Homes

A Creative Family Home In A 1960s Northcote Apartment Building

The family home of lighting designer Dimitrios Tsiokaras, his partner Gemma, and their daughter Iris is a light-filled, well-built 1960s apartment in Melbourne’s inner north.

Dimitrios and Gemma purchased the apartment in 2017, and have since built on its solid bones with an owner-designed renovation introducing colour, light and nature. 

The compact home provides everything the family requires and more, among a close knit inner-city community! 

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

Vintage Ingmar Relling chair. Art left to right: Framed print of Athens by Markobe. Watercolour print by Elliot Beaumont. Small print by Aldus. Blowfly Dreaming by Tracey Ramsey. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Gemma and Dimitrios with their daughter, Iris. Cushions by Trinket Solo and Muji. Couch from Grandfather’s Axe. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The balcony is filled with plants, including passionfruit vine, creeping ficus, Virginia creeper, avocado tree, lemon myrtle and olive trees! Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Custom-built shelving unit made from Victorian ash timber. Drawers by IKEA and Muji. Shelves from Bunnings. Cushions by Trinket Solo, Muji and second-hand shops. Couch from Grandfather’s Axe. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Icon hand painted by Dimitrios’ grandmother. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Gemma and Dimitrios bought the apartment after loving renting in the building just one level below. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Left to right: Bon Jour Unplugged lamp by Philippe Starck from Flos. Small print by Aldus. Watercolour of David by Eliot Beaumont. Framed print of Athens by Markobe. Icon hand painted by Dimitrios’ grandmother. Blowfly Dreaming by Tracey Ramsey. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The apartment is warm, colourful and textured, without being cluttered. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘Lemon Punch’ Bloc PUR kitchen flooring from Polyflor. Birch plywood timber cabinetry with figured eucalyptus veneer from Plyco. Hardwax oil timber finish from Wittle Wax. ‘Cloud’ Decoply Benchtop from Plyco. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The wooden mortar and pestle above the cabinets is a family heirloom from Dimitrios’ great-great grandmother. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘We love cooking so having a spacious, fully functional and beautiful kitchen was important to us,’ Dimitrios says. ‘We love spending time in here.’ Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘We wanted the bathroom to be almost an immersive experience so we went with a highly saturated green to contrast the more neutral tones in the rest of the apartment,’ Dimitrios says. Tiles by De Fazio. Towel by Muji. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

 

Table from Facebook Marketplace. Vintage chairs. Luminous Moon print from Great Frames. Landscape painting by Bob Dodds. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Blinds from DIY Blinds. Second hand bedside drawers. Blanket by Waverley Mills. Painting by Bob Dodds. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Vintage IKEA canopy. Cot from IKEA. Carpet from Urban Outfitters. Blanket by Selah and Stone. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Writer
Lucy Feagins
18th of April 2023

When looking to buy their future family home, Dimitrios Tsiokaras (senior lighting designer at Electrolight) and his partner Gemma, prioritised a central location over a house with excess bedrooms (which were out of their price range anyway).

‘We really placed a premium on being super close to the thick of things, and to good public transport, bike paths and parks,’ explains Dimitrios. ‘We wanted somewhere we could happily live for many years, make our own improvements to and make our own, be well built and with good light.

They didn’t need to look far. The couple were renting an apartment in a 1960s Northcote building and discovered their upstairs neighbour was looking to sell. The apartment was solid, with views of the city skyline, and brimming with potential. 

‘These 1960s apartments are built so well and have the design principles many new and fancier builds are returning to emulate: cross ventilation; a northerly aspect with overhanging balconies for sun protection; windows in every room; and chunky, noise-proof walls,’ says Dimitrios.

‘We managed to snap it up before it went to market.’ 

Upon getting the keys, Dimitrios and Gemma took a wall out to open up the kitchen, painted the walls, ripped up the 50-year old original carpet, and installed timber floors.

After living in the new apartment for a couple of years (and getting a better sense of the light and space) they embarked on a more extensive renovation. The couple completely gutted the kitchen and designed a new mid-century inspired version complete with laminate benchtops, timber cabinetry, and bright yellow floors. 

The use of colour and light has been carefully considered throughout to create ambience, draw the eye to certain areas as you move across the apartment, and enhance the sense of space. 

Last but not least, Dimitrios and Gemma have worked to invite nature into the apartment. They’ve made the balcony ‘as green as we possibly can’ with potted trees, a passionfruit vine, and Virginia creeper growing over the walls.

There’s also an internal courtyard in the block, with natives and birdlife that the family have tended to over the years. ‘In winter it really feels lush as if you’re in Warrandyte,’ says Dimitrios. ‘You’d never know from the stark 1960s exterior outside what an oasis it is through the entrance.’

Dimitrios and Gemma can often be found on their balcony enjoying a G&T as the sun sets over the city in the distance. They love the sense of community and connection to their neighbourhood that apartment living provides. 

‘Living here and having the opportunity to fully utilise our apartment’s potential has significantly changed our opinion on how well small families can live in apartments,’ says Dimitrios. 

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