Love where you live but feel it could use a refresh? Whether it’s the charm of the neighbourhood, the sense of community, or just the comfort of familiarity, your home deserves an update to match your lifestyle today.
When our clients approached us back in 2022, they were in this exact situation. They were keen to establish a home in a family-oriented community that would serve them and their young family. Their home was previously part of an early award-winning development with the Victorian Government. While it offered a large home, separate studio, double garage, good location and great schools, the home was beginning to show its age, at almost 22 years since the original build. The bathrooms were dated, the kitchen was too small for a family of 5, and the home had general wear and tear, both internally and externally.
With plans from an architect, the home underwent a full renovation, adding an extra bedroom and study. Like many people, they assumed they would be able to hire a builder and make their selections along the way. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception, and people often visit 2-3 showroom before feeling overwhelmed and confused about the number of decisions they need to make. This prompted our clients to reach out for help. We were brought in during the framing stages of their build, to assist with the many selections they would need to consider with each space. We worked with them on all areas, from skirting boards, finishes, kitchen, bathroom, and internal joinery design. We worked with our clients to identify any opportunities to improve flow throughout the home.
Exterior Finishes
When living in a community development such as this, sometimes it can be hard to create distinguishing factors which reflect our clients. Colour selection was important to making sure the exterior of their house still fit with the rest of the streetscape. The star of the show was the oversized pivot front door custom made for these clients in solid oak.
Interior Finishes
Preferring a contemporary coastal style for their home, we opted for soft greys, fresh whites, linear profiles and contrasting gunmetal as the metallic element. Our flooring selections included warm engineered timber boards, and loop wool carpet. We used VJ wall panelling, profiled doors, and custom cabinetry, which leaned into the coastal style. Small details like the beautiful custom handrail, and the gunmetal grey hardware and taps throughout helped the space feel clean and contemporary.
Quality and performance of products was a key focus for our clients – they wanted their spaces to look good, but with 3 little boys and a puppy, they wanted their spaces to also stand up to the rough play and day to day comings and goings of a busy family.
Bringing the Spaces to Life
With the build already underway, we had to work quickly with decisions so early on. We opted to collaborate with a 3D visualiser who could bring the spaces to life for our clients. Our clients were instantly provided with an understanding of the spaces we would create for them, and could see how the materials and colour palette worked together. These visuals were invaluable and provided a clear roadmap for the way forward.
3D visualisation: @payaldasanistudio
Open Plan Space
We focused on creating a multifunctional open-plan space for cooking, entertaining, and playtime within view of the parents. With a fully enclosed yard and alfresco area, the clients wanted seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Storage was crucial, so we incorporated compartments for toys, books, shoes, and schoolbags. We ultimately designed a large kitchen with built-in bench seating for both kids and entertaining. Additionally, we added a mudroom with fun hooks and closed storage above and below.
BEFORE
AFTER
Bathroom and Laundry Designs
The bathrooms, while simple, were a highlight in this home. They really brought together the feeling of coastal calm with beautiful organic tiles, paired with the contemporary gunmetal fittings and fixtures.
Our client’s ensuite was by far their favourite room. It featured a stunning mosaic, custom cabinetry, and a double shower with a skylight overhead. While the allocated laundry space was small, we managed to keep it light and bright, including all of the necessities.
BEFORE
AFTER
Study Areas
Catering for a young family with lots of homework to come, our client was keen to create study nooks and we fitted out a generous space on the landing at the top of the stairs. We designed a custom desk, shelving and included an acoustic pinboard for noise control.
Bedrooms
Soft luxe wool carpets and custom wardrobes were added to each bedroom. TLC added furniture pieces , layered bedding and soft window treatments to create the sanctuary feel in the spaces.
BEFORE
AFTER
The End Result
The home came together beautifully and just as our clients intended. They have continued to enjoy their new spaces now better suited to their needs and lifestyle.
Guiding Our Clients Through The Design And Build Process
At MCID, we understand designing and renovating a home is a complex and multifaceted project that requires great teamwork, a solid process and open and honest communication along the way. We work collaboratively with your build team, ensuring we stay ahead of the decisions, so our clients feel in control and engaged the whole way through.
