Deciding to renovate based on the need for more rooms, living space, weather insulation and energy efficient appliances sounds like your everyday remodel, right? Not so much, as Paola Gredler discovered. But with hard work, perseverance and a serious eye for style, the Gredler family survived the seven-month ordeal and are now living happily in the extraordinary, Melbourne-based home they’ve always wanted. So, how’d it all begin?

“We wanted to keep the façade of the existing (Edwardian) house – and there is a heritage overlay on the property,” Paola explains. “So, we decided to maintain the front two rooms, then demolish from that point on.” The addition would then require the building of one top-floor and two bottom-floor sections, which would include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, walk-in wardrobe, powder room, laundry, stairs and study nook.

With two boys aged four and two at the time, Paola and husband Steve decided it would be the most family-friendly scenario to have the sections built offsite. From there, it was off to live in the homes of Paola’s mum and her in-laws, for two months.