Home of the week

Interior designer Georgina Jeffries set herself “a complex brief” when it came to renovating her own home.

Since buying the single-fronted 1920s weatherboard in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Prahran eight years ago, Jeffries has stripped back years of neglect and unsympathetic updates to create a sophisticated and elegant home for herself and her Weimaraner, Luna.

“The moment I saw it I knew that it had great bones, but lacked any sense of modern living,” says Jeffries.

“My style is to use a monochromatic palette to create a blank canvas for the pieces I have collected over the years. Then I layer this modern setting with the right vintage finds to give the home depth and character.”

Jeffries oversaw a major renovation 3½ years ago, gutting the interior and extending the home into the rear yard to create an open-plan dining and living room, with a double-sided kitchen.

”I took a risk with the kitchen by designing a modern version of the butler’s pantry, but I think it’s the feature that works best,” she says. In her work at design studio Wonder, Jeffries creates interior spaces with a focus on elegance and attention to detail.

These are the hallmarks of Jeffries’ personal aesthetic as well: like her home, her wardrobe is monochromatic, favouring well-designed pieces with strong yet feminine lines.

With the renovation complete, Jeffries’ house has become a meeting point for her friends.

“I wanted this home to be a comfortable place to live and entertain in,” she says. “It has truly fulfilled its brief.”