TRUE TONE

“WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME CONSIDERING PROPORTIONS AND HOW WE INTENDED TO LIVE IN THE SPACE.”

homeowners entrepreneur Joel Bartfeld and his partner, visual merchandiser Ross Sabatini, steered their own renovat ion of a beaut iful Victorian terrace to create flexible interiors with layers of contemporary comforts and Joel: We bought it in 2012 with plans to restore it down the track. It was essentially a blank canvas which allowed us to create a home that suited our lifestyle and reflected our style. Low maintenance was really important for us because prior to the pandemic we both travelled a lot. We also loved the city fringe location and Victorian elements. Being a singlefronted terrace, it’s hemmed in on three sides, so allowing for light was a big challenge and a key consideration. Also, as a heritage property, we had to adhere to strict council requirements. We added skylights and big windows to the new rear addition. Because there is limited on-street parking, the rear outdoor area had to function both as a carpark and an outdoor entertaining space. We built retaining walls and installed paving for the carpark, but also added low-maintenance succulents and a wall of ivy to make it aesthetically appealing. We coined the term ‘mascu-luxe’ – unembellished and simple with good quality finishes. There’s a sense of materiality and we try to keep everything in the home authentic. In our bathroom we used a single, large-scale stone tile on the walls and floor which has given it an almost monastic quality. It’s very relaxing. We spent a great deal of time considering proportions and how we intended to live in the space. It isn’t minimalist, but it certainly leans closer to sparse than stuffed. Given that Ross is a designer, he was able to create endless options for everything from joinery to window mullion placement. Whenever we have friends over, they all gravitate to the kitchen island bench which is clad in dark timber and marble. It’s become our main entertaining spot. We’re both extremely passionate about design and the provenance of things. We buy bigger furniture pieces with classicism in mind, and are always interested in the design story. Ross has painted several beautiful abstract artworks that are hung around the house and we’ve been lucky to collect other artworks from friends and family, including Melbourne artist Nunzio Miano. It’s very flexible and the spaces feel quite generous, even though it’s a small house. We have a great area for entertaining and a large, sunlit studio (which came in handy as an office space during lockdown). We’ve done everything quite slowly – we keep adding things we love. We like the idea of making our place over time. The whole house has a beautiful feeling and is very welcoming by design. We’re always happy to come home.