Old Soul, New Chapter: Pleysier Perkins Reimagines an Edwardian Melbou

Central Park occupies a street-fronting site in Melbourne, overlooking a city park. The original property was an Edwardian-era house, now reworked by architecture practice Pleysier Perkins, with interiors by Georgina Jeffries. The renovation begins with restoration, retaining the proportions and decorative details of the existing house while removing a dated rear addition and replacing it with a contemporary volume. The result is a home that respects its architectural history while accommodating the everyday life of a family of four.

The character of the original house has been carefully retained, while the new rear addition takes a more restrained architectural form. Steel-framed glazing draws natural light into the previously enclosed hallway, while herringbone timber flooring runs from the original house into the new section, creating a continuous thread between the two eras. Existing red brick is set against the textured finish of the new volume, establishing a clear material contrast between the old and the new while preserving the weight and character of the original structure.

The interiors are deliberately understated, with materials, furniture and considered details providing the visual richness. The entry was initially intended to be finished in stone, but after returning from a trip through Europe, the owners revisited the scheme, opting instead for a combination of pink stone and Carrara marble. A 1980s brass table, Murano glass pendant, custom oak dining table and a collection of artworks are placed throughout the house. Objects from different periods sit comfortably alongside one another, giving the historic home a contemporary character shaped by the owners’ personal collections and taste.

Much of the home’s comfort lies in details designed around everyday life. The entry includes dedicated storage for school bags and dog leads, while the utility room is organised around the dimensions and requirements of household appliances. The bathrooms and wardrobes have also been reconsidered as the owners’ two daughters grow. These small, practical decisions ground the renovation in the realities of family life: the original scale remains intact, while new functions are carefully folded into it. The Edwardian house continues into a new chapter, retaining its sense of time while making room for the everyday life of the family.

In the reimagined Central Park home, where Pleysier Perkins and Georgina Jeffries weave together Edwardian proportions with the rhythms of modern family life, every curated object—from the pink stone and Carrara marble entry to the 1980s brass table and Murano glass pendant—tells a story of layered time. To bring that same sense of collected elegance into softer, everyday moments, the Domvitus Viterbo Statement Print Pillow Cover offers the perfect finishing touch. As a Vintage-Inspired Decorative Cushion Cover with Bold Botanical Design, its dramatic flora echoes the home's preserved decorative heritage while introducing a vivid, organic counterpoint to the restrained palette of red brick, oak, and textured stone. Draped across the custom oak dining chairs or nestled into the living room sofa, this Viterbo Statement Print Pillow Cover transforms any corner into a thoughtfully composed vignette—proving that true luxury lies in the quiet confidence of allowing every era, from Edwardian grandeur to modern family comfort, to bloom side by side.