A spherical light fixture on a textured copper-colored wall, with a glass vase of flowers in the lower right corner.

Thoughtfully Imagined

Residential Environments.

Blue Fruit

is an interior architecture & design studio in Melbourne,

specialising in the re-design of heritage and older homes, especially those with a heritage overlay. 

Founded in 2004, Blue Fruit specialises in transforming older houses that possess unique charm and distinctive character. With a deep appreciation for - and delight of - heritage houses of all styles and eras, we create thoughtful solutions that celebrate and enhance the original architectural features, while sensitively integrating modern elements with respect and care. 
But the house is only one part of the story. The other part is your story. Your own needs and lifestyle are individual - which is why every home is different, and why our clients are the springboard for every unique design we create. A passion for preserving historic residential buildings, listening to our clients needs and working with environmentally low-impact design shapes Blue Fruit's approach to enhancing very special places. 

The results are calm, welcoming, distinctive spaces that work for our clients' lifestyles and celebrate their home's heritage story.
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"WHAT IF WE APPROACH RESIDENTIAL HERITAGE DESIGN FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE?”

“Every home should have its own personality: a reflection of who lives there. And if it's a heritage home, it will have a lot of stories to tell from the many chapters of its life. That is the challenge for me as a designer: to understand the client’s personality, needs & preferences, and to recognise and respect the beauty of the original building, while making it a wonderful home for the 21st century.”
VIRGINIA BLUE,
designer Blue Fruit
Learn more about Blue Fruit

Featured projects

  • renovation and extension to victorian villa at Brighton Melbourne

    The Quoin House

    A stunning polychrome 1880s Victorian brick villa at Brighton gets a new lease of life, with a re-imagined floor plan and extension, for a busy family of four who love the outdoors.

    see the project
  • Bright kitchen with large arched stained glass window, white cabinetry, marble countertop, wooden dining table, hanging pendant lights, and artwork on the walls.

    Edwardian Garden House

    A turn of the century attic villa, in Federation style, got a complete makeover for the 21st century.

    With a new layout to suit the new owners, the charming home takes advantage of its glorious lead light windows and garden setting.

    see the project
  • Spanish Mission house Melbourne

    Spanish Mission by the bay

    Originally built in 1930, this Spanish Mission house was restored and renovated with high quality joinery to suit the new owners love of heritage detail.

    see the project
  • Ageing in place

    Lochwinnoch ageing in place

    This new house, built on part of the client's former large garden, allows the owners to enjoy gardening while living in a beautiful, low-maintenance home that saves energy.

    see the project
  • Victorian cottage extension Melbourne

    Gardener's cottage by the Bay

    In the mid-1800s, this was the gardener's home for a nearby mansion.

    Now the cottage has been extended and renovated to create a wonderful family home at Brighton.

    see the project
Learn more about Blue Fruit’s approach to heritage design
A modern house with a wooden gate, brick walls, green trees, and windows reflected in a sunny setting.
Bathroom vanity with a beige rectangular sink, black faucet, and two black soap dispensers. Large mirror above the sink reflects a shower with a black rain showerhead and glass enclosure, and white tiled walls. Decor includes white flowers in vases o
Close-up of a modern building with a rounded, black, ribbed roof and angular glass windows beneath it.
A collection of nine framed pictures on a light-colored wall, including illustrations of birds, landscapes, and scenes of people.
Modern black metal building exterior with large window, small outdoor light fixture, and trees reflected in the window, sky with clouds overhead.
Modern two-story house with brick and black exterior, large windows with curtains, small front lawn, young tree, paved walkway, black garage door, and outdoor lighting at dusk.
Close-up of a white house exterior featuring three decorative windows with geometric stained glass designs, a semi-circular window above, a brick border detail, and two flower boxes with green and flowering plants below.
Wooden gate with latch, set against greenery and brick wall.
Front view of a single-story house with a white exterior, brick arches over the porch, and a red-tiled roof. There are potted plants, benches, and purple flowers in the garden. The sky is blue with some clouds.
Decorative agate slices with gold edges attached to a mirror on a tiled wall.
A backyard with a swimming pool, stone wall, house with large glass sliding doors, and outdoor furniture.
A kitchen with a light gray countertop, an open cookbook, and fresh herbs. In the background, there is a distressed white bench with colorful pillows, a dining table with chairs, and a large colorful wall art.
Modern house with stone and wooden facade, black gates, and a driveway with a van parked outside; trees and cloudy sky in the background.
Living room with brick walls, large windows, and wooden plank ceiling. Features a round wooden dining table with white modern chairs, two orange armchairs with cream pillows, and a small couch. Hanging pendant lights and a colorful abstract painting
A lush garden scene with various greenery, shrubs, and blooming trees surrounding a white birdbath in the center.
Interior of a bright living room with a large window seat with cushions, a wooden dining table with a floral centerpiece, a bookshelf filled with books, and a modern hanging light fixture.
Kitchen and dining area with a wooden table, six chairs, and colorful flower vases. Kitchen has white cabinets, green backsplash, and a large window, pendant lights hanging above the countertop.
Close-up of a stained glass window with green, red, and yellow sections, mounted on a wall in a hallway with white walls, dark flooring, and decorative ceiling moldings.
Interior design concept board showing wall and flooring samples, fabric, wallpaper, and decorative elements with notes on materials like marble, porcelain, walnut timber, and velvet, along with images of textures and patterns.
A small white dog standing on a patterned hallway rug in a bright, well-lit home corridor with artwork on the walls and a door at the end.
Close-up of ornate white crown molding and decorative corbel on a cream-colored wall in a home interior.
Kitchen with wooden cabinets, white farmhouse sink, gold faucet, black knobs on cabinets, and a window above the sink with a brick backsplash. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.
A lush garden with a variety of shrubs, flowering plants, and small trees, featuring a stone pathway, a birdbath in the center, and surrounded by dense greenery and taller trees. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.
Close-up of a bathroom sink countertop with a black faucet, two brown bottles of Aesop hand soap, decorative agate stones hanging from a mirror, a white tiled wall, and a round drain in the sink. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.
View of a brick entrance gate with a metal gate, leading to a courtyard with greenery. Brick walls and a building with windows in the background. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.
Front porch of a house with a white wall, large window with shutters, potted plant, black iron decorative roof edge, and a wall-mounted lamp. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.
Close-up of a cabinet handle with a wooden drawer above a dark-colored cabinet, with a small vase of white and pink flowers in the background. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.
Close-up of modern building with black, curved, overhanging roof and large glass windows, with a leafy green tree in the foreground and other trees in the background. Blue Fruit interior architecture and design.