Christopher Cassidy, senior manager of company partnerships at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and David James, development manager at John Holland Team, not long ago embarked on their major renovation project to day.
Just after acquiring a mouldy and fatigued St Kilda East apartment, the couple designed and undertaking managed its transformation more than 18 months, generating a timeless home with refined interiors.
In their personal text, Christopher and David share how the challenge arrived collectively!
When we acquired the apartment… the home was pretty dilapidated and was not habitable. There were mouldy carpets, asbestos linoleum, and the full apartment experienced been coated in a creamy yellow paint. Even the light-weight switches, gentle fittings and door handles had all been painted about. Inspite of these cosmetic challenges, the apartment had this sort of stunning features, these as big steel frame home windows and an open up hearth.
At first, we made some cosmetic improvements, up to the point exactly where it was habitable, then moved in and finished off the relaxation of the performs when dwelling in the home.
We experienced completed a renovation previously, but had been assisted by a builder — this was the 1st time we experienced tried to take care of a task ourselves. We were being pretty enthusiastic to commence the method simply because regardless of the assets remaining in lousy form, we could see that it had attractive functions and a whole lot of possible.
The vision… was guided by the type of the condominium building. The apartment elaborate, named Greyfriars, was crafted circa 1949 by architect and former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Bernard Evans. Conceived on a then-revolutionary cooperative foundation, whereby possession was vested in a cooperative modern society in which each individual resident was a member, the developing is historically major as the very first of its form in Melbourne.
The period in which Greyfriars was designed is also incredibly exciting, as style tendencies in the course of this time have been shifting from quintessential art deco to a far more put up WWII modernist type of architecture. Our hope was to make an inside that tipped its hat to the architectural heritage of the building, but felt contemporary and ideal for present day everyday living.
We designed… every thing ourselves, chosen all the finishes, and sourced all the fixtures and fittings. From that issue on, we stepped back and just venture managed all our pretty capable trades, which were generally sourced by using Hipages. We are significant believers in realizing your strengths, and wielding electricity resources is not seriously our sturdy accommodate!
We experimented with to avoid… design traits and adhere to factors that we felt have been common and timeless. Our hope is that in 10, 20 or 30 yrs time, a great deal of the design choices we have produced will nevertheless glimpse lovely and sense correct for the space.
In bedrooms and living areas… improvements required were largely beauty. Aesthetic updates like new flooring and fresh paint had been relatively quick to motion and instantly manufactured these parts liveable. The herringbone floors had been a massive ticket product, but they are also likely our favorite aspect of the condominium. Persons usually remark on them and normally check with if they are the unique floorboards, and for us, that’s the greatest compliment.
The kitchen… portion of the renovation was managed by Rosemount Kitchens. The place experienced an initial 1940s cosy small breakfast nook and some wonderful V-groove timber cabinetry that we liked. Alternatively of tearing these things out and replacing them, we had a carpenter refurbish them — it was all sanded back and repainted and it came up like new. Refurbishing rather of changing these factors saved us a ton of money. It also meant the kitchen felt fashionable but even now linked to the aesthetic of the first.
Resources had been selected… to enhance the architectural fashion of the creating. This direction educated possibilities these kinds of as the hardwood herringbone flooring in the dwelling spot and the retro checkerboard tiles in the kitchen.
From a comfortable furnishing perspective… we gravitated towards organic solutions such as woollen carpets, natural and organic linen curtains, and furniture upholstery. Most of our furniture is vintage or antique and has been gathered around time, and we really like that these pieces are each attractive and sustainable.
The greatest challenge… was trying to reside in the home although functions were being remaining completed, and the only way to overcome that was to laugh so you did not cry. It was especially tough when our kitchen obtained demolished and we only experienced a small electric tenting stove in the lounge space to prepare dinner all our foods with. Truthfully even though, it is amazing what you can adapt to and I’m guaranteed we will seem back again on that time in several years to arrive and chuckle.
Covid provided loads of further challenges like supply issues and time delays. Because of to the a variety of lockdowns, it ended up taking us all-around 18 months to full the challenge.
We truly feel quite proud… of ourselves and the conclude outcome, so considerably so that we are about to start out renovating our upcoming job, which is a comparable fashion apartment in East Melbourne.
When we glimpse at the just before and just after photos, what we have obtained seriously hits home (pardon the pun). What at first felt like quite a grim and unloved area now feels like a a great deal cherished home.