Mikayla Rose, director of design studio Heartly saw huge potential in this circa 1870 home’s street appeal, size, and sought-after Carlton location. Three years on, she’s completely transformed the house to feature a calming material palette, custom joinery, and a light-filled floor plan…and it’s now for sale!

As the designer of this property, Mikayla relished the opportunity to create a space completely tailored to her vision and desires. 

‘I love working for clients but wanted to do a project where I had the design freedom to create something really practical and beautifully detailed; there is a powerful cumulative effect that emerges when design elements are all considered so carefully and intricately,’ she says.

Behind the classic single-fronted Victorian facade is a surprisingly spacious floor plan across two storeys. 

Located off the entrance hallway are two bedrooms (the first alternatively a sitting room or study; the second containing floor-to-ceiling custom joinery accessible via a stylish integrated ladder), followed by a new mudroom, powder room and bathroom.

‘I love the layout of the mudroom and shower room. This space works really hard to deliver all the practicality required of modern day living, including loads of storage in lots of spaces that would normally be under-utilised,’ Mikayla says. 

‘The ladder in the bedroom can be moved to the purpose-built rail in the mud room, shower room and powder room to access the storage built to the ceiling of each of these spaces.’ 

The rear of the home opens to become the living, dining and kitchen area featuring brushed bronze tapware, Artedomus natural stone and tiles, blonde timber joinery and integrated bench seating. A skylight above the living area floods the space with natural light.  

Full-height steel doors on the ground floor reveal the outdoor courtyard, connecting to a rear bluestone laneway and side path with historic brick arches. ‘The detachment allows light to filter into the south side of the property; a unique feature that most inner city laneway cottages do not enjoy,’ says Mikayla.  

A second storey is setback from the street housing the private main bedroom. Mikayla cleverly extended this space, designing a marble bridge walkway connecting to a walk-in wardrobe and en suite. 

In addition to these beautiful interiors, the new owners of this property will find themselves on one of Carlton’s iconic streets including the suburb’s signature wide median strips.   

‘It must be one of the most beautiful streets in Melbourne,’ says Mikayla. ‘In the evenings, the neighbours all picnic under the trees on the lush grass of the nature strip. It really is a wonderful feature of the property.’

159 Canning Street, Carlton VIC is listed with Charlie Barham at Nelson Alexander and will go to auction on Saturday February 19 at 11am. See the full listing here.