Perfectly formed

In this compact Melbourne apartment, a family-focused makeover delivered on practicality and style.

- Chris Pearson

The owners of this Melbourne apartment had a grand plan when they bought it in 2017 – in more ways than one. Proud grandparents, the country-dwellers envisaged it as a city pad to accommodate their three grandchildren, now aged between four and eight. They also wanted to restore the home, located in a majestic heritage building, to its former splendour.

The building, an 1890s Italianate hotel, had been subdivided into apartments about 25 years before. “It reminded us of our time in London,” says the owner. “They don’t make them like this anymore.”

But the apartment’s bland, cookie-cutter fitout was out of step with the building. And, unlike the building’s spacious common areas, the 80m2 floor plan felt squeezy.

Despite that, the apartment had plenty of pluses, says interior designer Penny Del Castillo of In Design International. “It had 3.6m-high ceilings, stunning old-school windows and easy access to a generous courtyard. The owners wanted the home to look like it belonged in a heritage building, but be finished in a contemporary way.”

The home also had to be child-friendly. “Everything revolved around the grandchildren,” says Penny. “It had to be open plan, with enough floor space for the kids to play.” It also needed to be low-maintenance, wipe-clean, and able to stand the rough and tumble of active youngsters.