This Fitzroy North Family Sanctuary Channels Mid-Century Design

Fitzroy North Residence by Dan Gayfer Design is a renovated family home in Melbourne’s inner north. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

The careful addition spans 105 square metres on the ground floor and 47 square metres upstairs. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

The walls of the luxurious family room effortlessly open to the backyard. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Mid-century references are woven throughout the new abode. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Dan Gayfer says his favourite part of the project is the tonal family room! Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

It was designed as more of an adult space, with a luxurious lounge facing a centrally located wood fire, whilst a side table at the end of the lounge is home to a vinyl record player. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

‘The room can be completely shut off from the rest of the house via an impressive floor to ceiling cavity sliding door. With a few quiet wines, music playing and fire flickering, it is not difficult to lose all concept of time and reality whilst sinking into the custom upholstered lounge,’ Dan says. Artwork by Jayne Rolinson. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

A curve of the lounge meets the concrete landing leading to the kitchen. Artwork by Jayne Rolinson. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

The kitchen’s design reflects not only the family’s cooking habits but how they interact at mealtimes, with an island bench where ‘everyone likes to gather around the island bench, catching up on what each other has been up to, or how their day is going.’ Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

The alcove accessed at the end of the kitchen conceals the pantry and appliance area as well as any other unnecessary kitchen clutter. Artwork on left by Anthony Macknay. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Cabinetry by Kitchen Domain. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Solid timber and veneer features brings a retro character to the home, in contrast to the concrete details. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

A teenager retreat is located upstairs, positioned away from the adult’s family room. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

All the in-built storage solutions have also been tailored to the family’s needs. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Dan says a dedicated ‘music room’ and wine cellar gave the owners new spaces that reflected their changing interests. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

The hallway and the front bedrooms were the only elements retained from the original home. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Inside one of the contemporary bathrooms. Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

Photo – Dean Bradley. Editorial styling – Ruth Welsby

The brief behind this Fitzroy North renovation was about not only meeting the client’s newfound needs for more space and privacy, but also enhancing the family’s overall lifestyle – which is why designer Dan Gayfer set out to explore the intricacies of their day-to-day life.

‘How many people are involved in cooking? Where, when, and how does each person relax? What rooms need to be quiet? Where do people prefer to work and study? Once this part of the vision was solidified, we would develop the concept accordingly,’ Dan says.

It helped that the original Edwardian home was in a ‘relatively solid condition’. This allowed them to retain the front four rooms, while removing all remaining spaces to make way for a new laundry, bathroom, kitchen and living filled with nods to mid-century modern architecture.

Dan says the design channels ‘classic modernist building principles’ in the low-angled roofline of the first-floor addition, and the striking floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to the garden outside.

The interiors are also filled with nods to the past, with clean lines, simple geometric forms, alongside blackbutt timber veneered cabinetry and ceiling linings.

‘The family room in particular gives out some serious Modernist vibes; the luxe but undoubtedly functional built-in lounge and palette of warm, earthy tones could be straight out of a time capsule from the 1960s,’ Dan explains. This cosy room can also be completely shut off from the rest of the house via an impressive floor to ceiling cavity sliding door.

The renovation also provided the client’s three kids with a ‘teenager’s oasis’ of their own: complete with a generous sized retreat, ensuite, and large bedroom upstairs.

‘It was also important that the configuration ensured that anyone could find a space in the house to go and read, relax, sleep knowing that they could not be disturbed,’ Dan adds.

Personal details unearthed during the studio’s thoughtful design process have turned this dated home into a true family sanctuary, where there’s something for everyone.