Building On Dream Street

Sometimes if we really like a tee-shirt, we will purchase it in multiple colours. For Ashley and Jac Rowan, this level of commitment occurred with a street (yes, STREET) in Melbourne’s North Fitzroy.

The couple lived in two different houses in their dream street, before the opportunity arose to purchase a block, and build their own. The resulting house, designed by Melbourne architecture firm Kennedy Nolan, and built by Ashley, is a perfect family home for Charli (13), Cate (4), Harry (2) and Max (the King Charles Cavalier).

Written

Lucy Feagins

Supported by Dulux

The modern, relaxed family living room. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Jac, Ash and family have been living in this home for about 18 months, though they’ve been living on the same street for over 10 years! Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Charli (13), Ash, owner of Ashley Rowan Builder, Jac, a retail leasing manager, and little ones Kate (4) and Harry Rowan (2). Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Ash’s boutique building company, Ashley Rowan Builder, completed the entire build of the house following the design process with Kennedy Nolan. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

The light-filled family living space. L-shaped sofa from King Living. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

A look into the study that wraps around to the living room. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Details in the living room. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

The entryway to the mid-century inspired home in Fitzroy North that Jac and Ash built from scratch! Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

The kids’ room Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

With two young kids and a teenager at home, the family is grateful for their ample lawn space and entertaining area in the inner-city suburbs. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Shelves lined with kid things mixed in with plants and smaller design objects makes for a great design feature in this family home. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

An epic bathroom space! Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

A mini-conservatory on the balcony outside the master bedroom. Forest-green bed sheets by Cultiver. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

‘Building a new home from scratch is rare in North Fitzroy so we felt a huge obligation to get it right’, the couple says. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Ash and Jac were coveting this particular block of land for years when they lived in the house across the road. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

‘The way the home opens up to the trees out front means we watch the seasons change in the most beautiful way,’ say Jac and Ash of their dream-home. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli/The Design Files.

Writer

Lucy Feagins

12th of June 2018

Ashley and Jac Rowan live in Melbourne’s North Fitzroy, with family Charli (13), Cate (4), Harry (2) and Max (the King Charles Cavalier). Theirs is a brand new home, but it doesn’t feel like a new home at all. Inspired, in part, by mid century architecture, there’s a timeless feeling to this house, which was designed by architecture firm Kennedy Nolan, and built by Ashley.

Ashley and Jac have lived on the same street, in two different houses, for over a decade – and always dreamed of building their own dream home here. After years of coveting a block of land on their favourite street, the couple jumped at the chance to purchase a non-descript 1960’s brick veneer house – one of the few on the street without Heritage restrictions. The pair recognised this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to build their dream home in their ideal location, and they ‘felt a huge obligation to get it right.’

The couple had followed the work of Kennedy Nolan for a long time, admiring their classic, understated aesthetic. The pair met with Rachel Nolan, and instantly formed a strong rapport. The success of this relationship is evident in the success of the home – a mid-century inspired, L shaped family home, designed to take advantage of the northern facing aspect of the block, while also complimenting the streetscape.

The build was undertaken by Ash, and the whole project took approximately two years including design, planning, build and moving in.

Now settled for eighteen months, the family are loving every aspect of their purpose-built home. They’re particularly proud of the way the interior spaces connect to the outdoors, letting in bucket loads of natural light. For the kids, a highlight is the garden, which offers a new expansive play-space after years in a terrace house. For Jac, though, a singular highlight is harder to narrow down. ‘I love the way the space flows, the kids play areas, the kitchen, the huge amount of storage, my wardrobe!’ she says.. ‘Just all of it!’