CLARKE STREET

Melbourne — Personal ResidencePhotography — Reannon Smith

A 1920s Californian Bungalow, reimagined.

Some projects are professional. This one was personal.

"When designing my own home, I start with one thing I cannot live without — a feature light, a beautiful object, a piece I'm completely drawn to. Then I layer colours and finishes around it, always thinking about the bigger picture and how I want the space to feel."

That philosophy shaped every decision at Clarke Street. Oversized skylights and highlight windows dissolve the boundary between inside and out, framing treetop views like living artwork. Recycled bricks and polished concrete ground the home in sustainability and quiet strength. A soaring cathedral ceiling anchors the open plan living — generous, light-filled, and completely calm.

The path wasn't without its challenges. A neighbour's objection over second storey overshadowing threatened to derail the project entirely. After weeks of navigating council, the truth emerged — it was the original 1920s structure causing the shadow, not our extension. A reminder that good design is worth fighting for, and that patience is part of the process.

One of the smallest homes we've renovated — yet every bit as cosy, functional and beautiful to live in.

An old soul, brought into the modern era.

Design — Sarah Wood Designs. Photography — Reannon Smith

Bright dining room with round wooden table, velvet and wooden chairs, a white bowl of oranges, a hanging pendant light from house of orange, a framed ocean photo on the wall, and a skylight letting in natural light.
Modern open-concept living space with a kitchen, dining area, and sliding glass door leading outside, featuring travetine island, light wood cabinetry, a beige sectional sofa, and decorative plants.

"I start with one thing I cannot live without — then layer colours and finishes around it, always thinking about how I want the space to feel."

A modern bathroom vanity with a wooden cabinet, marble countertop, white sink, and a gold wall-mounted faucet. There is a beige soap dispenser on the countertop and a towel hanging on the side.
Modern bathroom with a white freestanding bathtub, latte coloured tiled walls and floor, a small wooden stool with bath products, a window with natural light, and a glass shower door.
A bedroom with a vintage pink bedspread and velvet pillows, a black nightstand with a green dome-shaped lamp, a large mirror with an ornate frame, and a triangular window near the ceiling letting in natural light.
A cozy corner of a room with a beige armchair covered with a white fur throw, a black pillow, a brown leather ottoman, part of a modern blue cabinetry, and a closet with clothes hanging.

"Good design is worth fighting for. Patience is part of the process."

Modern bathroom vanity with black faucet, rectangular mirror, black and white framed art, black bottles, and spherical wall lights, dark tiled walls, small window with trees outside.
A bright heritage hallway with limed wooden floors and white walls, leading to a room with potted plants and a large window.

"One of the smallest homes we've renovated — yet every bit as cosy, functional and beautiful to live in."

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