Original Thinking

The sensitive update of a grand Melbourne terrace spliced antique and contemporary with thrilling results.

- Judy Pascoe

Putting the soul back into older houses is one of the things interior designer Chelsea Hing does best, and her revamp of this beautiful, grand 1880s terrace in inner Melbourne is no exception.

Chelsea was contacted by a couple who were downsizing to a city apartment, but it quickly became clear that the owners’ hearts weren’t really in that property. “It was obvious to me that they would feel more at home in a house,” says Chelsea. “A week later, they called with the news that they had bought this beautiful old terrace on a corner block in one of the area’s best streets.”

The double-storey home featured a classic layout: separate living and dining rooms at the front, leading to a modern addition with kitchen/dining/family room and courtyard at the rear. All of the home’s three bedrooms were upstairs, with an additional studio/bedroom above the garage.

The previous owners, who lived in the house for more than 30 years, had renovated and extended “very tastefully” in the 1990s and maintained it well. “The existing layout suited the new owners perfectly, so our main task was freshening things up and adding some personality,” says Chelsea. “Our brief was to create a timeless, sophisticated and richly decorated home, mixing existing heirlooms with contemporary furniture, lighting and accessories.”