Victorian School Turned Into Eclectic Vintage Home by avocado sweets.
Open-plan living is hard to come by in properties with mezzanines because of the fire risks involved. Using a state-of-the-art misting system, we fulfilled our clients’ dream of a large, stylish open-plan kitchen in this converted Victorian school house apartment. Brimming with potential, the apartment needed an overhaul of the living space and a cohesive platform to display our clients’ eclectic collection of vintage pieces.
The problem: The overall design of the conversion had left two grand inter-connected living rooms with a small, windowless box kitchen and two bedrooms on an open mezzanine, exposed to the noise and light downstairs. With their first baby on the way, our clients wanted to create a better family space where they could enjoy cooking and entertaining and extra child-friendly living space for their new addition. Our musician client also wanted excellent soundproofing to avoid disturbing the neighbours.
Avocado Sweets solution: We re-configured the existing space to create a stunning kitchen and lounge area, turning the previous windowless kitchen into a walk-in wardrobe. We added an extra bedroom on the mezzanine and closed the space with stylish shutters for privacy, peace and safety. Two staircases were changed to broaden the living space and allow extra head height for our tall client. An entrance hall was created to give the apartment a family home feel and reduce the piano noise in the building’s communal areas. We sound-proofed the ceiling and installed a new innovative fire prevention system to allow for grand open-plan living.
Design highlights:
Kitchen: With cooking and entertaining a priority, we created a large kitchen with an island unit/breakfast bar made out of a vintage chest belonging to our client. The white doors allow a blank canvas for the colourful custom-made colander lights to stand out. Wooden worktops and the warm wooden floor keep the kitchen homely while exposed metal conduit for the electric fittings (such as wall lights and sockets) give an industrial edge and create a more urban feel.
Living room: To make the most of the high ceilings we used Plumen lighting with 12 low-energy bulbs that are height adjustable, long-life (to avoid tricky bulb changes), and flexible, allowing us to divide them into different circuits to create different lighting levels for mood. The windows are dressed in three colour curtains to accentuate the sense of space. Our clients’ fabulous collection of vintage radios is shown in their full glory as a wall feature set against striking yellow wallpaper.
Client testimonial:
“Working with Evros and Avocado Sweets was a real pleasure from the get go. We were really pleased with how he worked so hard to understand our vision . He made our house, which started as an open plan apartment, into a home without losing the feeling of space and while making sure our personalities come through in the design. He really listened to our ideas while bringing many of his own which we embraced gladly. We especially loved the fact that he wasn’t afraid to think out-of-the-box. He is one of the most courteous men to work with, always giving prompt replies to all correspondence and being clear with his communication. We really appreciated the level of professionalism that came from Evros himself and how that was reflected in the team of people he got to work on the project. Over all, it was a really satisfying and fun experience. There were hurdles but made all the more easy to cross thanks to the skills which Evros brought. The home we have now is everything we dreamed of. Everyday we wake up and feel happy to be living here.” – Charlie and Florene.
