Built circa 1940s, the house was treated to an extension when the couple's combined five children were younger, followed by a bathroom renovation when Cliff's mother lived with them. Five bedrooms have since become three, making way for a sitting room and library, and the gardens have also been given a serious spruce up. It's the most recent renovation however that proves even the most pokey and practical spaces can be reinvented to become beautiful rooms, showcasing not only the creativity of the homeowners, but also the stellar craftsmanship of those constructing them.

As the laundry was showing its age, Maxine and Cliff enlisted the expertise of eucabuild's Scott Fredericks and Tamela McMahon to create a more modern, functional space. "The brief for the laundry was that it had to be practical, but it could be beautiful," says Cliff, noting that Scott and Tamela had already built an outdoor ramp to the property, so they were aware of the pair's keen eye for design. "Tam and Scott think outside the square and made it work for us," says Maxine.

Indeed, she and Cliff were keen to incorporate retractable clothes airers into the room, and after some trial and error, Scott and Tamela created an apparatus that Cliff and Maxine are rapt with.

Family history has also been weaved into the laundry design, with a vintage wheel that belonged to Cliff's grandfather (they figure it originated from an agricultural setting) being sourced by Scott from the backyard and used in the pulley mechanism for the clothes airer near the ceiling. "He had great issues sourcing the green rope, but ended up finding an under the radar firm somewhere in the 'burbs of Melbourne," notes Cliff.

Another non-negotiable in the design was storage - a no-brainer in any laundry, however Maxine didn't want to settle for nondescript cupboard doors. "We'd seen a photograph printed onto some big sliding doors and were talking about that, when Tam said, 'What about Nicola's work?'," she says. An industrial designer, Tamela used to work with fellow Ballarat creative, Nicola Cerini.

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For more than two decades, Nicola's nature-inspired designs and textiles have graced countless objects, from bags and rugs, to buildings, and now Cliff and Maxine's laundry. "My mother, sisters and daughter all had Nicola Cerini bags and when Tam asked which of Nicola's prints we'd like to use, I particularly liked the fish," says Maxine. "That progressed to adding fish scales to some aspects."

The Japanese elements are a subtle nod to several facets of the couple's life. "Not only do we have a Japanese daughter-in-law (Ena is their son James' wife, who currently live at the house with their children, Minami, 3, and Tomo, 15 months), but my daughter taught in Japan and we've been there three times, so it appeals to us."

Created using flatbed printing directly onto plywood, Cliff says Scott and Tamela had to find a printer who could not only complete the job at the required size, but also using wood. "There was only one printer in town who was able to do it (and) they had numerous attempts at getting it right, because it's not a routine procedure," he says. Bespoke joinery features in everything from the cupboard doors to the timber shelving, showcasing both practical and elegant design. "It's not just the beautiful things you see on the outside; the storage is also based on the needs of the household," says Maxine. "That was also part of the brief and it's such a joy."