AMAZING grace

This home links the past to the present in quiet, respectful harmony

- CARROL BAKER

This captivating two-storey Victorian home brims with charm and poise. Exuding sublime warmth and vitality, it's a beautiful dwelling that harmonises with nature from the inside out.

The home already had generous spaces. It was large, but what it lacked was a sense of connectedness. Architect Stephen Neille, director of Neeson Murcutt Neille, says the brief was about "tuning" it to occupation, light and landscape. "The interventions are targeted and strategic, contained largely within the existing footprint," he notes.

Stephen adds that the home provides a wholeof-site resolution; it's been crafted using a holistic approach to design. "Gracious, comfortable and performative, the project utilises and elevates every part, every moment of the site - perimeter walls, gardens, existing building and new additions," he enthuses.

The renovation has completely transformed the dwelling while keeping its Victorian signature facade. Before Stephen and the team got onboard, internally the historic home was a typical cellular plan with rooms off a hallway and a newer rear addition. "That contained a vast living dining space - which lacked the grace of the old and any nuance to the setting - with an awkward arrangement of pokey spaces between," he notes.

The residence is home to a family of five with two dogs. Plenty of visiting family and friends are welcome to stay, and Stephen says its inhabitants often swell to between 12 and 18 people. It's also a space where workrelated events are hosted. To accommodate so many people, and create a space for entertaining, the kitchen was repositioned as the social hub of the house. The interior spaces are a study in cosy relaxed living. There are touches of luxury too in fixtures and fittings that elevate the home.