Restoring heritage details to a Fitzroy North facade and interior
Over classic Victorian bones lay a thick layer of 1970s character (and concrete) that had to be restored to find its potential buyer on Selling Houses Australia
Photography Melissa Heath/Selling Houses Australia
Every now and then, a house comes along that feels less like a renovation and more like an archaeological dig through Australia’s architectural eras. And this Fitzroy North beauty? Well, she’d lived many lives. Under the classic Victorian bones lay a thick layer of 1970s “character”… and by character I mean fake brick veneer, aluminium windows and a floor plan so confusing it was hard to know where to start.
But this home wasn’t just any renovation – it was a legacy. Maria and Sonya’s mum raised her family here, making pasta, making memories, and making sure the house was full of love, even when the décor took a detour into experimental. Her final wish was that the proceeds from the sale would give her grandchildren a head start in life. No pressure at all.
“When a home carries six decades of love but zero buyer appeal, you honour the love, and fix absolutely everything els”~ Interior designer Wendy Moore, Selling Houses Australia
The kitchen Fitzroy North: heritage elegance meets hip Melbourne living
The old kitchen had plenty of emotional history, but absolutely no functional future. In a suburb like Fitzroy North, where families want turnkey, contemporary, and charming, this dark, dated space needed a full rethink.
I started by relocating the kitchen to the rear of the home, creating an open‑plan layout perfect for modern family life. The new cabinetry features a sophisticated pairing of Polytec Veneer in Oyster Grey and Terril, giving the kitchen that subtle, Melbourne‑cool, tonal depth. To add warmth, I finished it with Kethy BH169 Matt Brass handles, whose soft sheen adds just the right amount of understated glamour.
For the benchtop and splashback, I wanted something luxe but timeless: Caesarstone Calacatta Dreamwave, a stunning blend of grey veining and warm honey tones. It ties together the home’s soft neutrals and brushed brass accents beautifully.
A generous Blanco Zerox sink and Culina‑S mixer in Dark Steel anchor the workspace with durable sophistication, and the Euromaid appliance suite delivers a full gourmet setup without blowing the budget.
And because Fitzroy North buyers love practicality, I added a combined butler’s pantry and laundry behind the kitchen. It’s the unsung hero of the whole renovation.
Living room Fitzroy North: Creating calm in a Melbourne heritage home
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the living room is its soul – and this one was desperately tired. Layered paint tones, heavy curtains and mismatched flooring made it feel more gloomy than grand. The solution? Air, light and flow.
I laid the foundation with Flooring Xtra’s Mooloolaba Barnacle timber flooring, unifying the entire living/dining zone and enhancing the home’s lofty ceilings. On the walls, Taubmans Thin Ice created a soft, serene base, while Taubmans Crisp White on trims sharpened every heritage detail.
The room already had beautiful proportions, it just needed the right finishing touches. Enter our Beacon Lighting selections, including the Florence 3‑Light Aged Brass pendants and layered wall sconces that add dimension and warmth. Sheer curtains from Veneta Blinds softened the space, adding that moody, Melbourne elegance buyers adore.
Styled with two generous sofas, textured cushions, and a grounding oversized rug, the living room finally felt like a sophisticated inner‑city retreat.
Fitzroy North, Selling Houses bathroom: from chaotic to contemporary
The bathroom situation was quite dire. It was a giant room that somehow managed to feel both empty and impractical, plus there was that iconic Fitzroy North “toilet in the kitchen corridor” experience.
To meet family‑buyer expectations, we created two fully functioning bathrooms: a luxurious main bathroom and a private ensuite for the new master suite.
Both bathrooms now feature Gioia Bianco Matt tiles from National Tiles, with a hero Carrara Marble Diamond mosaic creating a decadent feature wall. To maintain heritage charm, I added HardieGroove VJ panelling up to 1100mm to instantly add texture and timelessness.
Tapware and fittings from Caroma’s Liano II range in Brushed Brass, sourced via The Blue Space, provide continuity throughout the home. I love how the brushed brass pops subtly against the grey‑white palette.
The main bathroom now includes a stunning Contura II freestanding bath, ideal for long soaks, something the original 1970s bathroom most definitely did not offer.
Update the bedrooms in Fitzroy North to be peaceful and practical
The original bedrooms at the front of the house were actually in good shape, with high ceilings and beautiful proportions, but were in dire need of warmth. I kept things sophisticated with Taubmans Thin Ice on the walls and gorgeous Rustic Manor Mushroom carpet from Flooring Xtra, adding softness underfoot and quiet luxury.
The star transformation, though, is the new master suite, created from the former formal dining room. With its deep wall colours, brass fixtures, flowing curtains from Veneta Blinds, and hotel‑style ensuite, it feels indulgent without losing that Melbourne heritage vibe.
The other bedrooms received fresh styling: elegant side tables, soft linens and ambient lighting from Beacon Lighting to keep the palette cohesive and contemporary.
A garden reborn for modern Melbourne life
For a coveted pocket of inner‑city Melbourne, this property had a massive backyard, completely wasted under a sea of concrete. Families want garden zones, entertaining areas and usable outdoor space.
Dennis transformed it completely.
First, he cut sections out of the existing concrete slab to create turf-stepped pathways – sustainable, clever and surprisingly beautiful. We added a new pergola, complete with an outdoor kitchen and pizza oven (because how could we not honour the Italian family legacy?). This instantly made the space an entertainer’s dream.
Formal plantings, including topiary balls and fragrant Magnolia ‘Inspiration’, brought structure and softness. The front garden received a crisp, heritage‑appropriate refresh with decomposed granite, elegant edging, and a new Poinciana Red front door against Taubmans White House weatherboards.
It’s the curb appeal this home always deserved.
The sales history of Selling Houses Fitzroy North, Melbourne
This home sat on the market for over a year without a single offer. Buyers were overwhelmed by the layout, the lack of a third bedroom, and the major renovation needed. After the transformation, the house was a move‑in‑ready three‑bedroom, two‑bathroom family home with open‑plan living, heritage charm and modern function – exactly what Fitzroy North buyers crave.
The agent estimated it could now achieve a price in the low $2 millions, a life‑changing outcome for the family and a beautiful fulfilment of their mum’s legacy. In fact, the home sold for $2.2 million! A stunning result for this lovely family.
Who pays for the renovations on Selling Houses Australia?
As always, Selling Houses Australia renovations are funded by the homeowners themselves, which is especially meaningful on emotionally driven projects like this one. We contribute labour and products from our sponsors. Plus, a little design know-how….
