Classic Victorian meets modern edge

Victorian heritage charm meets modern minimalist design in this stunning single-fronted home, situated in the trendy Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Designed and built by interior designer, Eve Gunson, from Dot + Pop, and her builder husband, Matt Benetti, from New Living Constructions, the property is a re-build of a Victorian terrace, complete with five bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a double story extension and studio, located above the garage.

Originally built in the 1880’s the corner-block home had a shop front added during the 1950’s. “Over the years, the shop has housed a number of businesses, including a hairdresser, real estate agency and fruit shop. It was running as a bookshop when we first purchased it,” says Eve.

“Before we bought the property, we had extensive discussions with the City of Port Phillip Council planning and heritage advisors to ensure that we were permitted to demolish the shop front and restore the house back to its original heritage state.”

In keeping with the heritage regulations, Eve and Matt restored the façade, returning the front bedroom and hallway back to its original Victorian glory. The remainder of the property was then demolished, upgraded with a new, modern extension, adjoining the original front of the house.

A central courtyard joins the house to the garage, boasting a second-story studio, complete with two bedrooms and one bathroom. The garage and studio design is an exact mirror of the main house extension, both internally and on the outside.

The couple state one of their biggest challenges to date have been the corner block location of the property itself. Not only does the full length of the boundary wall run down the public street, but the front of the house faces a road with a tram, meaning outside noise was a concern. To minimise noise inside the house, Eve and Matt used CSR Gyprock Superchek™ plasterboard throughout the house, accompanied by acoustic insulation in the front rooms and double-glazed all windows and doors to ensure that the house was as sound proof as possible.

“Gyprock’s Superchek™ plasterboard has made a huge difference in sound proofing our home due to its density,” says Eve. The ultimate lining for homes, Superchek™ is the highest specification plasterboard in Gyprock’s residential range and provides improved airborne noise and impact noise insulation for a quieter, more comfortable home. Walls lined with Superchek™ provide a 15% reduction in perceived loudness compared to standard plasterboard.

Not only does Superchek’s™ high-recycled content increase density and board strength to deliver exceptional noise control, it also offers superior impact resistance.

The specially formulated dense core and tougher face paper substantially increases its resistance to soft and hard body impact. It has enhanced resistance to dents, scuffs and scrapes from everyday living, making it the ideal plasterboard for a young family.

When it came to the home’s design, Eve and Matt opted for a clean, modern and minimal aesthetic. “We chose neutral tones, natural materials and sleek finishes, with an overall feeling of ‘less is more’,” explains Eve.

“As the property sits on a corner block, we had the opportunity to design something that that has real street appeal, which we have never been able to do before when renovating single-fronted Victorians, as they usually sit side by side with adjoining boundary walls.”

To establish continuity throughout the design, the couple had to ensure that the materials they chose for the external and boundary walls would reflect and also complement the interior design scheme.

The completion of the home comes at an ideal time for Eve and Matt as they have just welcomed their first child into the world. “We built this house as our ‘forever for now’ home, because forever is a long time when you love building and designing homes,” concluded Eve.

To see more from Dot + Pop visit: dotandpop.com.au

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