The Grove

The Grove is a major renovation of a heritage Californian Bungalow, preserving architectural details while offering a refined connection to the new.

An existing Bentleigh property has been reimagined to create a layered country aesthetic balanced with a contemporary European feel. The Grove is a refined renovation of an existing Californian Bungalow, preserving the architectural details seen throughout the existing parts of the home while offering a seamless connection to the new.

Materiality is at the heart of the project with blackbutt timbers floors and polished nickel fixtures combined with fine details seen across the traditional-style entrance, ornate heritage ceilings and carefully curated colour palette that transition with ease throughout the course of the day.

In the kitchen, handmade Moroccan tiling reflects a naturally iridescent hue across the splashback, complementing shaker-style joinery in whisper white, contrasting with the classic black range cooker. Entertaining was a crucial element to consider for the young couple, hence the built-in custom bar working to merge the living and kitchen space effortlessly after dark.

Moments of calm surrounded by light and flora saturate the living area during the day before morphing into a homely retreat with gas log fireplace and wall sconces.

In the bathroom, rich blue tiles inject warmth and softness to the space while maintaining a timeless sophistication with freestanding Victorian claw bath.

The final design of this home respects and preserves its historical features and feel, alongside creative adaptations and insertions that allow for a contemporary way of living. Achieving privacy from the surrounding apartment buildings and flats, the home feels like an intimate hideaway, with surprising interactions between the built and natural environment.

With its refined palette and layered balance of heritage and contemporary detailing, The Grove project is the epitome of inner-suburb Australian style for this young, growing family.

Build Construct Melbourne. Architect Angela Prince. Interior Design and Styling Ryan Fernandes. Photography Elise Scott.

Clinker House

Nestled in a beautifully lush property situated between Mornington and Safety Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, this major renovation brought a new breath of life to the existing red-brick home.

Located on a generous site behind a wall of greenery hides the charming and newly renovated Clinker House designed by MUS Collective and built by Construct Melbourne.

Enter the circular driveway to be greeted by a façade rich in visual interest – differentiated red bricks, contrasting white window frames and detailing, with moody double dormer windows. Clinker House illustrates idyllic family charm while emphasising its direct response to its surroundings. The home is divided into a series of interior spaces, all offering unique views of the surroundings, while the exterior boasts luxury in-ground pool and fully-equipped outdoor kitchen and entertaining area that can quickly be closed off from potential coastline winds during cooler months.

The home incorporates beautifully intelligent features throughout, such as front smart locks to modernise the functionality of the home, while an efficient gas fireplace creates a warm ambience for the open plan living and dining area. The heart of the home easily opens to outdoor entertaining area and in-ground pool with generous floor to ceiling bi-fold doors.

Views from the master suite lookout to a newly added pergola and courtyard reminiscent of quiet Sunday afternoons outdoors and blending effortlessly with the surrounding native environment.

Clinker House blends natural yet moody hues throughout the interior, with the unique character of the home and the surrounding environment to bring everyday charm to this family home.

Build Construct Melbourne. Architect MUS Collective. Photography Mitch Lyons.

Carnegie

Celebrating architecture of renewal with this airy makeover to Melbourne based Californian Bungalow.

Transforming a quaint home in need of full renovating from the ground up, Construct Melbourne and Architects Instyle Design have modernised an existing Californian Bungalow in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. Carnegie project is a celebration of architectural renewal, reconfiguring for light and practicality and wrapping the exterior of this multi-story dwelling with a velvet banner of blackened timber. The result is a spacious, light-filled abode designed to serve as a retreat for the couple of busy Melbourne-based professionals and their two fur-babies.

Paying homage to the gum lined street it occupies, the spotted gum charred timber cladding – a technique also known as Shou sugin bun originating in Japan in the 18th century – offers gravitas to the façade of the home in a beautifully sustainable selection rich in texture and character.

Step into the traditional terrazzo threshold to be greeted by original leadlight front door in what is a gentle nod to its clear art-deco influence. Enter the redefined structure to be welcomed by open timber staircase and what is merely a peek of full-height windows on the recessed ground level to the rear of the residence.

