Thursday March 19 2009

Harbouring dreams of an active waterfront lifestyle, the owners of this three-bedroom home on the shores of Port Phillip Bay were delighted to have found practically the perfect package in this Victorian-era home.

Built in 1873, the two-storey property had all the inherent charm of a heritage building. However, it also had a ramshackle 1970s extension spread over different floor levels plus a series of lean-tos, none of which took advantage of the site’s 180-degree aspect to the bay. “There were no water views at all except from the front rooms,” says the homeowner, Valerie.

Architect Leon Moulton, of Leon Moulton Architecture &Interiors was enlisted to come up with a design that delivered the longed-for views, as well as a breezy, free-flowing layout suited to their laid-back lifestyle.

The renovation process was twofold. The first stage was to alter the layout of the original structure by knocking through walls to create an open-plan formal sitting/dining room that spans almost the entire length of the building. The second stage of the process – a contemporary extension – resulted in the most dramatic change to the look of the home. Now the ground floor is dedicated to relaxing and entertaining, while the first floor – home to the bedrooms (one is used as a study) and two bathrooms – is a place for quiet repose.

Despite the extensive alterations to the layout, Valerie and her husband were keen to retain the Victorian feel, so each room in the existing structure features original windows, cornices and skirting. The period fire surrounds were also a must-have inclusion, but were moved around to suit the new layout. The extension, a casual open-plan kitchen/dining/living space, is vastly different to the rest of the home in terms of architecture yet linked via the common theme of abundant light, views of the bay and the couple’s extensive collection of modern art.

The formal dining room provides the transition between the period and contemporary sections of the home. Here frameless glass doors open to the terrace, drawing light into the area and offering a hint of the striking design to come.

To comply with height restrictions on the extension, Leon designed a pitched roof over the area. The couple liked the angular look so much that he made a feature of it, adding a sloped wall. A wrap-around bench seat-cum-step follows the line of the windows. “We love entertaining, so the window seat is a great place for people to sit and chat,” says Valerie.

She and her husband are delighted with the renovation. “We love period houses and the waterfront location,” says Valerie. “We’re also keen entertainers, so the new layout and extension has turned it into our dream home.”