'Our friends thought we were mad': Transforming a rundown boarding house into an inviting family home

Who: Keryn and Stephen Nossal

What: A warm and rambling family home that was a rundown former boarding house and flats

Where: St Kilda West, Victoria

Keryn and Stephen Nossal came across this house in 2003, at the insistence of a local real estate agent, and bought it four days later.

“We owe a lot to that agent for pushing us, and are still in touch with him to this day,” Keryn says.

It’s hard to imagine now, but 18 years ago the house was incredibly run-down, after operating as a boarding house for decades, then being separated into flats.

“It was divided into two properties … it had something like 11 bedrooms upstairs, five kitchens and six bathrooms, all designed to maximise the boarding house accommodation in the ’60s,” Keryn says. “There were leaking roofs, buckets in the hallways, exposed wiring, and it was very dark … the agent’s name for it was Bohemian Rhapsody, and our friends thought we were mad.”

She says it’s taken minor renovations almost every year to get the property to where it is today, with the help of friend and architect Susi Leeton.

“Susi did countless drawings and was really patient with us,” Keryn says. “It turned out that the temporary kitchen [that she popped into the middle of the house while we decided where to put it] has been so good that it stayed.”

Today, the home is a warm and inviting space, filled with out-of-the-ordinary items.

The grand Victorian bones, with their many quirks, now serve as the perfect backdrop for Keryn and Steve’s collection of contemporary and Indigenous art, ceramics and eclectic furniture, mostly bought from junk stores or op shops.

“Our adult kids and their friends appreciate it more now than they did when they were little; understanding that the imperfections are what generate the relaxed atmosphere and that the kitchen is the heart of the home,” Keryn says.

“There’s always something to fix, but we love it and feel very happy here. It’s been a gorgeous, rambling, indestructible place to bring up three kids, and continues to be.”

How to build a home library

Although it’s preferable to build a library over time, when faced with empty bookshelves in a new home or workspace it’s sometimes necessary to boost your book collection a little more proactively. Consider the following tips for building your own.

• Scour eBay and Gumtree for “complete sets” of older or antique books, including encyclopaedias, to boost your collection instantly.
• Books are often the first items to go into storage when travelling or downsizing – let friends and family know you’re seeking to build your library, and offer to rehome old or stored books.
• Arrange books based on theme, and consider grouping spine colours or heights for a streamlined look.
• Bookshelves need not be stacked from end to end – strategic breaks between groups of books give breathing (and cleaning) space in a dense collection.
• Seek slimline bookends (try Ikea, Hay and Top 3 By Design) for ultimate flexibility when arranging and segmenting your library.