How to Gain Storage and Space: A Compact House Remodel in Melbourne

Q: What was the main goal of the small house remodel?

The main goal of the small house remodel was to enhance the space of a small house and make it more functional.

Q: What were some of the design challenges that Carole Whiting Design faced during the remodel?

The design challenges that Carole Whiting Design faced during the remodel included limited space, structural constraints, and a tight budget.

Q: What were some of the design solutions that Carole Whiting Design employed to overcome the challenges of the remodel?

The design solutions that Carole Whiting Design employed to overcome the challenges of the remodel included maximizing the use of space, creating a cohesive design scheme, using natural light to create a sense of openness, and using a palette of materials that were cost-effective.

Q: What were some of the design elements that Carole Whiting Design used to enhance the space of the small house?

Some of the design elements that Carole Whiting Design used to enhance the space of the small house included custom cabinetry, built-in storage, multifunctional furniture, and strategically placed mirrors.

Q: What was the result of the small house remodel?

The result of the small house remodel was a space that felt open, bright, and functional. The use of cohesive design elements and strategic use of space made the small house feel like a larger and more inviting space.

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Carole Whiting spent 20 years producing television commercials while moonlighting as her architect husband’s design sidekick. Eight years ago, she finally signed on full time with his firm. Several design awards, a white-hot laundry room—and a divorce—later, Whiting now runs her own busy South Melbourne design studio leading a team of four.

We happened upon her stylishly practical interiors on Instagram and asked to see more. Here’s a favorite recent project: a new chapter for a compact historic house belonging to a recently married artist and builder and their blended family. The challenges: balancing tradition and modernity, creating order and flow, and keeping the look clean, all Whiting’s specialities.

Photographs by Jack Shelton, unless noted, courtesy of Carole Whiting Interior Design.

moody and original on the exterior, the late \19th century north melbourne vict 17 — Above: Moody and original on the exterior, the late-19th-century North Melbourne Victorian was kept as is: “the only thing we addressed was the ironwork, which we restored and painted black,” says Whiting. Fittingly, the new owners, Soma Giovannini and Tom Carson, together run Adobe Restoration, “a boutique restoration building company.” Photograph by Kit Haselden, courtesy of Adobe Restoration.

the interior had been largely stripped of original detailing and lacked a kitch 18 — Above: The interior had been largely stripped of original detailing and lacked a kitchen, but the entry retained its original stair and Baltic pine floor, which was replicated elsewhere. (Scroll down to see some Before shots.) Whiting used the space under the stairwell for “mechanical services, data, bit of plumbing, hot water—all the things that need to go somewhere”—and she inserted a closet in the well next to the stair.

“The people who sold the house were builders who did a quick fix to patch it up for sale,” Whiting tells us. “They pretty much plastered everything up and put in cheap fittings.” Soma and Tom, she reports, plan to stay put and wanted to reinstate a classical look while incorporating “the requisites of modern domestic life.”

whiting was charged with fitting in a sizable kitchen, plus dining room, l 19 — Above: Whiting was charged with fitting in a sizable kitchen, plus dining room, living room, home office, laundry, and WC on the ground floor, which was 860 square feet, and got extended to 914 square feet.

For a sense of openness, she removed the wall that cut off the entry from what became the kitchen. On the left, three-quarter-height pantry cabinets serve as a partition between kitchen and dining room. On the opposite wall, Whiting inserted a combination powder room and laundry—originally two small rooms converted into one and camouflaged behind a central paneled door with the same trio of peg handles as the pantry cabinets.

the north wall, overlooking the garden, was pushed out to extend the kitchen (s 20 — Above: The north wall, overlooking the garden, was pushed out to extend the kitchen (see floor plan below).

Tom, the builder-owner, loves brick and laid the back wall himself using recycled materials. “There was quite a debate about keeping the brick color,” says Whiting. “I wanted to paint it white. In the end, we left it and I really love it—sometimes you need to be open to input.”

another of whiting&#8\2\17;s space enhancing tactics was to establish 21 — Above: Another of Whiting’s space-enhancing tactics was to establish a materials and color palette and stick to it. Throughout, she introduced wood paneling—”made the old-fashioned way.” And she painted just about everything in Dulux’s Lexicon Quarter, which comes in full, half, and quarter strength (the last is what Whiting used).

The walls are offset by two colors “and no others”: Dulux’s Grey Pebble, shown here on the ash island, puts in an appearance in every room, and all of the house’s dark accents are in a custom-mixed charcoal.

whiting applied clean white ceramic details as a repeating element: the porcela 22 — Above: Whiting applied clean white ceramic details as a repeating element: the Porcelain Cabinet Handles, shown here on the paneled door to the WC-laundry, are by Danish ceramic artist Anne Black (they cleverly double as hooks and come in a range of colors and sizes). Apparatus Studio’s Trapeze Pendant in brass and porcelain hangs over the island.

the range is situated at the end of the marble sink counter with an exha 23 — Above: The range is situated at the end of the marble sink counter with an exhaust vent set in a charcoal-painted cabinet. Concealed behind paneled doors, the fridge and freezer are tucked into the extension. All of the appliances are by Fisher & Paykel. The brass fridge/freezer handles are the Como design from Pittella.

in the dining room, the original fireplace had been replaced by a modern versio 24 — Above: In the dining room, the original fireplace had been replaced by a modern version. Tom and Soma, in turn, replaced that with a mantel dating from the same period as the house. Whiting flanked it with storage cabinets in Dulux’s Grey Pebble that rest on drawers made of American oak.

Whiting notes the dining room furniture—classic bentwood chairs and the owner’s vintage table—is “lightweight to prevent overcrowding.” The pine flooring was wire brushed for texture and finished in a gray to counter the yellowing and “give it more of an oak vibe.”