When Amber Downie and builder Aaron Ronaldson first walked through their Brighton East home, it was in a state of complete disrepair.

‘Sadly, it had not been maintained for many years and was totally unliveable. I have no doubt it would have scared most people off, but we instantly saw the potential,’ Amber says.

While the beautiful Victorian facade remained intact, the gardens and interiors required significant work. Perhaps that’s why it was destined to fall into the hands of the couple, who had plenty of construction experience thanks to Aaron’s business, Elwood Building Co.

The first step was restoring the exterior and the front four bedrooms of the original period home, converting one bedroom into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.

‘From there, we wanted to maximise the potential of the block, so we cleared the remaining backyard and driveway to make way for a new extension, pool, and studio,’ Amber says.

‘As a family that loves to entertain, creating a bright and spacious kitchen and living area was a priority. The new addition opens seamlessly onto the sunny backyard, providing the perfect space for entertaining while meeting the needs of our family’s day-to-day lifestyle.’

In addition to honouring the home’s heritage at the front of the residence, the owner-builders took a more playful approach to the interiors.

A palette of ‘unexpected’ yet low-maintenance materials — brushed oak floors, tumbled brass tapware, and off-white walls — created the robust backdrop that will withstand the years ahead with young kids running around.

It also meant the couple could have some fun with the home’s styling, embracing statement pieces and plenty of art from Australian furniture brand Fenton & Fenton. In the open-plan living space, the Strut Dining Chairs and the Daydreamer Lounge provide contrasting hues of sangria and garnet against the dusty peach micro-cement island bench.

Blue became another accent, appearing in the bathroom tiles, the bedroom’s eye-catching Forma Dhurrie rug and in the Moroccan-inspired outdoor setting, complete with a tiled pool.

‘We wanted our love of colour to be reflected throughout our home, so we weren’t afraid to make bold choices,’ Amber says.

‘With such a large living area, creating a feature fireplace was a must. The mustard gloss tiles have a ’70s feel, an era full of inspiration! They certainly make a statement and act as a focal point within the space, while still being surprisingly versatile and easy to pair with other colours and soft furnishings.’

The most astonishing part is that the savvy couple were able to bring their vision to life within a ‘crazy five-month’ timeline.

‘We set ourselves the goal of moving in before Christmas, with our baby due early December,’ Aaron says. ‘It was two months to restore the original Victorian home and three months to complete the new extension. There’s nothing like having a baby on the way to get things moving!’

Explore the furniture, lighting, artwork and styling details from Fenton & Fenton that brought the Brighton East Project to life here.