We first featured Dan Honey and Paul Fuog’s wonderfully understated and exceptionally useful apartment in 2013, when they’d been living in it for just more than a year. Now, 9 years on, the few and their daughter have resolved the time is appropriate to put their beloved, compact abode on the sector in buy to obtain a property that has a ‘bit much more separation.’
‘We like the sense of connectedness the apartment supplies,’ states Dan. ‘Living appropriate in the middle of the city suggests we under no circumstances sense isolated dwelling here.’
Locals will possible know the iconic facade of this Flinders Lane apartment setting up recognized as Bible Residence, constructed in 1898 for the duration of the city’s heyday, by architect and town planner Frank Stapely. In 1911 the setting up was procured by the British and International Bible Culture to be applied to distribute bibles from the shopfronts, hence the identify, and in 1994 the setting up was converted into the 17 residential residences continue to standing today.
While the making continue to resembles its 1898 originals externally, internally, the residences have been appreciably upgraded to suit contemporary-working day metropolis dwelling. Dan and Paul engaged renowned architect Clare Cousins to help them with their redesign, which concerned totally gutting the inside to make way for a a lot more modern, negligible and versatile area.
The new bedroom, for occasion, is a ‘bed platform’ enclosed in easy joinery and a good deal of in-built storage that separates it from their daughter’s bedroom. A few colourful, sliding screens permit this area to become part of the residing place when open up, and a completely non-public bed room when closed.
‘Before the renovation the just one bedroom was a terrible size, with only 50cm on either side of the bed,’ says Paul. ‘It was just huge more than enough to make a mess in, but not large more than enough to truly delight in. The two bedrooms are like little hideaways now, serving no other operate than relaxing and a location to slumber.’
They also prolonged the kitchen area, overhauled the toilet, had the floorboards sanded and the partitions painted a crisp white. ‘The material palette was kept neutral and heat throughout,’ describes Dan. ‘It made fluidity and spaciousness.’
Soaring 3.8 metre ceilings and huge, operable arched windows along the northern walls give the supreme sense of place.
Paul says, ‘Having all the windows open up with the summer season breeze coming by way of is fairly particular, and not what you anticipate to encounter dwelling suitable in the city.’
Aside from the early Friday morning tram excursions to Vic Market to decide on up create for the 7 days forward, and the capability to stay and get all over the place without a vehicle, what the pair will pass up most about their iconic condominium is dwelling in the heart of the hustle and bustle of the town.
‘Melbourne is a lovely town, and it has been a delight getting immersed in the grand architecture on a day by day basis,’ claims Dan. ‘It’s always uplifting.’
301/241 Flinders Lane is mentioned with Sam Fenna at Belle Assets and will go to auction on Saturday Oct 22 at 1:00pm.
