Malvern House by Studio Ceravolo

Elevating a heritage home in a Melbourne inner-city suburb, Studio Ceravolo thoughtfully redesigned Malvern House for the modern era while celebrating its past.

Located on a leafy street in the Gascoigne Estate, Malvern House blends into the federation-era single-dwelling architecture that dominates the locale. With beautiful historical detailing and a tranquil, established north-facing garden, the brief called for a renovation that marries the site’s existing heritage features with the needs of an evolving family. With their two grown children, one of whom recently moved out, the spaces also needed to adapt to a more luxurious and restful way of living.

With beautiful federation detailing and a tranquil, established north-facing garden, the brief called for a renovation that marries the site’s existing heritage features with the needs of an evolving family.

Many of the changes are grounded in embracing what was already there. A landscaped rear garden by Eckersley Garden Architecture – which was carried out during a previous renovation – adds a sense of tranquillity to the home, which Studio Ceravolo wanted to embrace. Thhe team focused on opening up the back area of the house as much as possible to create uninterrupted views and connections to the garden from many spaces.

Drawing on this sense of flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, interventions also encourage movement and welcome light into the home. The garden-facing living zones are designed to be experienced as a series of self-contained yet interconnecting areas, with joinery used to provide definition. Meanwhile, full-height glazing and a sculptural pergola structure add a contemporary feel while allowing variations of dappled light from the garden to enter the home as it changes throughout the day.

Warm tones and textures – soft yellow, green, pink and gold paired with mosaic glass and colour-blocked rugs – create a sense of calm.

The layout for the rest of the home is designed to encourage a sense of stillness and opulence;  a gym and laundry overlook lush greenery, while a walk-in shower is flooded with sunlight via a skylight. Materiality and finishes are similarly luxurious as well as experimental. The ground floor comprises small-format stone pavers, a bold departure from archetypal timber flooring. Warm tones and textures – soft yellow, green, pink and gold paired with mosaic glass and colour-blocked rugs – create a sense of calm.

Meanwhile, classic and sculptural furniture selections enhance Malvern House’s elegant feel. Stand-out items include an Eames lounge and ottoman and Thonet Bentwood chairs and stools, complemented by several Australian artists and designers to punctuate the spaces, such as artwork by Harry McAlpine from Oigall Projects, a ceramic piece by Ebony Russell and a chrome floor lamp by Jordan Fleming. The end result is a dynamic home that feels soft, peaceful and warm as well as bold, refined and sophisticated.

Architecture and interior design by Studio Ceravolo. Build by A.P. Build Group.  Landscape design by Eckersley Garden Architecture. Artwork by Harry McAlpine. Artwork and objects supplied by Oigåll Projects.