A first home for a young couple on the cusp of family life, this project balanced the comforts of nesting with the realities of a modest footprint and budget.

Internal walls were removed to open up the home’s hard-working wet zones, creating a more intuitive flow between kitchen, laundry, and bathroom. Deco influences appear in the graceful arcs of joinery, the sweep of two-toned geometric tiles, and horizontal lines that speak to strength, quiet dignity, and endurance — fitting foundations for a growing household.

Functionality was heightened through thoughtful detailing. In the bathroom, a tiered recycled hardwood vanity becomes a step for small children and a perch for parents at bath time, its offset mirror allowing multiple users at once. The laundry was widened to make way for a small mudroom with direct garage access, and the toilet relocated for greater privacy and smoother circulation. One sink now serves both rooms, doubling its efficiency.

Grounded warmth comes from underfloor heating, and compact spaces are elevated through bold yet elegant joinery — linen shelves that fold away, integrated laundry equipment, and even a discreet door for the couple’s cats. The result is a warm, enduring home that tempers practicality with romance, ready to embrace the family’s next chapter.

The kitchen upgrade was subtle but impactful. Retaining the existing lower cabinets, benchtop, stovetop, and sink preserved resources, while updates to the back-line joinery, splashback, tapware, and hardware refreshed the space. A contoured Tasmanian oak timber moulding wrapped around the kitchen island brings warmth and softness, balancing function with tactile charm. The result is a home that feels robust, highly functional, and quietly romantic — a calm backdrop for the busy family life ahead.