‘This project felt less like a generic house renovation and more like an artistically focused endeavour,’ Indulge Renovations interior designer Emily Wedrien says of this delightful renovation in Fitzroy North.

The brief asked to reimagine the kitchen, bathroom and laundry at the rear of the 1920s house, which featured a blend of both Edwardian and California bungalow detailing.

At about 35 square metres, the space offered limited options in terms of layout, but the existing bulky overhead cabinetry, white tiles, and black benchtop had a rather austere energy that was at odds with the home’s heritage character.

The client’s vision was to turn it into a warm and welcoming space fit for entertaining. Her must-haves were to incorporate blush-pink tones, some kind of built-in bench seating, and an island bench where she could effortlessly interact with friends and family.

‘She has an eye for design, both because she is a business owner specialising in unique homewares and crockery, as well as having several pieces of interesting art in her existing home,’ Emily adds.

In fact, one of the owner’s paintings, Still Life of Hydrangeas by Rebecca James, helped drive the colour palette for the entire project.

‘At first glance, the piece is rich with colour, yet it remains unexpectedly calming. Each hue feels considered and harmonious, creating a sense of quiet cohesion rather than visual noise,’ Emily says.

An original archway now leads to the transformed space, where a central, pink-tiled island bench meets the pine flooring. On the splashback, new sage-coloured Japanese tiles are layered with Calacatta Verde marble on the expansive L-shaped benchtop, as abundant timber joinery hides integrated appliances.

A large picture window was also installed above the sink to frame views of the garden outside, while bi-folding doors allow natural sunlight to fill the space.

But the real unsung hero of the renovation is the curved banquette seat that extends into the kitchen joinery, which successfully softens the transition between zones, encourages conversation and eliminates any sense of underutilised space.

‘We’d discussed throughout the design process that traditionally, kitchens can feel off-limits to guests but wanted the space to be fully inclusive — encouraging movement, gathering, and interaction, with no defined boundaries between user and visitor,’ Emily says.

‘When the project was complete, I sat there with the client (and her dog Peggy, of course), enjoying a nibble and some bubbles, simply taking it all in.

‘It was one of those moments where you truly appreciate what’s been created together — and honestly, neither of us wanted to leave!’