Some homes find their owners as much as owners find their homes. For architect David Neil and his wife Vanessa, this was exactly the case. They weren’t looking to move when Vanessa made a call that would change everything.
The house in question, a Dale Fisher-designed home in Balwyn, was a property they had long admired on their regular walks. But what they hadn’t realised was that beyond the single-storey house at the front of the block, which they had always noticed, stood an even more remarkable two-storey home, rich with architectural integrity and mid-century charm.
From the moment they stepped inside, the Neils knew they had found something special. Though the house had been well preserved, with many original features intact, time had taken its toll in some areas. Their approach to restoration was clear from the start: retain as much of Fisher’s vision as possible while making thoughtful updates to accommodate modern living.
The home’s layout remained largely untouched, including the west-facing enfilade, which features fine steel columns and large floor-to-ceiling picture windows that flood the interiors with natural light. The impressive double-height void with its chunky timber staircase handrails, typical of the era, remained an anchor of the design. However, David recognised that some spaces needed more definition.
A key change came in the main living area, which, while impressive in scale, felt too large for the family’s needs. To introduce a sense of intimacy and function, David inserted a bookshelf to separate the library/sitting area from the dining space. Similarly, new joinery was added between the kitchen and family room to provide a more natural flow, with a servery integrated within the kitchen joinery to enhance connectivity.
Certain original features were carefully preserved, such as the cascading handcrafted glass lights and the floating glass kitchen cabinet—a rarity, as many similar pieces from the era were removed over time. In keeping with Fisher’s design ethos, the bathrooms were updated sympathetically, retaining their marble basins while introducing new American walnut joinery to blend seamlessly with the existing aesthetic.
While some updates were purely functional—such as replacing ageing skylights and removing heavy drapes that had been added long after the home’s construction—others were made with a curatorial eye. The white shag-pile carpet in some areas was swapped for slate or concrete flooring, reinforcing a more authentic materiality. Likewise, new fixtures and finishes were selected to complement the home’s architectural language rather than overpower it.
To enhance the exterior, the couple refreshed the brickwork with a muted purple/black paint, creating a subtle yet striking contrast. But one thing they refused to do—despite the trend of the time—was render the original brown bricks, a decision that preserved the home’s distinctive character.
Beyond the house itself, the landscape played an equally important role in the home’s transformation. When David and Vanessa first moved in, the gardens were overgrown and rambling, but rather than strip them back entirely, they envisioned an outdoor space that would honour the home’s mid-century roots while improving usability.
The centrepiece of their plan was a pavilion, deliberately spaced away from the house so as not to interfere with its architectural purity. Designed with a green roof, the pavilion blends effortlessly into the surrounding environment while serving as a focal point for a new series of outdoor zones.
A swimming pool was introduced along the southern length of the house, optimally positioned to capture the west-facing sun. To the north, an open grassy expanse provides room for outdoor activities, leading to a tennis court, vegetable garden, and even an apiary—a nod to their desire to integrate nature into daily life.
More than a decade after making the spontaneous decision to move, David and Vanessa still feel the same connection to the house that first drew them in. There’s always something to refine, something to care for—whether in the garden or within the home itself—but that’s part of the joy of living in a space with such history and integrity.
“We’re still moved every time we walk past the front door,” David reflects. And with their sensitive yet confident restoration, they have ensured that this remarkable Dale Fisher home will continue to inspire for decades to come.
