Maine character

A tasteful dose of colour and pattern, together with a second storey, has revived a charming 1920s bungalow for a Melbourne family.

- STORY Judy Pascoe | PHOTOGRAPHY Martina Gemmola

An organised client who has definite ideas is a gift for an interior designer. Amy Spargo, principal of Melbourne-based Maine House Interiors, knew she had lucked out when she was engaged to work on this circa 1920 house in Melbourne. The owners came well prepared with curated Pinterest boards, and they knew the types of materials they liked and the feel they wanted.

"It was an ideal foundation for us to build upon," says Amy. "The visual references offered valuable insight into their personal style, which happened to resonate closely with my own, making it a seamless collaboration."

The owners had lived in the home for about eight years, before contacting Amy. They had followed her work on Instagram as well as in published features and felt she was the perfect fit to bring their vision to life.

On purchase of the home they discovered - from a 1927 Home Beautiful magazine - that it had been designed by architect George Burridge Leith, the then chief architect of the State Savings Bank of Victoria, and cost £730 to build. "It's a wonderful piece of history that adds another layer of character to the home," says Amy.

The house ticked all the boxes - a traditional style in a family-friendly area with lots of parks. With two young children, the owners wanted a home that would suit their needs for many years.