10 Of Our All-Time Favourite Victorian Terrace Renovations
Architecture
Emie sofa by CLO Studios. Coffee table from Rachel Donath. Vase from Jardan. Rug by Milk & Sugar. Art by Jesse Cleay. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
The pastel yellow terrace caught Nikki Keijzer and Tom Gibson’s eye from the first visit. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
Vintage dining chairs and second-hand travertine dining table. Vase from Casa by Carolina. Art by Jesse Cleay. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Annie Portelli.
A Sunshine-Yellow Sydney Terrace That Sparks Joy
This charming Sydney terrace was advertised as ‘The Yellow House’ when it came up for sale in Paddington a few years ago.
After the initial sale fell through, it fortunately ended up in the hands of banker Tom Gibson and lawyer Nikki Keijzer — whose favourite colour just happened to be yellow!
Now, the owners are on a mission to make the interiors glow with the same warm energy as its sunny exterior.
TRW Terrace by Studio Manifold is a renovation in South Yarra, Melbourne. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
The garage was reimagined to comfortably fit two cars. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
The walk-in wardrobe leads to the ensuite. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
Bi-fold doors open the kitchen completely to the courtyard for natural light. Photo – Trainos Pakioufakis.
A Victorian Terrace Where Every Room Has Its Own Playful Colour Palette
Classic Victorian bones meet unabashedly creative interiors in this Melbourne terrace house after a renovation by Studio Manifold.
The designers approached the colour palette room by room, allowing for a distinctly different energy as you move through each space — ranging from the calming blue living room to the modern stainless-steel kitchen!
A masterful Surry Hills terrace renovation by Akin Atelier. Photo – Tim Salisbury.
The rear courtyard with the addition clad in custom fluting. HAY Palissade Table and Palissade Dining Armchair from Cult. Photo – Tim Salisbury.
The exposed hardwood joists emphasise the handmade reference to the area’s industrial and creative past. Artworks: In Case of An Emergency Ask An Old Person by Daimon Downey (Saint Cloche). Photo – Tim Salisbury.
Timber shutters provide privacy from the street. Photo – Tim Salisbury.
A Sophisticated Sydney Terrace With Soul
Amongst rows of Sydney’s inner-city terraces, this house stands out from the moment you step inside.
Rather than pursuing a full restoration to revive the home’s character, Akin Atelier used its fragmented state to inspire a new narrative, using warm materials and unexpected details across the soulful interiors.
Mess Hall by Architecture architecture is a reimagined family terrace in Melbourne. The flexible living and kitchen area is referred to as the ‘Main Hall’, where mobile benches accommodate ‘crafternoons’, and activities. Photo – Tom Ross.
A Light-Filled Terrace Designed For The ‘Mess’ Of Modern Family Life
In Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs, this quaint 1870s Victorian terrace has been transformed into a unique haven for the daily rhythms of family life.
The owners engaged Architecture architecture to create a flexible home that would come alive at the end of the school day, with an open-plan ground floor that feels like a welcoming ‘mess hall’.
It’s part living room, part library, with plenty of room for activities, and a garden studio — all with views of a sunny courtyard.
A renovation by Porebski Architects. ‘The Gathering’ by Marisa Purcell (enquiries to Day 01 Gallery). ‘Sea Spray’ and ‘Tidal Pool’ ceramics by Katarina Wells (enquiries to Curatorial & Co). Photo – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Alexandra Gordon.
The architects restored the front of the house with new porch tiles and paint. Photo – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Alexandra Gordon.
Photo – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Alexandra Gordon.
A Picture-Perfect Paddington Terrace Revival
This 1890s Victorian terrace in Paddington already had wow-factor, it just needed more thoughtful interiors to match.
After several years in the home, the owners engaged Porebski Architects for a full renovation to refresh some tired spaces and improve its overall flow.
The long and narrow layout has been optimised, ensuring the view takes centre stage at every opportunity.
A long custom island bench was designed to include an adjoining dining table. Bowl and vase from Pepite. Artwork on left by Eleanor Louise Butt. Photo – Dan Preston. Styling – Elizabeth Bird.
The charming restored exterior. Photo – Dan Preston. Styling – Elizabeth Bird.
Photo – Dan Preston. Styling – Elizabeth Bird.
A Unique Terrace That Cleverly Maximises Space On A Narrow Block
When it comes to working with narrow inner-city plots, Healy Ryan Architects director Tom Healy says the design is often informed by the challenges of the site.
This Victorian terrace in South Melbourne is a shining example of how clever thinking can overcome these hurdles to unlock a home’s potential — even when it’s on an ‘extremely narrow’ block.
Steps link the yellow-coloured kitchen into the living area. Photo – Martin Siegner.
Timber-framed glass doors open the living ‘pavilion’ to the courtyard garden. Photo – Martin Siegner.
House in Surry Hills by Studio George. Photo – Martin Siegner.
A small courtyard and the rear gardens envelop the floorplan in greenery. Photo – Martin Siegner.
A Sydney Terrace House With A Surprisingly Fun Renovation
In this Surry Hills terrace, Architect George took an experimental approach to transform what was initially an unliveable 1880s Victorian into a home for owners who’d lived their whole lives in apartments, and longed for a playful space that could ‘heighten their mood’.
And the resulting residence is a masterclass in architectural expression.
Inside Fitzroy Laneway House designed by Andrew Child Architect. Photo – Tom Ross.
A Quintessential Fitzroy Terrace That Makes The Most Of Its Narrow Laneway
From the street, architect Andrew Child’s own Melbourne family home appears like any other single-fronted terrace in its neighbourhood.
But his renovations have turned a narrow laneway into an extension of the elegant Victorian, hidden behind a discreet black addition.
This innovative expansion made room for a central courtyard and lush greenery, a free-standing studio at the rear, as recycled red brick and robust materials combine to create an adaptable home that feels quintessentially Fitzroy.
Annalisa Ferraris’ Paddington home. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Sarah Hendriks.
The leafy view from the upper level. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Sarah Hendriks.
The dining space. Romance is a place artwork by Annalisa Ferraris. Anduze pots imported from France. Marble bust from Lawsons Auctioneers. Photo – Milly Mead. Editorial Styling – Sarah Hendriks.
Before + After: An Artist’s Terrace That Feels Like A Fancy Hotel
Sydney-based artist Annalisa Ferraris and Smokebush Studio landscape designer Nathan White felt like they’d ‘struck gold’ when they came across a dated, but light-filled, 1880s terrace in Paddington.
The creative couple has since put their own spin on the Victorian home, drawing inspiration from old-world hotels in Europe to create dreamy personal details — like a blue bar designed for serving martinis, to the kitchen that feels like it’s straight out of a French bistro!
Haiku House by Kim Kneipp Studio and Steffen Welsch Architects. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
The kitchen looks out into a light-filled courtyard. New Volumes Cove Chair and Echo table by Artedomus. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
Baskets from Pan After. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
The glass balustrade for the staircase is reminiscent of shoji screens. Photo – Martina Gemmola.
Japanese Flair Meets Heritage Character In This Family Terrace
The owners behind this heritage-listed terrace in Brunswick East, Melbourne, have a soft spot for terraces.
Having originally met in a similar three-storey sharehouse back in their twenties, the couple were delighted to find a Victorian residence to call home once again — this time, as a sanctuary for their young family.
Renovated with help from Kim Kneipp, the 1890s terrace house now features Japanese-inspired flair and light-filled spaces inside.