Prahran House by Dita Studio

Lead by Rita D’Souza, Dita Studio specialise in bespoke residential homes. The recently-formed studio were asked to take on a red brick home in inner-city Melbourne that was untouched for more than 40 years, with ornate architectural details still intact. Through a striking monochrome colour palette and new rear addition, Dita Studio’s revitalised Prahran House combines characterful period architecture with streamlined, contemporary interior design.

Director Rita D’Souza says the brief was simple: to maintain the historic fabric of the home and to restore as much of the original bones as possible. “The aim was to create a mature, refined and thoughtful synthesis of interior and architecture reflective of the original period of construction with a stronger connection to setting and place,” Rita says. 

The stained glass entry door painted charcoal foreshadows the combination of old-meets-new that follows throughout the home, making a subtle statement against the red brick exterior. Inside, herringbone parquetry floor is a nod to the traditional nature of the home, reinterpreted in a washed grey finish. Architraves and ceiling work in the old home have been deliberately preserved, to distinguish a significant transition between the old home and its modern rear counterpart.

Super White Dolomite stone clads the island bench in the kitchen, combined with sleek white cabinetry and premium Gaggenau appliances. Making use of the minimal space, a central dining setting in a grey tone allows for ease of flow between the kitchen and dining room. Catering to the narrow constraints of inner-city terrace homes, black steel-frame bi-fold doors open to a modest courtyard adjacent to the living room.