Project Feature | Kimmy Hogan's Renovation

Discover the story behind Artist Kimmy Hogan's newly renovated Family Home

Discover the story behind this Mediterranean inspired oasis

Kimmy Hogan's family home renovation is a striking reimagining of a 1950s weatherboard cottage in Victoria. Infused with European flair and vibrant touches, Kimmy and her husband thoughtfully redesigned the space to honour its original character while introducing improved practicality and comfort. In this interview Kimmy shares the journey of their first renovation, offering insights, inspirations and rewarding experiences along the way.

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the vision behind the Fairview Project - a minimalist, Mediterranean-inspired retreat by Lina and Phil Strati. Drawing inspiration from their honeymoon in the Mediterranean, the design incorporates travertine pavers, Venetian plaster, and natural stone in soft hues, evoking a serene coastal atmosphere. Key features include a custom floating spiral staircase, curved lines throughout, and exquisite lighting pieces. The result is a tranquil home-away-from-home just minutes from the city.

How did you first come across your home?

We were new to Victoria but knew we wanted to settle here for a little while. We looked for an affordable home in our favourite area that was just big enough to suit us at the time.

"We wanted a warm, well-travelled and lived-in feel. We added hints of French and European vibes but overall kept the bones very classic."

Kimmy Hogan

What features drew you to this property?

It had generous large bedrooms, large timber windows and was filled with natural light. It also had a huge double garage with adjoining workshop which I knew would be handy for a home studio. It was exactly what we were looking for – a ‘renovators delight’ that was completely fine to live in if/when we wanted to do something with it. I could see the potential this home had straight away and could just see us living here.

Can you tell us a little bit about the history of your home?

It was a humble three-bedroom weatherboard home built in the 1950s. No frills, just a simple cottage with timber floors and lovely big timber windows. It had a renovation many years before we moved in which modernised the kitchen/living/wet areas, and whilst this was all in good condition I felt it was far too modern for the era of the home, and for our taste.

What are some of your favourite items in the property and why?

I love our flower-shaped basin in the powder room which is so beautiful and fun. The vintage furniture finds are really unique and special. The bamboo wall sconces in the kitchen and stairwell add quirk and character. The chunky overhead shelves and our new front door which we painted a gorgeous pink.

What are some of your favourite items in the property and why?

What renovations or changes have you completed since moving in?

We purchased in 2015 and painted the whole interior a clean white before moving in.

When our third son was due in 2018 we decided to sheet in and wire up the ‘workshop’ section of the garage so it had heating/cooling and lighting and could function properly as a workspace. The rest of the house remained as is until we knew we wanted to stay in Geelong. We did look around for other homes in the same area but the tiny bedrooms and blocks and insufficient storage (typical to inner city) kept steering us back to improving our own home rather than buying new.

We started talks with a local builder in 2021 who drafted up plans for us. We wanted to keep the existing bedrooms, enlarge the existing main bathroom, add a new master suite and completely rethink the kitchen/living/dining/laundry layout to maximise space and enhance natural light. We didn’t want to extend into the lawn at all, so instead consumed the existing covered patio into the new floor plan, and added an upstairs level for the master suite.

Is this your first renovation?

It’s our first ever reno! We have heard so many horror stories – people told us not to or that we would ‘only ever do it once’ but we had the best experience with our renovation. My husband and I talked to several local builders and went with the ones who we had a good vibe with and understood our vision and the level of quality we were after. They provided the home concepts and design, right through to the project management of the entire renovation, with a team of people they knew and trusted. Above all our site supervisor was excellent and chatted to us daily to keep us in the loop. He was so thoughtful and inclusive throughout the 12 month project – we were given the opportunity at every turn to assist with little decisions along the way.

What’s your favourite part about your home? Do you have a room or space you spend the most time in?

I love our upstairs master suite. We purposely made our bedroom large so it had room for an additional living space with lounge and television. I also use the space for pilates and it’s big enough for the kids to have a sleepover with us on occasion! Our ensuite is also amazing – we have showered in a tiny 1x1m space for so many years – to have a double shower is a total luxury. The striped tile feature in here is so special and I feel like it’s just for us. It’s a sanctuary.

What materials have you used in the build/renovation and why? And did this effect the budget at all?

We decided to replace all the old existing timber windows (that had paper-thin glass) with like-for-like double-glazed timber windows. All the new windows and doors were also timber and double-glazed so the character flowed through the home. We didn’t want to sacrifice the look and feel of the original home but knew it wasn’t energy efficient to keep what was there. This was a huge part of the budget but we felt it necessary to keep the beautiful charm of the home whilst improving the energy efficiency and also minimizing exterior noise.

We invested in handmade tiles in the bathroom, ensuite, powder room and butlers nook. It was important to us for this to not feel like a ‘new’ build, and the rustic, imperfect tiles have given the home so much warmth.

What were some of the challenges or highlights from the renovation process, and how long did these updates take to complete?

The biggest challenge was understanding how we wanted to live in the space, and how our everyday routines would flow and work here. The time we spent researching all the options was probably the most consuming part of the process as we wanted to get it right.

Another challenge were the usual surprises that come with renovating an older home – like uneven floors and water damage which resulted in variations to our build estimate. However that was minimal and the rest of the scope captured everything quite well.

The biggest highlight was the design of the interior and décor – it was the best fun I’ve ever had. I had a clear vision but had professional assistance with Aimee to help match-make us with the right cabinetry, paint colour, tile colour, etc to achieve the look we wanted. She was a wealth of knowledge which was invaluable to us inexperienced renovators.

How has colour influenced your home?

We didn’t want a stark white house – we wanted warm and cosy but still something that would feel natural and airy. Deciding to paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls was a game changer too – it made all the difference for the warmth of the overall look. I’m so thrilled with the paint colour too, it has made the whole house feel so beautiful.

How has colour influenced your home?

SHOP THE STYLE

Home owner: Kimmy Hogan
Builder: Arca Build
Interior Designer: Your Abode Aimee Wheate
All home plans:drafting/trade: Arca Build
Photographer: Cricket Saleh
Styling: Bea Lambos