Let us help you transform your space into a home you’ll love.
One of the most common challenges homeowners face is having the right storage solutions. From decluttering small spaces to organising larger areas, finding clever ways to maximise storage is essential for creating a functional and harmonious home environment. In this post, we explore some innovative storage solutions to help you make the most of your space while maintaining a stylish and functional home.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE STORAGE
I’m a big believer that effective storage solutions are the backbone of a well-designed home. Well, thought out storage can help keep clutter at bay, but it also contributes to a sense of order and calm in your living spaces. I always encourage clients to invest the time in planning their household storage when renovating, refreshing, or building. This up- front planning helps ensure any investment you make in storage streamline your daily routines and create a more enjoyable living experience for you and your family.
TAILORED STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY SPACE
It really doesn’t matter whether you’re dealing with a small apartment, a spacious house, or anything in between, there are plenty of storage solutions to suit your needs. Here are some of our tried and tested favourites to consider:
1. CUSTOM BUILT-INS
Custom built-in cabinets, shelves, and closets are an excellent way to maximize storage while seamlessly integrating with your home’s architecture and design aesthetic. When working with clients, we spend time understanding how they like things to function and then recommend built in storage according to their needs and habits. We can also recommend systems to help your home life function more effortlessly. Whether it be optimising hanging space inside of your robes, or where you position hampers in a laundry. Custom built-ins are a worthwhile investment if designed well.
2. MULTI-FUNCTIONAL FURNITURE
Investing in multi-functional furniture pieces can help you make the most of limited space. Look for ottomans with hidden storage compartments, coffee tables with built-in drawers, and beds with under-bed storage to maximise every square inch of your home.
3. WALL-MOUNTED STORAGE
Wall-mounted shelves, hooks, and racks are a great way to free up floor space and keep your belongings organized and accessible. Consider installing a pegboard in your kitchen for hanging pots, pans, and utensils, or adding floating shelves in your living room to display books, artwork, and decorative objects. One of our favourite shelving systems is the timeless String® Pocket System – perfect because it’s lightweight yet sturdy and simple to assemble and put up and can be combined to create larger units.
4. ROBE ORGANISATION SYSTEMS
These days organising your wardrobe has become an art form. Utilising TikTok and online retailers like Amazon, you can easily transform your closets into efficient storage spaces with custom shelves, drawers, and hanging rods to maximize vertical storage and keep clothing, shoes, and accessories neatly organized and easily accessible.
5. STORAGE ON SHOW
Storage ladders, hooks and racks have come a long way from only being functional. Often, they are a stylish addition to a room and act as a decorative piece. These types of solutions work well in bedrooms and entry ways to display your functional day to day items in a stylish way. The trick here is to ensure you use your pieces as intended – A coat rack with a couple of coats can look effective but a coat rack that has been smothered in coats and hats can feely cluttered and messy. Our go. To for stylish storage is Design stuff – so many options to choose from!
WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL
While DIY storage solutions can be effective, working with a professional interior designer can take your home’s organisation to the next level. An interior designer brings a trained eye and a wealth of expertise to the table, helping you identify your storage needs, optimise your space, and create storage solutions that are both beautiful and functional. Whether you’re renovating your entire home or simply looking to reorganize a single room, an interior designer can provide valuable insights, creative ideas, and expert guidance every step of the way.
We often take our living areas for granted and over time they can look a little tired and worn. Whether they be a place where you relax, binge your favourite show, or connect with friends and family, creating a living space that is comfortable and stylish is achievable. Here are our top tips to give your living room a makeover:
PLAY AROUND WITH YOUR LAYOUT
I like to experiment with different furniture arrangements to find the perfect setup that suits your lifestyle. Consider the flow of conversation, the focal point for TV viewing, and ensure there’s a seat for everyone, including your furry friends. A well-thought-out layout increases functionality and creates a welcoming atmosphere.
