A highlight of this project is the use of unusual lighting installations – both decorative and architectural. Architectural lighting ideas from commercial spaces were integrated here to add an edge to the space. The idea of a full mural graffiti wall in the long hallway also acts an unexpected element as it is rarely seen in residential settings.

Interior Design : Noha Hassan Designs

Photography : Tim Lenz

However, what makes a house charming at first glance can often pose challenges in everyday living. Our contemporary lifestyles don’t always align with quaint, unconventional spaces. Yet, completely modernizing a house can strip away the very warmth and authenticity that made it special. At StudioNiCHE, they understand that reshaping a traditionally built home to suit today’s needs requires a delicate balance between old-world charm and modern functionality.

In a recent project, they were tasked with transforming the living and kitchen areas of a traditional townhouse. This space featured a beautiful mix of traditional elements, but its layout was less than ideal, tapering into a triangular shape that felt restrictive. Their challenge was to create a functional, open-plan space that embraced the uniqueness of the home’s architecture.

A central stone staircase was restored, with its black wrought iron railings brought back to life, creating a stunning contrast against the taupe walls. Natural light now flows through the home, reflecting off the custom wooden joinery, brightening the space. The footprint of the walls they removed was carefully filled with light grey concrete, which frames the original patterned cement tiles, seamlessly linking the past with the present.

A sleek Carrara marble breakfast bar softly separates the dining area from the kitchen, allowing for social interaction while maintaining functionality. The custom joinery transitions from warm wood shelving to a blend of blue-grey lacquer cabinets, gradually giving way to off-white high units that disappear into the light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows. To add a contemporary touch, they incorporated brushed gold fittings and selected furniture from an eclectic mix of international brands. The result is a space where the old and the new coexist in perfect harmony, combining practicality with timeless beauty.

At StudioNiCHE, they believe that every home has a story to tell. Their approach ensures that while the space evolves to meet modern needs, the charm and character that first drew them to the home are never lost.

Photography : Ramon Portelli

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The solution was to connect the upper and lower ground floors directly to form a single space on two levels via a beautiful sculptural helical staircase. This new stair would connect the enlarged kitchen to what was to become the main family living space on the floor below.

What were the key challenges?

Builder and architect had a lot of experience working with historic buildings but in this case we were to pick apart a hybrid of new and old, matching the design to both periods and carefully dismantling glass and concrete as well as the more usual Victorian brick and wood.

Interior design : COX ARCHITECTS

Photography : MATT CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

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The originally up-cycled and relocated 1950s house has been completely renovated to its present utilitarian form, with features that hint to the accomplished script writer and producer residing there. Hidden among the coastal tea trees and banksias of Rye, a seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, known for its rugged coastline and calming bay.

The house still maintains its weatherboard facade that plays tribute to its roots. Although a long way from the original dark box-like layout, interior designer Nicole Rutherford from The Stylesmiths, “has been able to retain and incorporate elements of the past in a completely modern way,” says Paul, the proud owner.

A desire to harness childhood nostalgia of constant dinner parties and friends, meant the new configuration called for an open plan design. Uninterrupted flow between areas of congregation was a must for Paul as he recalls, “our family home was the social hub for our community and I wanted to create a space that could be the same.” Hence, the kitchen was shifted to create more room and the third bedroom was repurposed to achieve a conversational living area that continues onto the backyard deck which straddles the grassy, treed knoll. A sense of identity is preserved in each space, but with no adherence to any one style, colour or texture, the home encourages visitors to discover everything on offer.

Interior Design : the Stylesmiths

Photography : Gus MacDonald

The living area features a harmonious balance of soft, muted tones, including beige and blush pink, which create an inviting atmosphere. A built-in olive-green bench echoes Malta’s historic use of natural materials, while vibrant mustard-yellow pillows add a modern Mediterranean touch. Above the bench, framed artwork celebrating Malta’s architectural and cultural legacy lends a personal and eclectic feel to the room.

