Renovating, at the best of times, can be a daunting and labourious experience, but, almost always, once completed, the pros outweigh the cons. In Melbourne’s inner north-east, an old Edwardian home ran the gamut of emotions, coming out the other side a light filled beauty and everything one could hope for.
Owners Lis and Karl found a spot of luck when their neighbours offered to sell them their home. In the midst of battling Melbourne’s often ludicrous housing market, the opportunity to stay in the area, one they knew and loved, and for good money, was an extraordinary break. Of course, nothing comes for free - start to scratch at the surface of old-world charm and turn of the century construction and a few skeletons are bound to reveal themselves.
All the hallmarks of old Melbourne building were there. From the crumbling structures, hiding under decades of changes and repairs, to the mixed materials from previous renovations and their respective owners’ best intentions, the old Edwardian was typical of the era and style, with shadow and darkness throughout. All would have to be dealt with, but for now, Lis and Karl had a home. Not without their own skills and abilities, tending to all these issues would be a job for the professionals. Taking on board recommendations and research, the couple turned to Cantilever Interiors.


Cantilever Interiors are, as they put it, ‘a design focused kitchen manufacturing company.’ How they differ from a lot of other makers and joiners is their approach to the market. Their Kitchen Systems – 5 different joinery systems in total – respond to the taste, style, preference and personality of each client and their home, and all are custom made with Cantilever’s contemporary design language front and centre.
Lis and Karl chose Cantilever’s K1 System, tapping into the subtle Mid-century design the range demonstrates – particularly present in the Eames-like plywood edging. At its most simple, it’s a timeless arrangement of clean laminate and timber accents that allow for personality and tastes to flourish, but as the business has grown so too have the offerings within the K1 range, which now include coloured Laminex finishes along with complementary benchtops in reconstituted stone or terrazzo.
“The core design language of the product has remained the same; our ethos is design for longevity,” explains Kylie Forbes, Cantilever Interiors’ Creative Director. “Our dream is to have a design classic, and the only way we can achieve that is through time. So, it’s an untested dream, but I think we’re getting there.”
The brief was to retain the period features of the house where possible, but more importantly create a home that felt connected, open and light-filled, bringing with it a sense of joy and calm that would align with the feelings of togetherness and unity the clients wanted from the project.
Specifying the K1 System in the kitchen introduced Laminex Seed - a soft, green-grey neutral with earthy undertones - to the space. In a family house with teenagers, the durability and longevity of Laminex is an obvious plus, but the choice to go with a muted neutral in the kitchen allowed the home to create the united theme that the owners were hoping to establish. Pops of plywood and woodgrain give clues of what’s to come; the basis of a theme that will continue from kitchen and living room through to bathroom and bedrooms.


“The clients are colour lovers, and they wanted a different feel moving across the house, so we retained the period features, but moving down the hallway and to the renovation we looked to create detailing that would marry the home to these things through transitions. We did that through colour and paint selections, lighting and laminate,” says Kylie.
Part of the theme would be to build off the original, strong, red brick walls, finding ways to be complementary to the tones found within. Cantilever’s K1 system is the through line for the home and the true key to the success of the design. The familiar plywood edging, boxes and shelves seen in the kitchen cleverly find themselves in the cabinetry of the bathroom. Only this time Laminex Kalamata works its way onto the scene, with the intended impact its black based, deep red tone tends to do. It works perfectly with the Tiento ‘Overlay Cotto’ and ‘Gesso Terracotta’ floor and wall tiles in a masterclass of tone on tone. The floating cabinet, replete with K1 timber edging, hovers over a wonderful plinth-like shelf detail that nods to a designer’s touch.


The colour continues into the main bedroom with Cantilever’s K1 cabinetry in Laminex Green Slate. The repeated use of the K1 system is the main reason for the success of this Northcote home’s transformation. Even with strict adherence to the language and code Kylie established early on, the design never feels forced or contrived, thanks to her gentle approach and the subtle mid-century aesthetic of the K1 System.
At the end of the day – and the end of the project – the goal is to have a home that feels warm, welcoming and comfortable. The joy a home can bring, with all its routine, moments of reflection and quietude is why we subject ourselves to the frustrations and rigours of a renovation. With the help of Cantilever Interiors, Lis and Karl have a house to watch their children grow in, take in their garden and add to the conversation.
Learn more about this project and explore Cantilever Interiors’ portfolio in more detail here.
Credits:
Design + Joinery: Cantilever Interiors
Photographer: Tess Kelly
Stylist: Kylie Forbes