Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Sep 05, 2025

This Melbourne Mullet Renovation Is a Mood-and It Starts in the Kitchen

This Melbourne Mullet Renovation Is a Mood-and It Starts in the Kitchen

On a double lot in the Carlton neighborhood of Melbourne, a family of foodies cook up their dream home.

After purchasing two abutting Victorian townhomes in the diverse Carlton neighborhood-home to Australia’s Little Italy, and an abundance of authentic Italian eateries-homeowners Michael and Angela Kelly brought on Riofrío Carroll Architects for a renovation with a singular priority: a kitchen that would serve as the focal point for their new family home.



"It’s the space that welcomes guests as they enter the social area," notes architect and firm cofounder Nelson Riofrío. "It connects directly to the exterior terrace as well as to the living and dining areas all at the same time, so that wherever their friends are hanging out, they can cook and feel like they are together."

As skilled cooks, Angela and Michael have been urged time and again by friends to open a restaurant, but the couple prefer to share their passion exclusively with loved ones. That didn’t mean they had to pass on restaurant-grade bells and whistles for their new home’s kitchen. The highly-efficient design hides everything away while still keeping things close at hand. "The butler’s pantry is hidden behind wall panels, most appliances are built in, and there are special drawers for every item," says Riofrío.

Beyond a slick kitchen design, the Kellys wanted a home that served their family-they have a son, Liam, and a dog, Hudson-while still honoring the heritage of the original Victorian townhomes. "Our approach was to use natural materials that could be found in nearby construction, like brickwork, bluestone, and wood cladding, and use contrasting-yet-serene forms that highlighted the difference between old and new," says Riofrío.



In a typical Australian mullet renovation, the historic facade was preserved, and the townhomes were torn down to build anew. Michael, Angela, and a group of friends gathered the bricks from the demolition and cleaned them by hand to reuse in the new construction. Now, the bricks in the perimeter act as a chronological road map of the home. The original brickwork is more timeworn and features a deeper red, while the bricks used in a 1970s renovation are yellowish and a little larger.

The Kellys host gatherings often at the three-bed, three-and-a-half-bath Canning Street House. Those passing by can take in the aromas wafting from the kitchen out through the garden and onto the street. If you’re lucky, you’ll be invited in for a meal.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×