Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Dream Home Reno Becomes a Knock-Down-Rebuild
A couple who had just intended to renovate their first home instead decided to make the most of their land, and turn one townhouse into two
After completing a home renovation, most of us would sit back, reflect on all the challenges and vow never to do it again. For a while, anyway. But for Melissa Lunardon and her husband Tom, completing their home renovation meant moving straight on to a new build. The duo bought their first home in 2010 and enjoyed the process of renovating it for three years. But they soon realised that the best way to make the most out of their block of land was to knock down their existing home and build two townhouses there instead – one to live in and the other to rent out.
“The renos were enough to keep us comfortable, so we didn’t lose too much money when knocking it all down,” says Melissa. “I actually sold our new picket fence, deck, pergola and kitchen on eBay to recoup what we could!” The couple moved into their newly built home in March this year, and since then Melissa has used her skills as an interior designer to create a space that reflects their modern tastes. The road to creating a dream home can certainly take its twists and turns, but for Melissa this journey has resulted in a bright and spacious weatherboard home, perfectly placed in its Melbourne beachside suburb.
“The renos were enough to keep us comfortable, so we didn’t lose too much money when knocking it all down,” says Melissa. “I actually sold our new picket fence, deck, pergola and kitchen on eBay to recoup what we could!” The couple moved into their newly built home in March this year, and since then Melissa has used her skills as an interior designer to create a space that reflects their modern tastes. The road to creating a dream home can certainly take its twists and turns, but for Melissa this journey has resulted in a bright and spacious weatherboard home, perfectly placed in its Melbourne beachside suburb.
Inside, the large scale of the home naturally results in some generous white walls to decorate. Instead of risking one artwork looking lost on the wall, Melissa chose to use these two pieces, tying them together by using the same light oak frame. “I wanted an abstract piece that packed a punch, and the navy artwork from United Artworks really does that. I wanted to mix it up with a photographic piece and ‘The Alps’ from Middle of Nowhere was a perfect match,” she says.
The entrance is at the side of the house, and Melissa made it pop with colour. “I wanted to take advantage of the fact that our front door was at the side of the house and really have fun with colour. Yellow is just so happy and welcoming,” she says.
Melissa’s love for upcycling and mixing styles is displayed in the dining area. The bentwood chairs were a roadside find. After a lick of white paint, they were combined with a selection of ghost chairs and work together seamlessly.
Dining table: MRD Home
Dining table: MRD Home
Pendant light: Fat Shack Vintage
“As an interior designer, I am constantly exposed to new trends and always on the lookout for unique pieces,” Melissa says. “I have mixed secondhand finds with timeless pieces like our Carrara coffee table and large oak dining table.”
Couch: Oz Design; side table: Matt Blatt; floor lamp: Beacon Lighting
Couch: Oz Design; side table: Matt Blatt; floor lamp: Beacon Lighting
Artwork on plywood: Printspace
The couple love to entertain, and regularly have friends and family over to show off their finished design. “The large island bench is great for prepping and also for talking to guests, either sitting opposite or at the dining table,” Melissa says.
Adding removable polka dots to the pantry door creates an unexpected touch of fun to the space.
There is a wonderful blend of beauty and practicality in all the design elements around the home – the kitchen being no exception. “I wanted a splashback that added texture and interest to the kitchen, so when I found the geometric tiles, I fell in love,” Melissa says. “They are not too bold and by using a darker grey grout, it’s easy to keep clean and define the shape of each tile.“
Tiles: Hynes Tiles
Tiles: Hynes Tiles
Although Melissa had to be mindful about sticking to her and Tom’s budget, she feels she put money into the home where it really counted. “We paid attention to the kitchen by including a Smeg cooker, gloss-vinyl-wrap cabinetry and a large island bench with stone waterfall ends,” she explains. “We saved in other areas by using a good-quality timber laminate floor, which wears very well and is quite realistic.”
The abundance of natural light that flows into the master bedroom makes the room feel more spacious and friendly.
For those of us who struggle to decide on what bedhead to put in the bedroom, Melissa has the solution – paint one on the wall! “I couldn’t decide on what style of bedhead I wanted for our room, and the highlight window above our bed restricts us from having artwork on the wall,” she says. “I thought that by painting the half-height feature wall, it would act as not only a bedhead, but also as a feature for the entire wall.”
Doona cover and matching pillow cases: Rebecca Judd Loves for Adairs; heart vase: Lovestar; round cushion: Freedom
Doona cover and matching pillow cases: Rebecca Judd Loves for Adairs; heart vase: Lovestar; round cushion: Freedom
Lamp: Freedom; bedside table: GlobeWest
“In our old house, we had the tiniest bath, so our main priority for this house was to ensure we had a decent-sized one,” says Melissa. “This bathroom is mostly used by guests that stay over as it’s right near the guest bedroom.”
The guest bedroom is used regularly by friends and family from interstate. “We are very excited to be hosting our overseas friend this year over Christmas, so it’s important that the room feels homey.”
Doona cover: Kmart; bedhead: custom-made by Papillion; lamp: Beacon Lighting; white cushion with tree design: Designers Choice
Melissa’s office is at the front of the home, at the opposite end from the living area – away from any distractions. The desk was made by Melissa and Tom as a dining table for their previous home. It now serves as a special memento, as well as a generously-sized work space for Melissa.
Stendig calendar: Simple Form
Stendig calendar: Simple Form
Desk lamp: Kmart
Even though Melissa and her husband tend to favour their upstairs ensuite as the main bathroom, the downstairs bathroom has its advantages too, as it’s right next to Melissa’s office. No trekking up the stairs required!
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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Small Homes | Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes |Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts |Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes |Townhouses | Traditional Homes| Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes |Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts |Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes |Townhouses | Traditional Homes| Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Interior designer Melissa Lunardon, her husband Tom Duggan and their labrador, Cooney.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a study
Builder: Urbanedge Homes
As they placed a high priority on the quality and aesthetic of their home’s facade, Melissa and Tom always knew this would take up a fair chunk of their budget. “I have always wanted a weatherboard home, and being in a beachside suburb, I felt it was the only option that we were going to be happy with,” she says. “Being a custom design, it took some time to get right, especially the weatherboards. The carpenters did a great job though!”