The renovation process started for Steph with a deep dive through Pinterest’s extensive archives of inspiration, and very quickly a common style emerged, with Steph remarking that, “it was reassuring to see a real theme running through it: a monochromatic palette with light floorboards and pops of colour.”

Kitchen In the kitchen the monochromatic look comes to the forefront with dark cabinetry popping against the mostly white interior of the rest of the home. Grey barstools with a simple silhouette softens the kitchen space, and a trio of ceramic pendant lights hang above the kitchen island.

The next step for the pair was to get in touch with the pros: “We also sought some guidance from a super talented friend of ours, Sally from Sally Caroline Interior Atelier Melbourne on some of our ideas. She gave us the confidence we needed to be bold with our interiors and finishes decisions.”

Kitchen A mirrored splashback helps bounce light around the kitchen space while also giving the impression that the open-plan living and dining area is bigger than it is. Built-in stainless-steel appliances provide a sharp contrast to the black cabinetry.

“In terms of the architectural process, we had a really solid idea of what we wanted the floor plan to be, so we approached the team at Sketch Building Design for the brief,” continues Steph. “They helped bring it to life and added all the bells and whistles that only an architect could have done.”

Open plan The open-plan living and dining area is divided into subtle zones, with the inset-wall of the living area contrasting with the black cabinetry in the dining room portion. A central structure housing a fire place lies in between.

“Modern homes can sometimes feel a bit soulless, so reinstated large skirting boards and architraves, ceiling roses and cornices, because these features would be what would forever make the house feel like it had history, and stories to tell,” says Steph.

Master bedroom Skirting and cornices were reinstalled throughout the home, restoring a refined and traditional aesthetic to the house. In this bedroom twin artworks introduce colour into the space which is echoed in the walk-in wardrobe.

The biggest issues Steph came across when renovating was the uncertainty of knowing what foundations they had to work with. Steph says, “the brickwork structure of the house was as solid as a rock (being on bluestone footings), but we ended up having to replace the trusses, which was quite a hefty variation as they were rotting. We also didn’t know the state of the plaster in the front half of the house until we stripped all of the paint off the walls. It was terrible, so there was a lot of restoration needed, which was another unforeseen variation.

Walk-in wardrobe Partitioned from the rest of the master bedroom by a black framed glass screen and door, the blue artwork in the bedroom is echoed in the soft blue cabinetry in the wardrobe.

“What saved us during the unforced restorations was our contingency budget, so put away more than you think you may need!. Particularly if you’re renovating an older period home. I would also suggest that if you have your heart set on a certain feature that is on the more expensive side, like engineered boards, stone bench tops etc, budget for it and be willing to compromise on something else,” she continues.

Bathroom The monochrome palette continues in the bathroom with a black-framed glass shower screen complementing the black tapware and trim on the mirror. Large format grey tiles contrast with a white freestanding bathtub and vanity.

So what’s next for Steph and her family? “We’d love to tackle another renovation” she says, “We’ve actually just put this home up on NOKK, which is kind of like a LinkedIn for homes, so hopefully once we’ve sold it, we’ll be able to find another diamond in the rough!”