There was always a lot to like about this ’70s off-the-plan home in Melbourne, Australia. For owners Angela and Xavier, the double-height ceilings and sun-drenched spaces were a drawcard when they bought the four-bedder in 2013. But, 10 years on, they had well and truly outgrown its awkward layout.

“There were definitely issues with flow, and there were rooms we weren’t fully utilizing,” Angela explains. “Over time it became clear that the small bedrooms were going to be a problem as our two kids went from being young children to teenagers, and some of the living spaces, particularly the kitchen, were not suited to modern life.”

While they were ready for a revamp, they didn’t want to gut the home and start from scratch. “We were conscious about retaining elements of the house and not just getting rid of things because we could,” Angela says, pointing out that original features such as the high ceilings, terra-cotta tiles, and timber staircase could “stand the test of time.”

In 2017, the couple called out to Angela’s childhood friend Jane Caught of Heliotope Studio to guide the renovation, although the project didn’t break ground until a few years later. “During Covid, they came back with a completely new brief,” Caught recalls. “I essentially redesigned the project from the perspective of how to make your house your world.”

The pandemic had altered the family’s priorities: They wanted spaces where they could connect as a family and retreat privately, and Angela and Xavier each needed their own home office.

At the same time, the limitations of the pandemic were influencing Caught’s perspective on sustainable and regenerative design. “It was so hard to get a builder, and prices really ballooned at that point,” she says, “so it was the perfect time to start to implement this idea of maintaining what is there, like the terra-cotta tiles, rather than always going to brand new, virgin materials.”

With a focus on enhancing the footprint rather than expanding, Caught’s design turned the existing study into two soundproofed offices and sacrificed a bedroom in favor of three larger personal spaces, one with a luxurious en suite for the parents. “We made a lot of moves that weren’t typically a real estate agent’s definition of what you should do, but they made the home much more livable,” Caught says.

While they flirted with replacing the original staircase with an on-trend spiral design, they ultimately decided to embrace the original and upgrade it with a custom metal balustrade. “It’s a beautiful timber staircase with just a garnish of metal flourish,” Caught says.

Opening up the kitchen and installing a large island bench was a key part of the design that “centers the whole house,” Caught says. But it’s the luminescent copper countertops and cabinetry that are the real star of the renovation.

“We were looking at what metal tones for tapware would fit with the terra-cotta tiles, and it seemed like a logical step to explore,” says Caught of the bold decision, adding that they considered marble, tile, and timber too. “In the end we went with copper because we felt that it would look beautiful with the terra-cotta, and the value of the material meant that it would definitely be used at the end of life.”

“Renovations can end up looking very similar, and I just wanted something a little bit different,” Angela adds. “Once we saw the copper, we were like, yeah, definitely!”

The copper was a splurge—metalwork for the house, including the kitchen cabinetry, stairway, hall stand, and wardrobe—was $45,355 (about $29,174 USD). Angela says they considered pairing the metal countertops with laminate cupboards to save on cost, but in the end they decided to go all-in. “We just made the judgement that it was worth investing in. And it’s certainly made an impact,” she says. “It’s a living thing, and it is like having a pet that needs a lot of attention, but the way it changes with the light throughout the day and in different seasons is quite fascinating.”

$13,989 Site Work	$52,370 Structural	$31,960 Wall Finishes
$23,062 Flooring	$50,245 Electrical	$50,725 Plumbing
$7,500 HVAC Equipment	$1,700 Landscaping	$779 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
$147,581 Cabinetry	$10,000 Countertops	$79,628 Windows & Glazing
$2,250 Doors	$35,345 Tilework	$45,355 Metalwork
$39,393 Furnishings & Decor	$45,000 Permitting	$69,000 Architect Fee
$20,000 Demolition
Grand Total: $725,882 AUD (Approximately $466,920 USD)

They also splashed out on a small study nook above the kitchen for their 13-year-old daughter. Although it cost about $20,000 ($12,865 USD) to include, the Juliet balcony–style space has helped the family connect in a unique way. “Our daughter uses it a lot for drawing and will often pipe up to add to conversations down below,” Angela says.

The budget—originally around half a million—was in constant flux as the pandemic affected availability of labor and materials. The overhaul also revealed some structural issues with the house, such as missing joists in the timber frame, termite damage, and asbestos, which needed to be addressed to ensure the longevity of the home.

To balance it out, Angela says they focused on nonnegotiables, like their luxurious en suite and a separate bathroom for the kids, and relegated other details, like external blinds, to install at a later date. Their builder and Caught also helped by suggesting where they could minimize the scope. For instance, rather than have two built-in wardrobes with copper cladding in the main bedroom, they pulled back to just one, painting the other a complementary burgundy color instead.

The revamped home isn’t just serving the family better, it’s bringing them together. “The entire ground floor is now a landscape of different areas that are all visually connected, and you can be adjacent to each other, doing different things,” Caught says. “The interplay of that works really well.”

“We use every inch of the house now,” Angela says in agreement. “Our day-to-day lives are definitely more connected.”

More Budget Breakdown stories:

How an Architect Built a Family Home in Tasmania for $72K

With $240K, a Couple Returned Their Florida Midcentury to Its Former Glory

After a $322K Revamp, an Australian Beach House Fends Off Flooding

Project Credits:

Architect: Jane Caught, Heliotope / @heliotope_studio

Builder: Rosa & Co Fitouts

Metalwork: Michael Gittings Studio

Joinery: Willoughby and Fahy

Engineer: Sanstone Engineering