A standout feature of the space is its intricate, patterned tile flooring a nod to traditional Maltese tile craftsmanship. This design choice brings a timeless, artisan aesthetic that contrasts beautifully with the minimalist round glass table and sleek black stool, achieving a perfect balance between modernity and nostalgia.

Natural light floods the space, thanks to large windows that offer sweeping views of Cospicua’s harbor and industrial landscape. The transition into the glass-enclosed area integrates Malta’s stunning scenery, merging indoor comfort with outdoor inspiration. A sleek kitchenette, with stainless steel counter tops and modern cabinetry, complements the rich heritage elements of the flooring.

Designers’ work highlights how compact spaces can remain multi functional, open, and intimate without compromising on design or comfort. By integrating elements of Maltese heritage into modern living spaces, small living spaces can still offer luxury and a strong connection to the island’s unique culture.

One of their standout projects is a home tucked away in a hill side street of Cospicua, where a bright yellow door immediately grabs attention. Flanked by custom-made planters adorned with lemons, the door invites curiosity, hinting at the vibrant design within. Inside, the space is a thoughtful blend of contemporary design rooted in its historical context.
The house, which once suffered from neglect, has been transformed into a warm, light-filled home. A focus was to retain key historical features, such as original stone staircases and cement tile floors, which have been polished and revitalized. New tiles emulate traditional designs, and custom-built seating maximizes space, doubling as storage and additional sleeping areas.

Interior Design : Kco Design

Photography : Ramon Portelli

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Photography : Arabella Rocca

On the ground floor there is the open kitchen in which designers use travertine countertops as the floor, the toilet, the living room and a gallery with a garden that all the ground floor lofts have. On the upper floor are the father and son rooms separated by a bridge that connects them.

Photography : Federico Kulekdjian

Silver Linings, by Rachcoff Vella Architecture, rests on Melbourne’s bayside beach front unashamedly asserting its presence along the promenade of fishbowls overlooking the bay. A project of exploration and experimentation, of restraint and control, a project of patience and architectural endeavor.

The brief was very particular and one that required extreme discipline and restraint, a restricted but robust and raw material palette, to be limited in complexity but defiant in individual character and charm. Challenges come in all forms and RVA took the 5 year journey head on exploring, detailing, drawing, sketching, modelling, reviewing and researching to achieve an architectural outcome that would consist of 4 to 5 materials, a range of bespoke fittings and fixtures all handmade and meticulously sourced.

The design intent was to ensure that nothing was left to chance. If it could be resolved through design and detailing, then that’s what was done. All attempts were made to make the most complex item appear invisible. What quickly became apparent was that the raw and unfinished, unpainted- untiled-skim coated surfaces meant continuous detailing and supervision until the the very end, a passionate and collaborative effort by all.

This is a family home needing to accommodate the love and punishment, trials and tribulations of family life. Materially this was taken care by the pure nature and robustness of the chosen palette. Spatially a program was devised that allowed collective family time as well as parent or individual zones for alone time. Coming together as a family is either nestled in the basement cave hidden away from the world or up in the light and airy living zones where sea breezes and an abundance of natural light are the backdrop to conversations.

The controlled material palette of grey and silver lining boards, off form concrete, brass fittings and white oak joinery reveal a surprisingly versatile outcome despite the various conditions within the building. In darker more intimate spaces, they offer warmth and protection, in light filled and open view spaces they offer the suns warmth and glow. This outcome justified the material selections and the strength in maintaining a minimalist design ethos.

The bar set high by the client become RVA’s manifesto, a design regime if you like that would drive the project from start to finish, only being fully comprehended when the final nail, screw, wipe down was complete. A meticulously crafted architecture of honesty, raw, robust natural materials with curated insertions of had crafted interiors and objects that celebrate a refined and true minimalism.

Photography : Tatjana Plitt

Photography: Aimée Mazzenga