Morphing a dreamy combination of raw oak flooring making its way throughout the entirety of the ground floor before meeting the delicate full-height sheer curtains in what is the fusion of minimalist sophistication and the ever-changing shadow play of dappled light. An overhead void is added to the equation to create a dramatic light-filled haven.

Carnegie Residence makes welcoming daybreak a breeze with intuitive features such as electric blinds to effortlessly manipulate lighting from early energised mornings together to relaxed Sunday afternoons.

Grey veins of solid Dolomite marble meet the otherwise entirely white kitchen to provide a canvas for everyday rituals, easily transformed by opening the expansive bi-fold doors for summer entertaining by the outdoor kitchen, fully equipped with outdoor bar fridge.

Carnegie project brings a well-needed focus back to the everyday comforts of home, paired with a seraphic aura within the new form of the residence – providing a place of revitalization and tranquillity while maintaining its locale.

Photography by Simon Shiff. Architecture Instyle Design. Interior Design VN Design.

Sandringham

A moody inner suburb renovation juxtaposing masculine nuances with spacious family living.

From the street, Sandringham Project showcases the unostentatious nature of the residence by not giving much away of what lies within. Inside, a skylight fills the hallway overlooking existing textured slate flooring with plenty of natural light. Peer down the hall to be greeted by an open plan living area with striking cathedral ceiling. Designed by MUS Collective, this spacious renovation opens the existing double storey home to adapt to the young families’ growing needs with increased space to support their lifestyle. Sandringham Residence juxtaposes idyllic family living with moody aesthetics to accommodate contemporary living.

As if it is its own private retreat, the newly renovated master bedroom boasts traditional feature period fireplace, morphing the charm of the old with the new, while the walk-through wardrobe seamlessly integrates to the master ensuite.

The all-black kitchen cultivates timeless sophistication, drawing the eye to discover the finer details seen throughout. Around the corner, discover the butler’s pantry fully equipped with wine fridge, along with plenty of storage and bench space. As many move toward open floor plans, kitchens have evolved from a place of practicality to a key focal point within the home and Sandringham is no exception.

The inky hued kitchen features sleek graphite free standing cooker while the integrated dishwasher serves a new right of passage for everyday tasks. Little fingerprints are no match for the matte black waterfall benchtops in Marquina from Lithostone.

Timber floorboards continue the texture of the slate in a modern capacity while floor to ceiling glazed windows in the living area frame the generous backyard lined with trees for the young family to enjoy for years to come.

Architect MUS Collective. Photography by Simon Shiff.

Portsea

A sentimental project stitching together past and present in a rustic yet contemporary coastal transformation.

A cherished coastal abode that has been passed on from generation to generation in Portsea, Victoria celebrates the original elements of the structure while adding naturally sophisticated features for a unified coastal transformation. Portsea project is a joyous marriage of natural elements – light-filled, spacious, and stunning.

The previous structure was modest and worn and in need of an injection of new life. Paying homage to the sentimental elements that the family remembers fondly, this coastal renovation and restoration preserve the home’s original character and charm while accommodating the growing needs of their family for years to come.

The black ceiling rail creates a striking contrast that is carried to the exterior of the home as seen through custom iron balustrades skirting the outdoor merbau deck overlooking the leafy green premises, while natural light penetrates all aspects of the interior.

A minimal selection of original Tasmanian Oak timber floorboards, oyster limestone in a Tuscan rubble and neutral palette of colours and textures for a natural, contemporary breath of life. Timber cladding in the main living area and sporadic antique pendants featured throughout continue the curious story behind this beloved home.

This cabin-esque coastal retreat effortlessly moves between the exterior and interior as the floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the boundary between the indoors and the surrounding elements.

Styling by Coastal Living Sorrento. Photography by Simon Shiff.

Summerhill

Combining functional design with beautiful aesthetics, Summerhill creates a special safe haven to inner suburban living with its contemporary Hampton’s design and country style details. This home features paneling to the façade, vintage style sconces, and a charming outdoor vegetable garden before inviting you in through French doors.

