Photography: Elise Scott
This 2011 Mornington Peninsula home is now the classiest of contemporary coastal retreats, but that’s a far cry from how it felt before a renovation. “Everything was looking tired, old and outdated,” says homeowner Rose. “The children have grown into adults and we wanted to erase the years of wear and tear.”
Enter interior designer Silvia Roldan, who helped redesign the home to suit Rose, her husband Max, their two children in their early 20s, and two dogs. “We really relied on Silvia from Studio Esar as I wasn’t sure exactly which direction to take,” says Rose. “We love what she’s put together.”
Creating curved walls and sourcing a specific marble for the kitchen were lofty goals, but the result is a triumph and the couple are grateful for the tradespeople who made it happen. “It’s so elegant, light and airy,” says Rose. “It fits in perfectly with the water views.”
The renovation journey
Who? Rose, her husband Max and their children, Ashleigh, 22, and Dean, 20, with their two dogs, Maltese Shih Tzu Poodle, Pip, and Maltese Shih Tzu Pomeranian, Marley.
Where? Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.
Original property? The split-level home from the early 2000s was from a builder’s standard-range design.
Timeframe? The renovation was completed in around four to six months.
Why the reno? “The existing palette had served them well over the years, but was now looking really outdated,” says Silvia. “They wanted a look that aligned more with the coastal surroundings.”
Must-haves: A larger kitchen was top of the wish list, plus an overall interior update. “They appreciated that the home needed a refresh, but weren’t quite sure where to begin,” says Silvia.
The works: Originally a smaller project, this became a full interior renovation with a redesigned kitchen, main bedroom, main ensuite, two bathrooms and new furniture.
Favourite aspect? “The timber flooring has completely transformed the feel of the home,” says Rose.
Kitchen
Plans for a more modest home makeover turned into a complete interior renovation once the ball got rolling. “It is far more than we originally intended to do,” shares Rose. “But we’re very happy we did it as we’ve achieved a complete and beautiful result.”
A new and expanded kitchen was a top priority. “I asked for the kitchen to be extended across the back wall to give us some extra space,” says Rose. Other rooms that underwent a complete overhaul include the main bedroom and three bathrooms.
All the floors were upgraded, with new carpets in the bedrooms and oak herringbone floorboards replacing old grey tiles. “This is my favourite feature,” says Rose. Almost every interior detail has been renewed, from wall colours to door handles and window coverings.
While not everyone chooses to use an interior designer in the renovating process, Rose believes it’s the reason they achieved such a stellar result. “I think it’s important to have a designer whose vision you can trust so there is a more cohesive outcome across the house.”
For Silvia, it was exciting to have that trust and essentially a blank canvas to create on. “The bones of the home were great – high ceilings and amazing views of the ocean – so there was very little structural work required. The whole interior was an open slate for us to redesign and refresh,” she says. This allowed for top tier ideas and finishes, with the resulting home now an elegant masterpiece.
“The marble brings a beautiful energy to the heart of the home and is a pleasure to look at each day.”
Rose, homeowner
Main bedroom
The mission for Silvia was to turn a tired home into a serene family space. “These typically built homes have straight lines everywhere! So it was our intention to soften areas by introducing curves to walls and joinery design,” she says.
In the main bedroom, a Zenn Design ‘Krystal’ bed upholstered in ‘Chivasso’ from Unique Fabrics makes a statement. Beside it, an &Tradition ‘Mega Bulb SR2’ pendant illuminates the side table by Christopher Blank & Kate Bowman Ceramics, with a vase by Eun Ceramics.
Ensuite
A light, layered palette was also adopted to resonate more with the seaside location. “There’s a sense of calm and beauty in the interior now. Everything feels soft and soothing. This is a light – but not white – palette that creates a striking emotion when you’re in the room.”
Lessons learnt
It really does come down to the sum of all the details. Even something seemingly minor such as curved bronze tapware can contribute significantly to a home’s metamorphosis. “The bronze just adds the right bit of extra colour dimension and lifts the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s such a simple but effective element,” explains Rose.
In a similar vein, the entrance was refreshed by switching an outdated feature wall for VJ timber wall panelling. “It has completely transformed the feel of the house as soon as you enter.”
Interior design: Studio Esar, studioesar.com.au.
SOURCE BOOK
Joinery installation: Borella Kitchens & Joinery, borellakitchens.com.au.
