St Kilda West by Lucy Clemenger Architects and Studio Stamp

As a collaborative effort, owner and interior designer Sophie of Studio Stamp worked closely with Lucy Clemenger Architects to carefully bring the old and new together, refreshing the previous and ensuring the new retained a shared warmth and soul. Both a renovation and extension effort, St Kilda West aims to connect across time and ensure the existing character is brought forward, while the expression of openness is felt throughout the home. Needing to accommodate social gatherings and entertaining, ensuring the rear connected living zone could naturally flow out onto the landscaped deck and yard was an important decider for how the home functioned.

The resulting series of spaces aim to create a continuum of expression throughout the home, capturing the personalities of its custodians and allowing for personalisation over time.

Built by Morcon Developments, St Kilda West sits with direct access to Jacoby Reserve, and optimising this connection formed an integral part of the brief. Originally built in the 1890s, the Federation-era home needed to be retained, celebrating its features while also elevating it to feel connected and as an extension of the proposed addition. Through the infusion of colour, curated lighting, artwork and furniture, the two eras of the home feel equally expressive and connected. Marking the transition between the two, a concealed stair and power room sit at the threshold, while the master suite is quietly tucked away on the upper level.

Needing to accommodate a dedicated home office, master suite and robe on the upper level, an open living, dining and kitchen area sit comfortably below. The clear and open volume on the lower levels allows for visual and audio access throughout the space, while allowing for flexibility as needed. A consistent underfoot timber runs throughout and connects the old and new, while terracotta, natural stone and green tiles further add warmth. Unlike the muted nature of the rest of the home, an immersive, rich layering of blues encases the formal living room in the heritage portion of the home, as its own destination away from the pull of the shared living area. Through a shared love of timber, the team combines with restraint to ensure a fresh overarching contemporary feel is experienced throughout.

Drawing on the character of the existing and the clean lines of the new, Lucy Clemenger Architects and Studio Stamp’s St Kilda West emerges with charm and personality, openly connected and welcoming of its residents and occasional influx of visitors.