Spanish queen

The elegant architectural details throughout this 1920s Spanish Mission-style home and the epicurean delights of that very era informed its sophisticated renovation.

- LINDYL CRABB

As far as first impressions go, you could say the entrance to this home in Melbourne’s Bayside area leaves a textural, full-bodied taste in your mouth. As you walk beneath its columned arches and drink in the celestial moulded ceilings, a travertine bar greets you; a glass of wine awaits. This is how Kathryn Robson describes those irresistible first moments inside the Spanish Mission-style residence she and Chris Rak, both of architecture and interior design firm Robson Rak, reinvigorated for a dynamic family of six.

When Kathryn and Chris initially met with the owners, a couple who at the time had two very young children, they immediately clicked. “The house’s Spanish Mission style appealed to our clients – they’re not afraid to think outside the box – but they bought the house with the intention of renovating,” Kathryn says. “They were committed to creating something with longevity and passionate about having something unique. They didn’t want the same old Melbourne style.” This boundary-pushing approach and appreciation for originality guided the brief, but it was the 1920s architecture that Kathryn and Chris found themselves returning to. That, and the owners’ plans to grow their family, she adds. “We get to know our clients’ intentions for the future and make sure the home’s functionality meets their needs.”