Login
What Happens When a Victorian Meets a Visionary
DEVELOPHER Courtenay O’Keeffe @_flintmade
LOCATION Rucker’s Hill, Northcote, Victoria
BUILDER @hamptonhomesmelbourne
ARCHITECT & INTERIORS @tecture_
STYLING @arch_melbourne
PHOTOGRAPHY @spacecraft
Every now and then, a house comes along that feels like it’s been waiting for its next chapter. For DevelopHer and designer Courtenay O’Keeffe of Flint Made, that home was 15 Helen Street, Northcote, a century-old Victorian on Ruckers Hill that had lost much of its charm but held onto its soul.
Originally owned by one family for over sixty years, the home had great bones, a big backyard, and the kind of address that makes locals nod approvingly. What started as a run-down relic became a calm, elegant, light-filled family home, a space that balances restored heritage with effortless modern living.
Courtenay stripped it right back to the bones, reinstating the period detailing while layering in warmth, texture, and an indoor-outdoor connection that makes the house sing. From the stunning Lohas feature brick to the lush northern light spilling into the kitchen, every detail was designed for family life with heart.
It’s a reminder that heritage doesn’t have to mean stuffy, and that beautiful, functional homes come from equal parts vision, courage, and a deep respect for what came before.
Courtenay has kindly shared some insights from her journey – let’s go!
Can you tell us a little about this home’s history and what drew you to the project?
I’d spent a significant amount of time looking at a stack of houses, running the numbers on different kinds of projects in the Northcote area – from renovations and townhouses to knockdown-rebuilds. I wasn’t seeking a heritage project, in fact I was avoiding it, with the timeframe involved and having to go through the town planning process.
Helen Street popped up and she was a beauty. An early 1900’s Victorian, held by the same family for over 60 years, but in serious need of some love. In the middle of the action, positioned two streets behind High Street, this pocket on Rucker’s Hill is tightly held, and holds much buyer appeal, which was a big tick. The bones were there – a charming facade, soaring ceilings, and an enormous backyard with great rear access. It was well-suited to the vision I had of creating an incredible family home. In comparison to what I’d seen, this location nailed it and was brimming with potential.
“I was up for the challenge to breathe new life into her.”
Why Northcote, and why this particular house?
I’d zeroed in on Northcote and the immediate surrounds, to become an expert in the area and get to know the intricacies and pockets. Having lived in the vicinity before having a family and shifting out to Warrandyte where the land and houses are enormous, it was appealing to be working within a contained inner-city space. I loved the process of creating our own incredible family home by the Yarra River, it was some of this magic and design-led approach that I wanted to bring to Northcote, and Helen Street was the perfect canvas.
What was your vision when you first walked through the property?
Through the hands of time, most of the heritage features had been lost and a flimsy room attached to the rear. It was clear that it would need to be stripped back to the original roof-line and heritage rooms at the front, leaving a large blank canvas and plenty of space to play at the rear. The vision was create an epic family entertainer, with warmth and flair.
How did you balance restoring the heritage features with creating a modern, liveable home?
This house was stripped back to bare bones and essentially rebuilt from the inside out. We were able to retain most of the existing walls, but by taking it back to frame, we were able to revisit and include all the modern conveniences of a new home, with heating and cooling, insulation and letting light in. The heritage area was reconfigured as the master suite, home office, guest bedroom and bathroom. At the junction of old and new, it transitions to the modern portion of the home, with a different palette of materials and finishes, in deliberate contrast to the heritage. It then steps down the addition, opening up to a large open plan kitchen and living, retaining an openness and flow with 3m high ceilings that encompasses the view to pool and alfresco, opening up to the beautiful northern aspect. A new children’s wing featured as the second storey, and not interfering with the roof-line, it reveals itself as you go through. From the street it’s unassuming, though there’s a hint of what’s to come with view-lines.
Which original details did you preserve or highlight?
The heritage features were all but gone, just the lovely scale of rooms and ceilings to work with. We set on reinstating the heritage detailing, with ornate cornices, period skirting and the old steel window frames and doors were replaced with pieces true to the era of the home.
Were there any heritage challenges you had to work around?
With a heritage overlay, we had to pay particular attention to the facade, with all the heritage features repaired, restored and reinstated for like, and strict colour rules of white everywhere, which was no fun. The extension had to be sympathetic visually to the original which was helped by not touching the original roof and having it set-back. Alas we did have to revisit the roof. It was hoped the beautiful old slate could be retained and repaired. Digging deeper it proved to be delaminated and on its last legs, so we made the hard decision to replace it with new Spanish Slate, and redo the fish scale pattern to match original. While a hard expense to swallow, it looks brilliant and will give it the longevity to last another hundred years.
As an interior designer, what was your main design philosophy for this renovation?
