Inside the transformation of a 100-year-old gem

Located on a pretty tree-lined street in inner-city Melbourne, a 100-year-old home has been adapted into a sleek, sustainable and functional home for four.

Home to able2 co-founder Dee Peters and her family, it is flanked by stunning Victorian and Edwardian period homes close to Albert Park Lake and Middle Park beach.

“It’s a small suburb with a country town feel, and double-fronted homes like this don’t come up for sale often here,” she says of the rare gem they couldn’t resist snatching up.

Peters wanted the house – single-storey, and with rooms branching off a central hallway – transformed into a beautiful open layout filled with light and modern functionality.

“It had to have a large fireplace, lots of texture, and big glass windows and doors,” she says. “It also needed ample storage and a dedicated study as I work from home. Luckily, we shared this strong vision, and a Pinterest account, with our architects Baldasso Cortese.”

After preserving the historic front facade and two front rooms, the rest of the home was demolished and rebuilt, along with an additional second storey that houses the main bedroom, en suite, study and balcony.

“The period features in the front section were retained, including the marble fireplaces, original ornate features and high ceilings,” she says. “The modern section at the back drops down two steps to help maintain the high ceiling height, which we felt was important for light and the feeling of space.”

The home’s simplistic aesthetic, clean textural surfaces, and myriad of sunlit living spaces help blend the lines between inside and out, while generous walls of glass embrace its gardens creating lush sight lines throughout.

“We wanted to create a home with depth, light and shade,” Peters says. “We achieved this using light, shade and a mix of darker and lighter palettes, as well as skylights and a central courtyard that contrasts with the darker moodier textures, materials and period features.”

The home’s original spaces feature natural timber floors, while large Italian floor tiles pave the kitchen living area and are heated from beneath. Beautiful statement lighting features in various spaces as do vast floor rugs that help soften the home’s austere lines.

Venetian plaster, timber, and concrete-style benchtops from Caesarstone flow throughout meshing seamlessly with luxe brass fittings and fixtures.

Beautifully self-sufficient, the home is built using high-performance building fabrics that boast good levels of insulation, and a balance of window-to-floor area that allows and retains thermal comfort and draws natural light in.

The indoor air quality is enhanced through use of low emission paints, sealants and adhesives, while energy efficient taps and appliances help minimise water and energy consumption.

“The home performs well throughout the seasons because of the clever use of light and glass throughout,” Peters says. “It’s lovely and cool in summer and so cosy and warm in winter. It’s solid and robust as well as beautiful to live in and look at. It’s also a great party house. We feel very lucky and proud.”