MIX + MATCH FURNITURE
I love to Inject personality into your space by mixing up coffee tables, side tables, and ottomans. Don’t be afraid to get creative and swap pieces between rooms to keep things fresh and exciting. Incorporating different furniture in different shapes, textures and colours adds character to your living room.
EMBRACE SMART STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Storage is my secret weapon in any home. It really is true what they say about visual clutter leading to mental overwhelm so in the living room, I like to maximise storage options to keep clutter at bay and maintain a sense of calm. If you have built-in cabinetry, organise the space into categories allowing a drawer or cupboard for tech gadgets, children’s toys, and decorative pieces. For those with limited storage, invest in multifunctional furniture like entertainment units or sideboards paired with stylish bookshelves and strategically placed baskets.
CONSIDERED LIGHTING
Lighting can really impact the mood and energy of a space, so I work on a lighting plan that combines natural light during the day with ambient lighting in the evening. I try and maximise daylight exposure by keeping windows unobstructed and complement it with table lamps or floor lamps for reading nooks and accentuate special art pieces with directional lighting.
LAYER TEXTURE AND SOFT FURNISHINGS
I often find this is an area people neglect, but you can elevate the look and comfort level of your living room by layering textures and soft furnishings. I always have a variety of cushions, throws, blankets, and rugs to add depth and dimension to your space. I rotate through different looks in line with the seasons using heavier textures in the colder months and lighter textures like linens in the warmer times.
ADD A PERSONAL TOUCH
We spend so much time in our living rooms, they really are the perfect place to add sentimental pieces, family photographs, or curated art pieces that you can enjoy. My only advice is to do it sparingly, pick a few of your favourites to showcase and then rotate through your pieces.
CONNECT TO NATURE
While keeping plants alive is not my strength, I love indoor plants in a living space or at least being able to see greenery from the window. There is something both energising and calming about it. I bet you didn’t know some plants even assist with absorption of the electromagnetic radiation so choosing succulents and cacti which are easier to look after can also be beneficial for our health!
SMELLS AND SOUNDS
My design philosophy around this one is that often it’s the scent of a room or the music playing that can draw you into a space. Having a few different scents in the form of room sprays, candles, burners, or diffusers allows you to create different moods conducive to whatever activity is happening in the space. When relaxing, reading, or having visitors over, pick a soundtrack that helps create the mood, both these elements are often underutilised in bringing life into a space, yet they can have a significant impact.
Why not take the opportunity to reimagine your living room the next time you have a free weekend and create a beautiful functional living room that improves your home life.
Working with a home that has good bones can often mean that as a designer, we can update and repurpose rather than having to start from scratch. That was the case with this grand Lilydale home. Our clients had done a beautiful renovation around 15 years ago when the kids were young and were now ready to update their home mixing classic and contemporary elements. We drew on the architecture of the home to inform the style going with a modern farmhouse look. Also key to the design was the need for more layers as the current home while beautiful had a minimalist feel.
Our concept focused on creating a grounded, warm and inviting home. We wanted to give each space purpose and create destinations throughout the home that our clients could enjoy for many years to come. Collaborating closely with TLC Interiors we worked through the interiors, room by room to review each space.
We started by updating the colour palette and re-staining the floors, so they were less shiny and orange. Opting for a walnut/charcoal tone gave the space a grounding element with beautiful warmth. We chose a Bremworth wool loop pile carpet in a warm grey colour for soft luxury and easy maintenance. The walls were updated from creamy yellow tones to a soft grey-beige with a crisp white contrast. The other little detail that had a big impact, was the updating of the cabinetry hardware- changing the knob from silver to a black provided a subtle connection between classic and contemporary elements which was repeated throughout the home.
In the kitchen, the cabinetry was in great shape so we focused on updating the splashback and benchtops. We added a new sink and tap to give this space new life and TLC Interiors added some stunning feature pendants which became a real focal point in this space.
The original living room had a fireplace surrounded by some boxed bookshelves either side. We kept the bottom storage in this cabinetry and designed an open arch shelf area with integrated lighting to tie into arch windows in the home . These shelves were one of our favourite parts of this renovation and provided the home a more contemporary feel.
