Renovating historic homes: The importance of good design

It’s no coincidence that in an era in which tidying has become a philosophy of living that Scandinavia has come to dominate the world of design. The monochromatic palette, the use of pale timbers and the lionising of clean lines … all have been revealed over the past decade or so to possess near-universal appeal.

Scandinavia’s penetration of the Australian housing market has been deep. So deep, in fact, that Adriano Persichetti, an agent with Hocking Stuart in Preston, has noticed a Millennial-driven shift from the retention of period features being paramount to a mere possibility.

“The young professional couples are really interested in the good bones of a property,” he says. “If you’ve got a classic California bungalow, some will want to rip the interiors out and go for a completely modern interior with square-set high ceilings … others would want to simply modernise it and keep some of the period features.”

It might ring a warning bell for older generations, who saw then-unloved Victorian and Edwardians being cannibalised of their period charm, only to have it reinstated – often expensively – when they came back into fashion. The lesson is right there: it might be a big mistake to bowdlerise a property rich in period detail for current fashion.

“Good designers are able to carefully negotiate, reveal and integrate period features into extremely contemporary projects,” says Matt Rawlins, principal and director at Fitzroy-based Figureground Architecture. “That is actually where the skill lies … Anyone can strip out period features and stick in downlights, which is what happened in every renovation during the 1990s. It’s still done in today in generic renovation projects by the laziest of designers, but it creates soulless spaces and contributes to the destruction of our built history.”

When it comes to Melbourne’s varied housing stock, a one-size-fits-all approach clearly does not exist. As Rawlins says: “You really have to look at what you’re starting with. Is it a 1920s, a ’50s or ’60s house? It’s all about identifying what sort of building you’ve got.”

Agents and designers agree that what we now see in Australia is a desire for craft, texture, pattern, warmth and bespoke detailing – none of which is at odds with the textured Scandinavian aesthetic. Scandi is classic, because it’s possible to riff endlessly on a monochromatic theme with pale grey, black and white and timber. It gives a strong identity because of its consistency. And bespoke furniture gives it extra layers.

So what are we going to see as design inevitably evolves? Rawlins think it’s going to head towards a more natural palette (those pale timbers are often bleached and lime-washed to imitate birch, for example). “Scandi is very light and bright and there is definitely a movement towards darker and moodier spaces, mostly achieved by use of natural material. Colours will trend warmer, with caramels and browner greys.”

One thing is for sure: Scandi will kick on, whether in modified form or not.

Paul Armstrong, the Kay & Burton agent selling this week’s Scandi-tastic cover property at Red Hill, believes it’s a particularly pertinent design trend when it comes to beachside addresses. “People don’t want a city house as a country house. They want to see a house with more of a relaxed feel, and do away with the formal elements.”

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that good design is increasingly important, especially to Millennials who can’t necessarily afford a house so are looking to the newly revitalised apartment market. The inner-city dweller’s love of the handmade has begun to filter through to all levels of architecture. “This appreciation of the bespoke is now becoming mainstream; you can see it popping up in apartment developments,” says Rawlins. “I think it’s really telling that apartments are starting to introduce custom steel details and more textured interiors.”

18 Baynes Road, Red Hill

 

$850,000-$900,000

3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space

The very definition of Scandinavian style, this three-bedroom Red Hill cottage shows exactly why we love the Nordic way of doing things. Nord House is all about the aesthetic: the simple yet hardworking lines of this thoroughly renovated home add up to a space equally inviting no matter what the season. Period details such as the glossy-black farmhouse-style wooden doors dovetail with the slick black European kitchen; whitewashed floors and walls add to the feeling that every room is bathed in light, and contrast is cleverly generated by darker detailing. There’s one bathroom, and an open-plan living and dining area with French doors linked to a north-facing deck. An hour from Melbourne, it’s the perfect retreat.

Auction: Sunday April 2, 11am
Inspect: April 1, 2pm-2.30pm
Agent: Kay & Burton, Paul Armstrong 0418 624 962