THE NEXT STEP

It can be incredibly gratifying to reinvigorate a home where the residents have enjoyed 20-plus years of living.

- Words JUDY PASCOE Photography TOM ROE

The shared memories and experiences can feel like a warm hug. This property in Melbourne was first renovated by the owners more than 20 years ago, and a decade later, a major landscaping project delivered a lush green oasis as its frame. Recently, with the two sons growing into teenagers, the need for a refit was keenly felt. This time the undertaking involved extending the original footprint with the addition of a split level and a second storey. The owners engaged Lucy Marczyk Design Studio, along with Three C Architects and Lisa Ellis Gardens, for the project. "The vision was to blend heritage with a contemporary lifestyle, right in the heart of inner-city Melbourne," says Lucy.

The house boasts a handsome Victorian facade with iron lace-trimmed verandahs, and the front four rooms were to be carefully restored. At the rear, an ultra-contemporary extension in black powder-coated metal took shape. Lucy explains, "At its core the design was driven by function and calm, shaped by our studio's appreciation for 'Ma' – the Japanese philosophy of negative space, where every element has room to breathe."