The functional flow of the home leads you to a mudroom and laundry with feature bespoke tiling, butlers pantry, spacious kitchen/dining/living area and raw oak flooring throughout the ground level. Beautiful details can be found everywhere you look in this stunning custom new home to bring visual interest to every corner. Herringbone barn door, feature pink basin, penny tiles, kitchen under lights, premium appliances, gas log fire and floor to ceiling bi-fold and sliding doors ensures the home brings plenty of natural light throughout the day, before transitioning to a cozy atmosphere at night.

Inviting you to bring the outside in during the warmer months, the expansive bi-fold doors to the rear of the home reveal a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, stunning pool-side gym overlooking the modern, white-tiled pool and spa with plenty of greenery.

Vickery

Mixing the old with the new in what is a perfect example of urban densification, Vickery Project morphs from 2 bedroom townhouse to a spacious 4 bedroom family residence.

A loved townhouse in Melbourne’s Malvern East has recently evolved to an inner suburban family residence by connecting a new 2 story extension to the east. The young family looked to create a space their family could grow in while maintaining their locality and access to all their nearby favourites.

The previous structure was a small 2 bedroom townhouse in need of extra space for this growing Melbourne family. After doubling the block size by purchasing the vacant land to the east of their existing home, Vickery project blends the existing townhouse with a modern 2 storey extension to the east to offer a spacious and cohesive 4 bedroom residence. Vickery boasts multiple living areas across the split-level ground floor for a relaxed, highly functional flow to the home.

Contrasting elements throughout the open plan kitchen and living space offer a dramatic feel with natural textures seen across the timber flooring and upper cabinetry while the rest of the design remains light and bright with pops of black as seen in the bold steel window frames and feature overhead lighting.

Venture up the central spine staircase with parquetry treads before being welcomed to the home’s spacious bedrooms, including master bedroom overlooking the treetops of the street.

Architect MUS Collective. Photography by Simon Shiff. Styling Valiant Interiors

Ardrie

Ardrie project was a major renovation and extension of a heritage listed Federation brick home in Malvern East. The rear of the existing home was removed and the interior of the remaining home completely renovated, with some changes to the layout. A brand new modern extension was built onto the rear of the home, housing a large open plan kitchen and living area, study and butlers pantry. The new space opens to a large timber deck and lawn area, surrounding the luxury in-ground pool. A brand new garage and carport were built onto the side of the property for added functionality. The success of this project lay in the seamless joining of the existing heritage listed home with the brand new modern rear extension, including on the exterior where the old red bricks meet the modern black cladding.

Brady

This is beautiful custom home features Bluestone walls, large steel-framed sliding doors, large windows, Blackbutt timber floors, Terrazzo bathroom tiles, custom-built joinery throughout and all matt-black fixtures and door hardware.

This home also features a large rumpus room with polished concrete floors, an electric retractable television and custom built bar, equipped with wine and bar fridges. The outdoor area continues the Bluestone theme, and includes a built-in spit roaster and BBQ. The home also includes a stunning gas fireplace and hydronic heating throughout, ensuring a very happy and comfortable family.

Brady Project was announced the winner in the 2020 Master Builders Excellence Awards: Best Kitchen under $40,000.

Norton

Construct Melbourne undertook a major Renovation and Extension on this Edwardian home in Malvern East. Majority of the existing home was demolished, and a new home was built for this lovely family. The front façade was restored to its former glory and the interior of the home exhibits some classic Edwardian features with modern additions. The finished product was a well built, luxury family home with plenty of light and space, as well as views of leafy Malvern East.

Nahmias

Project Nahmias was a major Renovation and Extension of the existing brick home. Majority of the internal layout was demolished and re-built to house a spacious main bedroom with walk-in robe and modern ensuite. The entire rear of the house was added to house a lovely spacious kitchen / dining / living area. The main bathroom was also completely re-designed. This project was completed before the due date and within the set budget.