Design manager and stylist Nicola Rogers has lived in a mix of old and new homes.
She grew up in a Federation home in Perth, then moved to a ‘cool but quirky mid-century studio’ in Melbourne, and after that, a modern apartment — lacking in personality.
But she always had her heart set on a Victorian terrace, or worker’s cottage, ‘as close as possible to the Botanical Gardens’.
It took her eight years to finally realise that dream.
‘I had been looking for a little while and nothing felt quite right,’ she says.
In fact, it was her sister who eventually found the house online in 2023; a 1890s worker’s cottage that was largely untouched, save for evidence of a couple of updates from the 70s and the 2000s.
All in all, ‘it had great bones, but it needed work’, says Nicola. ‘Not one appliance in the home was working.’
She set to work straight away, tapping into her database of talented trades, craftspeople and suppliers who managed to get the house into ‘a liveable space’ within a handful of weeks; including restumping some of the rooms, removing oddly placed joinery, sanding the floors to reveal light Victorian Ash, adding new carpet and updating the plumbing.
‘Once the more urgent practical issues were addressed, I began chipping away at upgrades like painting the walls, updating the kitchen, hanging curtains and installing lighting whilst living there and getting a feel for the space,’ Nicola explains.
She’s also tried to maintain the character — and even the 70s and 2000s renovations — where she can.
‘They’re all part of the home’s story and reflect the people who have lived there,’ she says.
The resulting home is calm and inviting, with a base of soft, buttery tones. It’s the perfect warm, neutral base for Nicola’s cherished collection of furniture, artwork and vintage finds.
‘There are so many influences and possible directions you can go as a designer, but you need to listen to the space above all else, and do something that brings you joy.’
Her favourite parts of the home are the original features; the fireplace, the beautiful ceiling details and the French doors leading out to the veranda with its beautiful sunny aspect. It’s from here that she soaks up the sunshine and waves to friendly neighbours walking by — ‘We have a street WhatsApp group and a street party at the end of the year,’ she explains.
She’s even a short walk from the Botanical Gardens!