I have a background in graphic design and only recently switched to interior projects, which is a lot more fun, seeing spaces come to life. The design thinking and processes are transferable, creating balance, light and shade, and a harmonious colour palette throughout using texture and form. For this project, I used the team at Tecture for architecture and interiors. I provided a solid vision to work with (a little over the top, designers can be painful right?). I was guided by Tecture’s selections, and wanted to stay true to their design, as I adore their work. I was adamant that it had to deliver warmth and light, a calm and uplifting space.
“It had to be an epic entertainer.”
What textures, colours, or materials did you gravitate towards for this home?
Natural materials, warm and earthy tones. Greens feature throughout. A starting point was the stunning Lohas Nilos feature brick, and everything flowed from there, bringing the green tones through from the front door into the pool tiles and cabinetry.
Do you have a favourite room or feature that really captures the personality of the house?
The living room and kitchen – the heart of the home was so important to get right, and it’s anchored by the stunning Lohas stacked bond brick. The indoor-outdoor flow onto the alfresco and view to pool, with water reflections dancing on the roof has come together just as envisioned.
We know you agonised about creating the perfect family layout, how does the layout now support modern family living?
The house is zoned for family living. Master suite and office to front, open living space which is extended upon with the alfresco and a separate kids area upstairs.
What changes made the biggest difference to how the home feels day-to-day?
It is unrecognisable from what it was. It’s been entirely re-imagined and brought into a new era behind its unassuming facade.
If someone walked in today, what do you think they’d notice first?
As you walk through the heritage, given a preview of what’s to come, with view-lines to living. It has a beautiful warmth and feel to it, and delivers on character.
What are the little details in the interiors that make the home special to you?
There was a bit of finessing in the colour palette and final selections, as much changes from plan form to build. I had a lot of fun designing the front porch, playing with the way the colours and patterns interact with the tessellated tiles, making that traditional element more contemporary, setting the scene and pulling that through to the front door, cabinetry, pool tiles, making it seamless and flowing.
Are there any “hidden gems” a visitor might miss at first glance?
The pantry closes off with a pivot door to look like a seamless wall, great for hiding the mess when entertaining. The living room cabinetry has a similar feature, where you roll across the door and can hide the TV, so it’s not such a focal point to the room. There is also a great storage space under the stairwell.
What do you think will capture the hearts of potential buyers?
The heritage facade appeal differentiated from other houses on the market and it is contrasted by a warm, contemporary and functional space, with its connection to the outdoors.
“My business is Flint Made, and it’s my intention to create design-led projects that resonate and create a spark as such.”
As a female in the development space, this is what makes it unique, with considered finishes and a calm and softness throughout.
What did you learn through this project that you’ll carry into your next one?
Don’t do heritage! While this has been a challenge in time frames and all the work we had to take on to fix it, I think it’s a unique and beautiful house that I’d love to live in myself.
Taking on such a big project I’ve been through every challenge, and now have my degree and expertise in the execution. At the end of the day, you just have to do it. So many lessons have been learned – it’s been essential to have the network and support around me, and my mindset has been key to navigate the ride.
This is not just a project to you – can you please explain what you’re most proud of?
The foundation for my future as a developer. I love this space, it’s been so rewarding. I look forward to bigger and better projects and taking with me all that I’ve leaned and doing it better and smarter.
“I love that I get to do this.”
If you had to sum up this home in just a few words, what would they be?
Bright, calm, elegant.
15 Helen Street, Northcote is about to hit the market with Sam Rigopoulos from @jelliscraiginnernorth – keep your eyes peeled!
PARTNERS AND SUPPLIERS:
Tapware: @meiraustralia
Timber flooring: @made_by_block
Paint: @haymespaint
Carpet: @godfreyhirst
Brick: @lohas_australia
Bathroom Tiles:
@signorinotilegallery
@academytiles (green feature tile guest bath)
@fibonacci_au (laundry & upstairs bath)
Joinery: @laminexau
Curtains: @homeproau
Appliances: @fisherpaykel @designerappliancesau
Master Skylight: @veluxaustralia
Cabinetry Handles: @linearstandard (study and guest)
Door Hardware: @tradco_architectural_hardware @yabby.com.au
Natural Stone: @rmstraders
Porcelain: @signorinotilegallery
Lighting:
@lightslightslights_au
@aboutspacelighting (orbs in bathrooms)
@cultdesignau (master pendant)
@nau_design (study pendant)
@rj.living (hallway pendants and guest) @ingoodcompany
@gubiofficial (dining pendant)
@marzdesigns (masterbath wall light, guest wall lights)
Outdoor Lighting:
@lightingcollective (front porch & Wall lights)
@aboutspacelighting(spotlights)
Landscape Design: @plume__studio
Garden: @botanichorticulture
Natural Pavers: @rmstraders
Porch tiles: @artedomus @defaziotiles
Pool tiles: @thepooltilecompany
Plaster & Trims: @australianmouldingdoorcompany @plasterprofiles
