How designer Sarah Wolfendale turned an old Asylum into a sumptuous home

It was love at first sight when Melbourne designer Sarah Wolfendale and her husband, Tommy, laid eyes on their future 90-square-metre apartment.

They were looking for a reasonably priced, centrally located home so they could ride their bikes to work.

“We prefer to live centrally in a smaller space than further out in a larger house,” says Sarah.

While the old Kew Lunatic Asylum might not be everyone’s cup of tea, Sarah and Tommy were instantly drawn to the building’s potential.

“A lot of local people have negative views of the asylum, as the inmates were not treated well. But Tommy is English, and I grew up in Adelaide, so we just saw the space for what it is now and its potential,” she says.

Who wouldn’t feel the same way about those four-metre ceilings, arched windows, chevron timber floors and abundant heritage features of the 19th-century building?

The couple lived in the apartment for more than a year before the renovation. Although they loved the bones, the layout needed serious work.

Built between 1864 and 1872, the asylum was converted into apartments in 1993, with the bathroom and laundry placed in front of the arched windows.

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I know what you’re thinking – #facepalm. Sarah flipped the layout so the kitchen and living area get the natural light, while creating a sense of arrival. Tick.

She moved the bathroom closer to the bedrooms and added an en suite and mezzanine, serving as a guest room, study and storage. Tick, tick.

The design of the living space, kitchen and bathrooms takes advantage of the apartment’s heritage while maximising efficiency.

“As this is a 90-square-metre, two-bedroom apartment and we have two kids, I was determined to make a small space work for a young family,” Sarah says.

“As we don’t have any off-site storage, I made sure to utilise every millimetre of space. I measured every pot and pan, mascara bottle and deodorant can and then designed shelf heights and drawers around them.” Impressive, no?

The 4.5-metre-long kitchen with Fisher & Paykel appliances is the hero. The tall cupboards next to the kitchen bench extend along the wall to accommodate a full-height, integrated fridge, small laundry and extra storage. A custom sliding ladder provides access to hard-to-reach cupboards sitting on top.

Apart from her love of heritage spaces, Sarah’s aesthetic is influenced by Scandinavian, French and Belgian design.

Over the years, she has collected original pieces of mid-century Danish furniture, including the 1960s teak dining table – a favourite that can seat up to eight people.

It’s no small feat fitting a family of four into an apartment this size, and doing it so beautifully. But Sarah knew all along it could be done.

“I believe if a space is designed well, and with plenty of storage, then you can make a family home out of a 90-square-metre apartment,” she says.

“And the other plus is that there is a lot less cleaning to do.” Amen to that.