A unique Victorian home gets a bold refresh from Powell & Glenn

By
Elizabeth Clarke
July 4, 2025

For this stately Victorian residence in Toorak, Ed Glenn of Melbourne firm Powell & Glenn deployed rigorous design and a pared-down aesthetic to reimagine it for contemporary life.

“With its two extra rooms, it’s a notably deep Victorian, which was important to preserve,” he says of the home shortlisted in this year’s Australian Interior Design Awards. “The owners fell in love with its architecture.”

As a stunning example of Victorian architecture, this renovation was also an act of preservation. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

The single-storey home with a decades-old rear addition consumed most of its block, but with ample space on the western side – a rarity in the area.

Glenn says he was eager to take advantage of the potential it presented. “We didn’t want the front door to open into a gun-barrel passage without any relief either side,” he explains.

“Natural light and a connection to the garden are essential as you walk down the hallway, and we had the space to achieve both.”

The front part of the home stays true to the Victorian style with muted palettes and ornate architectural flourishes. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

Glenn divided the home into two sections to create a series of spaces enhanced by landscaping.

The first volume is the original building, which has been carefully restored to its former beauty, from its elegant entry hall, ornate cornices and arched openings to the dove grey and crisp white palette.

The second half highlights the raw beauty of concrete through a series of sculptures and walled gardens inspired by South American brutalist architecture, where the buildings gradually erode and mingle with their gardens.

The landscaping was designed to echo the curves of the building, creating 'instant poetry'. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

An impressive concrete archway bridges the garden to a rooftop terrace, while a double-height, off-form concrete spine links the old and new sections of the house, creating a transition from its Palladian-style floors to its concrete roof slab.

A glass perimeter creates instant poetry between the interior spaces and the garden. “We wanted it to feel like you are living outside and within a series of wall gardens,” Glenn says.

“The landscaping is integrated throughout the space, and I love how it interacts with the building’s angles and the curve of the roof garden. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

Curved forms help to soften the concrete material while creating a point of connection with the outdoors. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

The upper level houses the children’s bedrooms and a lounge that accesses the rooftop garden overlooking Toorak’s historic rooflines and brick chimneys.

An open staircase descends to the garden, while another leads to the main living area.

Existing Baltic pine boards were restored to their former glory, elevating the older part of the home to meet the polished new interiors. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

“Everything is connected – the indoor and outdoor spaces, the old and new, and the upstairs and downstairs,” Glenn says.

The lower levels embrace open-plan living, a bar and billiard room, bedrooms, a home office, a vibrant wine room and a spacious garage.

Dramatic lighting, used selectively, creates moments of quiet, tucked-away luxury. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

The kitchen – the heart of the home – sits within the original footprint for easy access to the family’s busiest spaces and the outdoor entertaining area.

“We didn’t want the kitchen in the back room of a large contemporary addition; it needed to be central, well connected, and part of the fabric of the existing house,” Glenn says.

Open-plan spaces set the tone for connection and flow at the back of the home. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

Existing Baltic pine boards were beautifully restored and elevated with concrete, marble, terrazzo and rich American oak veneer.

The old fireplace has been converted into a pizza oven, lined with bricks that complement the tones of the rich-toned joinery.

A floating steel shelf with integrated lighting hovers above the marble island bench. “The stainless steel and central island are a nice gutsy insertion into an old space,” Glenn says.

Restrained but playful pops of colour and texture can be found throughout the home. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

A subtle and eclectic palette weaves its way throughout the home.

The outdoor bar features pink terrazzo and clay tiles, and the children’s bathrooms are swathed in soft green and pink hues and speckled terrazzo slabs.

“The owners appreciate colours and textures, including their imperfections – especially those seen in concrete,” Glenn says. “When these elements combine with materials like brass and linen, they create a magical effect.”

The original fireplace was converted into a pizza oven, with a billiards room and bar area making the home an entertainer's dream. Photo: Sharyn Cairns

The chance to revive this old Victorian dame, rich with her architectural features, and in a way that suits the best of contemporary living, was exciting, he says.

“It feels like a place you have visited before, with some surprising spatial elements and a variety of lighting levels and experiences that make spending time in it a rich experience,” Glenn says. “We are really proud of this house.”

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