Alexandra Apostolids and Pierre Seale had quite a few vital options they sought after in their 1st family dwelling. This 1950s house in Warrandyte (a bush-like suburb 24 kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s CBD) was the only property that ticked every single single box.
‘We have generally cherished mid-century interiors and architecture,’ states Alexandra. ‘This property primarily introduced so numerous of the essential properties that we adore from this period… entire-top cedar awning windows allowing for natural light-weight in abundance an L-formed floor prepare wrapping about the dwelling that embraces greenery and of training course the timber-lined board ceilings with exposed beams.’
Pierre is a builder, and by means of his business Life time Setting up and Layout, he typically collaborates on style and design jobs with Alexandra, so it appeared unavoidable that the pair would combine their competencies to completely transform this house! Their aim was to enrich the home’s unique natural beauty, right before adding modern-day details. ‘Any option there was to embrace normal materials and components in their purest kind, we took it,’ states Alexandra.
The couple to start with pared again the interiors to remove pokey cabinets and low doors, in favour of greater openings and cleaner strains. ‘We expanded on place and flow by opening up the dining and residing space, and eradicating a wall that separated these two spaces’ clarifies Alexandra.
Two new sets of bi-fold doors were mounted close to the outside place, replacing existing preset window and doorways that weren’t functioning to their potential. ‘Having them open expands the dwelling space immensely… our floor approach doubles when they bi-fold doorways are opened’ says Alexandra.
Elsewhere, primary cedar windows were sanded again to exhibit their natural vein, although Baltic timber floorboards had been restored to their unique unstained color and matte complete.
With the bones of the house now restored, Alexandra and Pierre started to insert contemporary comforts. ‘There was no insulation in any of the roof, walls, or floor, which we rectified, alongside with the addition of underfloor heating in all bathrooms, and zoned heating and cooling’ states Alexandra, adding ‘a distant opening skylight highlighting the canopies of our river gums, and helping to passively amazing the dwelling was a great decision’.
The pair ‘couldn’t fault’ the initial kitchen area layout, but the product palette referred to as for a significant update. New American oak cabinetry was installed, complementing stunning benchtops and a splashback in ‘golden spider’ marble. ‘It has the most beautiful peachy golden veins and entire body going by means of it – a match manufactured for the bordering timber and warm light-weight that glides through this household room,’ claims Alexandra.
The completed residence is breezy in summer and cosy in wintertime, surrounded by the family’s backyard. ‘We reside so fortunately below,’ Alexandra claims.