The bathrooms and laundries were fully renovated to provide more functional and up to date spaces. We opted for a mix of classic and contemporary style with the selection of Carrara marble feature tiles matched with a large format tile for practicality. The Brodware range of tapware was the perfect selection for these spaces. In the laundry, we added additional storage with above head cupboards and a beautiful splashback of handmade tiles. The powder room enjoyed a mini makeover with wallpaper and a new feature wall light and splashback linking it to the main bathroom.
Finally, the beautiful furniture selection, layering and decor throughout the home by TLC Interiors . They were able to easily balance the client’s needs of making the spaces feel warm and inviting while keeping them uncluttered. They selected the most tranquil but impactful art pieces and used texture throughout to deliver soft and inviting spaces with new life.
We hope you love the transformation as much as we do. To see more on this project click here.
Want to renovate and enjoy the process – the secret is in the upfront planning. If you are planning a renovation, here are our top 5 tips to help you enjoy the journey.
GET CLEAR ON YOUR GOALS
When we start thinking about renovating our homes, we are usually working towards a “wishlist”, often inspired by online scrolling, a magazine, favourite holiday or home show. It’s rare, at this stage, to be thinking of constraints like budget and priorities. I would suggest noting down your wish list, then work through “A day in the life in your household” What are the priority areas? What improvements will enhance your lifestyle?
FIND YOUR “A” TEAM:
The usual starting place for people is to engage with an architect, builder or draftsperson. I would recommend taking the time to meet face to face to see if you are the right fit and understand if they will be able to help you meet your design goals. Referrals are usually a good way to do this for building however if you are starting fresh, try asking for recommendations on a local social media group. Key questions to ask when engaging your “A” team
How many jobs do you work on at once?
How will you be communicating throughout the renovation
Insurances and licensing
Ask about viewing past projects and talking to previous clients
Often this team of people are part of your life for 12- 24 months so you want to ensure you have an open and honest working relationship with clear expectations and boundaries on both sides.
MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS EARLY
I have heard it too many times before, “We’ll just workout the selections along the way.” The more time you invest in doing the work upfront, the more likely you are to meet your budget and timeline while also having a good renovation experience. If you struggle to visualise how the selections will come together, this is where an interior designer can really help. From turning your goals into a visual concept and then working through each area with you. Joinery design, material and colour selections, even thinking about the skirting, architraves, door handles. With 200+ decisions to make on a full home renovation –decision fatigue is real, With an interior designer on your side you can avoid making any costly or permanent mistakes.
MOVE OUT
If you are doing a larger renovation, consider making room in your budget for a temporary move to another location. This allows the construction team full access to your home, and they can focus on getting the job done and scheduling trades more dynamically. Often when clients stay in the home, the builder will need to be sensitive to the clients’ movements which can minimise their workdays. Clients have also reported back that it can be stressful having people in their space all the time can often be frustrating no matter how good the relationship.
REGULAR CHECKINS
Communication is Key! When you first sign up your team, decide on the best way to communicate with them and a regular check in time, it may be a weekly site meeting or a fortnightly email for general updates and decisions. Whatever you decide on, stick to it so you can minimise issues, manage risks and check progress in the right direction. We recommend a fortnightly email update to keep everything in writing, Calls followed by an email for any urgent issues and a monthly review of budget and timeline for a longer-term project.
In summary, it’s important to remember that the average person probably renovates 2-3 times over their lifetime and often with long breaks in-between. This is where working with an interior designer can save you money and time. Having access our knowledge, expertise and connection to our supplier network can really set you up for success. If you need advice about an up-and-coming renovation/ build, contact us here
Marti
My passion for interiors has been there from a young age and while I pursued other career options to begin with – I always found myself looking for a creative angle in all my work. The combination of the creative and having an extensive background in business and project management has been the perfect combination for me to develop logical strategies for problem solving and navigating the design and build process.
HERITAGE MASTERCLASS: featured in Home Beautiful Magazine
Tips on bringing your heritage home into the 21st century – a contemporary renovation.
