A renovated 1950s home in the Dandenong Ranges has hit the market in Kallista, offering buyers a glimpse into nearly a decade of careful restoration work by its current owners.
The property at 75 Monbulk Road was originally constructed in the 1950s and passed through several hands before wedding photographer and videographer Lucy Spartalis and her partner Alastair Innes discovered it during a late-night search nine years ago. The couple had grown tired of inner-city living in Melbourne’s north and wanted to move closer to nature while maintaining access to community.
Finding the Right Space
“The moment we walked in the front door, we knew this was the one for us,” Lucy says. The property had already undergone some improvements, including an open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge area, but the couple felt it had lost some of its original character in the process.
Over the following years, Spartalis and Innes undertook extensive work to restore warmth and texture to the home. They re-landscaped the gravel driveway, added a modernist-style carport and entertaining space designed by architect Ben Gray and built by Timbervisions Carpentry, and replaced hollow interior doors with solid mahogany bungalow-style doors.
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“We kept coming back to earthy colours and materials with lots of texture,” Alastair explains. “We wanted the house to feel warm, relaxed and lived-in rather than too polished or precious.”
A Kitchen Inspired by Japan
The couple’s most substantial project was the kitchen. Inspired by a trip to Japan, they designed a modernist space featuring Japanese tiles, terrazzo benchtops, and Mountain Ash cabinetry. The cabinetry was chosen to echo the enormous Mountain Ash trees visible through the kitchen windows.
These changes were deliberately designed to work with the original character of the house rather than reinvent its style entirely. The living spaces feel distinct but flow into one another, according to the owners.
“The living spaces feel cosy and distinct but flow into one another so easily, and we’ve had so many long dinners and celebrations, and lazy lunches out on the back deck in the sun,” Alastair says.
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Outside, the garden underwent a complete transformation from a concrete expanse into a lush central feature. The couple added established trees, gravel, and rocks, along with layered plantings that burst with colour in spring from smokebush, echiums, and Japanese maple.
Wildlife and Community
The Dandenong Ranges location means the property sits surrounded by native wildlife. King Parrots, Rosellas, Cockatoos, Galahs, and Kookaburras regularly visit the backyard, while the surrounding forests offer access to fern and Mountain Ash walking tracks.
When asked what they will miss most about the home, Lucy offered a simple answer: “Everything.”
The property is listed for private sale through Katie Woods from Woods Estate Agents. It is available to inspect by open home or private appointment, with the first open scheduled for Saturday, September 12th at 1:30pm.