The Armadale House by Newline Design

Once you enter the glass box entry vestibule the transition into the house is now far more relaxed. The introduction of a curved wall opened up the hallway and transition into living area, with the views into the north facing garden. The house was a dilapidated weatherboard Victorian and was in a disastrous state when we bought it. This layout can be transformed at any stage to form a study and formal lounge with fireplace. The home is located in Armadale, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The layout needed to be flexible enough to cater for partner working from home, kids, dogs, get away spaces and entertainment – both frequent and large scale. Jon Mikulic, founder of Newline Design, has completed his own contemporary home, a renovated Victorian home that had to be flexible enough for a family lifestyle. From Jon Mikulic
The Armadale house and indeed any house where you are your own client is as difficult as it gets. Demolition of the entire site would have been far more economical but it was never on the agenda and goes against my grain. Our house in Armadale needed to be “our house”. The rear addition needed to open up as you walked down the hallway to the rear (north) end of the house – both horizontally and vertically. Amputation was the first procedure required – everything except the first two rooms were knocked over. Armadale is open, flexible, interactive, light and fun. The twee gate to front door path with parterre garden either side was out! The essence of all living areas to me is a function of light and interactiveness. With the help of landscape designer Rae Jones Evans the entry to the front was pulled to one side and the “bento box” garden design introduced with feature raised central garden bed containing four glorious Japanese Maples. The design brief was “fluid” for want of a better word – put family first with all the basics covered. The kitchen, dining, living and outside spaces blend with one another whilst still enable these areas to have their own identity within the space. Design: Jon Mikulic | Newline Design
Photography by Shannon McGrath