Would you buy a half-finished house? This family did, and created a kid-friendly sanctuary

By Heather Nette KingAugust 16, 2026A young family has turned an unfinished house into a vibrant, character-filled sanctuary.“This dining table by Sarah Ellison doubles as our work-from-home space,” says Lafian, who upholstered the vintage Cesca chairs.Armelle HabibThe homeA contemporary, two-storey house with three bedrooms in Melbourne’s west.Who lives hereChrissy Lafian, founder and creative director of fashion and homewares label Suku Home, her husband, Christopher Zancan, a senior business analyst, their son Enzo, 4, and Papi the Pomeranian.What we did“The house was only 80 per cent complete when we bought it, so we got professionals to finish the kitchen and the landscaping but did cosmetic finishes such as plastering and painting ourselves,” says Lafian.Our favourite room“The light-filled, openplan kitchen, dining and living space,” says Lafian. “I love that everything centres around the kitchen as we cook and host a lot.”The ’hood“We didn’t know this suburb until the day we came to inspect the house, but it has everything we need: a good primary school, a community centre and garden, a dog park, a tennis court and a children’s playground.”Future plans“The front yard is next. I’d love to create a proper garden with a glasshouse, a seating area and a fire pit.”Best advice“Dress a room the way you dress yourself, full of your own character,” says Lafian. “That’s why I mix in pieces that have meaning, like art from friends or things I’ve made, alongside good design.”“When we moved in, every internal wall was covered in plywood, so we had to decide which walls to plaster,” says Lafian. The yellow chair is from Mood Objects.Armelle Habib“The concrete floors were already polished when we bought, but we added rugs to soften the space,” says Lafian. Enzo sits on a Normann Copenhagen “Bit” stool.Armelle HabibLafian has added a rug from Indonesian store The Good Things In Life, part of a collab with Japanese artist Kanoko Takaya, in Enzo’s plywood-lined bedroom.Armelle Habib“I love a DIY project, so I covered these IKEA cabinets in our bedroom with ALPI ‘Sottsass Orange’ timber veneer from Elton Group,” says Lafian.Armelle Habib“We made sure the living spaces were functional and cosy, not just nice to look at,” says Lafian. The painting is by local artist Ami Morris and the vintage “Flerbelle” sofa from Good Space.Armelle Habib