INTO THE LIGHT

After 70 years in the shadows, this mid-century home in Melbourne has been brought into the light - and the present - with a sympathetic renovation

- brittany smith

Private oasis Floor-to-ceiling windows between the living room and pool area let in an abundance of light, leaving the interior zones sun-drenched and airy. A Ligne Roset 'Togo Fireside' chair from Domo and a Hay 'Don't Leave Me' side table from Cult ensure poolside relaxation is on the cards. Through the hallway you can glimpse the internal courtyard, complete with potted plants, Knoll armchairs and a Knoll coffee table, both from Dedece. The courtyard is protected by the house from the potentially blustery Melbourne weather. 

HIDING BEHIND UNDERGROWTH, at the end of a cul-de-sac, this mid-century gem was just waiting to be discovered. Interior designer Chelsea Hing's client was walking around Melbourne's Bayside area one night when he stumbled upon this uninhabited house. Untouched since the 1950s, the interior was a time capsule of mid-century style. Floral wallpaper and shag pile carpets filled the rooms. Captivated, the client saw beyond the dated design to the potential this home had and, after tracking down the owner, he bought it.

MODERNISING It took four years to bring this relic into the modern day. "We had to have an extra level of sensitivity to retain some of the natural integrity of the house," says Chelsea. Instead of completely gutting the structure, she and her team increased the amount of natural light let into the house and made the layout flow by delineating zones.