our very first site meeting on the first day of lockdown, and I am pretty sure we had handover the week after the last lockdown!”), but Eve and Jon couldn’t be happier with their completed home. Eve says there’s simply nowhere else her family would rather be.

How to select an architect

Designing and building a home from scratch is a dream project, but it’s also the biggest single investment you’re ever likely to make. Start out right by seeking a suitable residential architect for the job. Yes, you do need a registered architect, no matter the scale of the project.

Choose an architect who is registered and a member of the Australian Institute of Architects. Search their database at findanarchitect.com.au.

Take time to research local architects. Follow them on social media, look at their previous projects online, and visit one of their completed projects, if possible.

As with all working relationships, having a good rapport with your architect is paramount. You will be working closely for 12 months or more, your architect needs to be someone you enjoy spending time with!