Lovell Burton reworks a neglected Victorian terrace in Carlton into a light-filled, flexible house that blends history with modern living.
Victorian terraces hold traces of the past. Built in 1878, this terrace was once home to workers from a nearby hat factory. Today, it is lived in by architects Stephanie Burton and Joseph Lovell, who have restored and extended it into a family home.
When purchased, the house was in poor condition: dark, segmented, with little ventilation. The renovation retained the original front four rooms and introduced a two-storey rear addition, oriented to the east.
The new wing dissolves boundaries. An open kitchen, dining, and living area flows into the garden through five pivoting timber-and-glass doors. Above, the mezzanine holds the main bedroom and bathroom, screened by Woodwool panels that provide both flexibility and acoustic softness.
Light and movement define the interiors. Children ride bikes across the burnished concrete floor; the four-metre walnut island bench shifts between kitchen workspace, dining table, and desk. An oculus in the upper wall frames a neighbour’s eucalypt. Steel mesh balustrades bring transparency and delicacy.
A garden courtyard separates the historic brick house from the new structure, creating breathing space and ventilation. From the street, the terrace is unchanged—quietly in line with its neighbours. Inside, it opens into a relaxed, adaptable home designed for growth and family life.
