An Expertly Renovated Edwardian
Homes
Inside the Elwood home of Chris Rak, Kathryn Robson of Robson Rak Architecture and Interiors. Pictured here, the kitchen and living area. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The kitchen bench exhibits a Chris Rak sculpture, and is flanked by Heidi Yardley paintings. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
Paintings by Sean Meilak and Heidi Yardley in the kitchen/living area. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
From the living romm looking out to the backyard. Painting by Caspar Fairhall. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The incredible hallway. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The dining area looking out to the backyard, through the amazing floor to ceiling glass door. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The Elwood home of husband-and-wife architect team Kathryn Robson, Chris Rak and their two boys George (8) and Alexander (9). Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
Storage goals leading to the main bedroom. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The main bedroom featured a sculpture by Chris Rak and Sandor Matos paintings. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
Master bedroom details. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The boys’ bathroom. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
Alexander’s bedroom, with black-and-white painting by Timothy Williams. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
The library with Robin Burgess painting over the fire and Emanuel Santos photograph. Styling – Lucy Feagins/The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.
We always LOVE to see inside the homes architects design for themselves, and the home of Chris Rak and Kathryn Robson of Robson Rak Architecture and Interiors in Elwood certainly doesn’t disappoint! This renovated 3 bedroom Edwardian home is functional, stylish, yet effortlessly understated, with every detail perfectly considered.
Originally built in the early 1900’s, Kathryn and Chris’s home had been a rental property for 20+ years before they purchased it. Though they were instantly smitten – it was in need of some love.
Seeking to extend and contemporise the existing Edwardian house, Kathryn and Chris retained the front 3 bedrooms of the house, along with its unusually wide hallway, and demolished the rear to make way for a modern, open plan living / kitchen / dining space. The pair also added a second level, with master bedroom and ensuite upstairs.
Working with key collaborators including landscaper designer Mira Martinazzo from Mud Office, and builders Prolifica Building Group, Kathryn and Chris were able to complete this extensive renovation in under a year.
What is most memorable about Chris and Kathryn’s home is the painstaking attention to detail – right down to the door handles. Sporting a perfect ‘not quite white’ colour palette, the kitchen and living room brings together an elegant edit of furnishings and artwork.
‘The intention with our home was to create a pared back, simple and restorative sanctuary for us to come home to’ Kathryn explains. ‘We kept the colour palette intentionally restrained, allowing the art work and furniture to inject its own colour and personality to the space.’
Kathryn is particularly fond of the portrait of artist Rhys Lee, painted by Heidi Yardley, which hangs over our dining table, alongside a geometric pencil sketch by Sean Meilak. Having been a sculptor in a former life, a number of Chris’s incredible works can also be spotted throughout the home – Kathryn is particularly fond of his black steel sculpture on the kitchen bench.
As architects who spend their days designing other peoples’ dream homes, there is something especially satisfying about this home for Kathryn and Chris. ‘I still pinch myself everyday at the thought that my wife and I can design a beautiful environment for our own family’ Chris says. ‘It’s easy to come home on a Friday night and not leave our sanctuary until Monday morning!’