The social life of a home is ever-important, so creating a dwelling where vibrant entertaining could take place was the key for design duo (of The Block fame), Alisa and Lysandra.

Located in the desirable suburb of Albert Park in Melbourne, this Victorian terrace
is just 3km from the Melbourne CBD and a stone’s throw to the beach. Built in 1890 it had clearly seen better days, and “We knew we had to create something special to do this project justice,” designers Alisa and Lysandra comment.

The original floorplan consisted of a single-story residence with two bedrooms and one bathroom. The brief was to keep the bones of the heritage-listed property, whilst adding a modern feel. In addition, to appeal either to a family, or a couple that has entertaining in mind, the home needed much more space.

Alisa and Lysandra added an upper and lower floor to achieve this, and while respecting and retaining elements
of its heritage past, they knew that a contemporary feel was paramount in attracting the right buyer. “We spent a lot of time in the design stage to ensure every

aspect was thought of, and that the space would be used to its full potential, including the latest technology and materials,” say the design duo.

The lower level showcases a bespoke cellar and cinema room, perfect for entertaining, while the upper level adds extra bedrooms, a living area and a bathroom, topped off by an outside terrace. “The terrace looks out to the Melbourne sky line, and is the perfect area for entertaining,” they share.

The cellar is a feature of the new design that is flexible in function; it can be used in a variety of ways to suit the residents. Attached to the cellar, the cinema room provides an additional, indoor, space for entertaining friends or family.

The kitchen is the hub of the home, set in an open plan area connected to the living and dining areas. Connected directly to the backyard via steps, the space is filled with natural light and takes full advantage of the natural elements that this position in Albert Park affords.

With a strong focus on entertaining in this home, two Zip Hydrotap Celsius Cubes
in Chilled and Sparkling Matte Black were installed; one in the kitchen and the other in the cellar. “The Zip HydroTap works seamlessly with the aesthetic of our design,” Alisa and Lysandra comment. “It is functional and minimal — exactly the look we were working towards.” The kitchen exudes luxury, with natural stone, custom cabinetry, luxury appliances and bespoke lighting and it was important that the Zip HydroTap work well with this variety of textures and finishes. “Entertaining is an absolute breeze,” they confirm, “especially in the cellar. The HydroTap Celsius Cube CS offers sparkling water, which is an absolute delight when mixing G&Ts for guests!”

Watch the full project redesign and see the Zip HydroTap in situ (episodes 2 and 3) on the online series The Design Duo. https://youtu.be/4qD2ltMYPs0