Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

A Cramped Melbourne Victorian Gets an Earthy Refresh Inspired by the Australian Bush

A Cramped Melbourne Victorian Gets an Earthy Refresh Inspired by the Australian Bush

Designer Kim Kneipp revamps a dark, 1890s home with clever storage solutions and custom joinery made of recycled wood.

After waiting five years to find out if their home was going to be destroyed by the construction of a proposed freeway, two sisters and their friend finally got the go-ahead to renovate the Victorian they share in the leafy suburb of Kensington in Melbourne, Australia. The residents followed up with designer Kim Kneipp, who had done some restyling work on the late 19th-century dwelling years prior. The brief was simple: Reconfigure the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom to improve circulation, bring in more natural light, and make the home more sustainable.



During the initial renovation, Kneipp designed floor-to-ceiling shelving in the dining room, which "removed a lot of the clutter they had [and] started to transform the way they lived," Kneipp says. This time around, custom joinery was also central to the revamp.



Due to a combination of budget constraints and the desire to avoid further delays by applying for building permits, Kneipp worked entirely within the home’s existing footprint. The designer rotated the kitchen 90 degrees, moved a boarded-up window, and cut back an internal wall to create a clear sight line to the courtyard. She also built a curved kitchen island with a concealed bar, as well as a wooden ladder attached to a brass rail that provides access to the ceiling-height white Laminex storage cupboards.



To make the home more sustainable, Kneipp replaced the existing gas burners with an induction stove and traded an oversize bathtub for a deep-but compact-cedar soaking tub. The kitchen island and cabinets are made of recycled timber, taking cue from the wooden bookcase that Kneipp installed during the home’s first restyling.



"Because we knew they were such nature lovers and campers, my very first inspiration for the renovation was the Australian bush," says Kneipp. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and a shortage of materials forced the designer to rethink the palette. Though the inspiration remained the same, Kneipp ended up using slightly darker, more intense greens, browns, and grays.



In the laundry room, for example, the designer chose a saturated shade of aloe vera green to clad the built-in storage cabinets. The bathroom combines natural wood joinery with forest-green tiles, charcoal-gray flooring, brass fixtures, and a pressed metal ceiling to evoke a design reminiscent of a Japanese onsen with Art Deco and Victorian influences.



"[The palette] sort of tells the story of going from the trunks of the trees in the kitchen, through to the canopy in the laundry room, and then stepping out into an airy combination in the bathroom," Kneipp says. "[The residents] absolutely love it. I don’t think I’ve ever had as many out-and-out compliments from clients."


Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
×