A double-fronted Victorian home in Yarraville has undergone a renovation that preserved its original character while adapting to the needs of a growing family. The house, purchased by Nick and Grace Fitzsimmons in 2006, had become cramped after two decades.
Interior designer and stylist Marcia Hong was tasked with updating the home’s layout to better suit the family’s lifestyle. The owners wanted a space that was both practical and sophisticated, with a design that would evolve with them over time.
The Renovation Process
Marcia’s design focused on functionality, aiming to unlock the home’s potential without creating a completely new house. The brief was to strike a balance between practicality, sophistication, and character.
The facade and front rooms of the home were retained to respect its heritage street presence, while the rear of the home was substantially updated to create a light-filled and welcoming space.
Design Choices
The kitchen was opened up to center the island, paired with bold mint green joinery, creating a natural gathering point for the family. A generous butler’s pantry was also added, offering ample storage and prioritizing function over form.
Instead of being constrained by the site’s heritage location, Marcia used the existing features to design thoughtful and contemporary design moments. The home‘s original Victorian soul was enhanced through the reworked bathroom, which showcased the existing leadlight windows and generous ceiling height.
The grand nature of the bathroom was aided by larger-format Japanese textured tiles. Marcia notes that the most rewarding aspect of the project is that it’s not about transforming the house into something completely different, but rather about a much-loved home entering its next chapter.
For Marcia, good residential design should make the life happening inside the home feel better, not just make the house look beautiful. The renovated home shows how functionality, sophistication, and character can be combined to create a space that truly feels like home. Marcia’s approach to design resulted in a home that is both beautiful and functional, meeting the needs of the family while preserving its original charm.
