Photography: Phillip Castleton
As a relationship expert on Married at First Sight (MAFS), John is used to analysing other people’s commitment issues. At home on Sydney’s North Shore, however, the only relationship under review has been with a circa-1880 Victorian house – and according to his Kiwi wife Kelly Swanson-Roe, it’s been a mostly harmonious union (bar six months without a kitchen).
Kelly and John met in Auckland at a MediaWorks bootcamp – he was presenting a psychological workshop; she was there as a TV presenter. The relationship unfolded naturally and, in 2008, they moved to Sydney. Two children and a few homes later, they found this property just before Covid in 2020.
A home of elegant proportions
Set on a generous 777sqm block on Sydney’s North Shore, the 250sqm sandstone residence has all the hallmarks of its era: soaring ceilings, elegant proportions and foundations that have outlasted more than a century of trends. Inside, there are five bedrooms and multiple living zones, perfect for a growing family.
For Kelly, who grew up on a dairy farm in Whatawhata in the Waikato, the attraction was immediate – and emotional. Might we even suggest love at first sight?
“The sandstone. The ceiling heights. The proportions,” she says.
“It felt like a house that needed restoring, not reinventing. I’ll admit that it ticked emotional boxes more than practical ones at first, but I trusted that.”
Home Profile
Meet & Greet: Kelly Swanson-Roe (interior designer), John Aiken (clinical psychologist and relationship expert on Married at First Sight), Aston, 15, Piper, 13, Judge the bug (beagle/pug) and Lilly the cat.
The Property: An 1880s Victorian residence called Tyneside with beautiful period proportions and sandstone foundations. It sits on 777sqm in Willoughby East on Sydney’s North Shore.
A lighter touch to the interior
The interiors were dark, draughty and lacking proper heating or cooling. Rather than bulldoze and start again, Kelly – who has worked in interior design for more than a decade and holds a Bachelor of Residential and Commercial Design – opted for a lighter touch.
“My focus was on repairing, reinstating and improving liveability – not altering the original intent,” she explains.
“For me, it’s about responding to the architecture. Especially in heritage homes, the goal is to listen before imposing.”
It’s safe to say that this was not Kelly’s first rodeo.
“The passion to renovate has always been with me – I’ve restored many of our own homes as well as those for clients. I’m deeply drawn to architecture and spatial storytelling,” she shares.
“Design felt less like a career change from TV presenting and more like a return to something intuitive in me.”
Consulting with heritage specialists
Kelly learnt from her time working at an architectural firm and consulted closely with heritage specialists to ensure every decision was respectful. Original skirtings, cornices, architraves and ceiling roses were reinstated where needed.
Modern comforts were added discreetly: reverse-cycle air conditioning, two of the four fireplaces were converted to gas and sub-floor ventilation was added to deal with rising damp, along with termite protection underneath. Wide French oak flooring now runs through much of the home, bringing warmth without veering into faux-heritage territory.
Kelly describes the decor look as “restrained Victorian”.
“It’s not ornate for the sake of it. Not modern for the sake of contrast. Just materials that sit comfortably within the home’s DNA with a quiet confidence.”
“It was time to finish”
They lived in the home throughout the year-long renovation – an experience that provided both bonding and breaking points. The lowest moment was one winter morning when, after six months without a functioning kitchen, John stood on the porch in his boxer shorts and attempted to top up his porridge using the garden hose. Dirt shot out instead of water.
“The look on his face stopped me in my tracks. That was when I realised – enough. It was time to finish,” Kelly says, laughing.
Indoor-outdoor flow
The home has a surprising indoor-outdoor flow for the era, with 16 doors opening to balconies and terraces, creating natural breakout zones. Each bedroom has its own outdoor area, complete with seating (and, in some cases, swings).
Around the pool, there are distinct zones for lounging, reading and gathering. The cabana opens to a hot tub where movies can be watched while soaking. There’s also a built-in barbecue and outdoor shower. It’s a backyard designed less for Instagram and more for actual living.
“It can be full of people and never feel crowded,” Kelly says.
“That’s when you know the proportions are working.”
Covid lockdowns cemented their affection for the home. There were dance competitions in the lounge, swims followed by outdoor dinners, marshmallows around the firepit and movie nights upstairs by the fireplace. The layout allowed everyone to spread out – and come back together again.
Visitors tend to comment on two things: the artwork (sourced from Kelly’s late-night auction scrolling habit) and the bar, which sits on either side of a walkway. John, loyal to Central Otago pinot noir, has claimed one side, complete with a climate-controlled wine fridge, while Kelly’s side is stocked with gin.
“It’s a peaceful co-existence, diplomatically divided,” she says.
Moving onto the next project
Five years on, the house is on the market, a decision driven more by Kelly’s appetite for the next project than any dissatisfaction.
“It has been a significant and special chapter for our family,” Kelly says.
“I feel like we’ve gently returned Tyneside to what it should be – liveable, elegant and comfortable. Once that work is done, I’m ready for the next challenge.”
John, unsurprisingly for a man who talks about commitment for a living, would happily stay put.
“He’s far less obsessed with real estate than I am. Unfortunately, he married someone with a mild and incurable obsession with homes,” she says.
Home truths: Q&A with Kelly Swanson-Roe
What do you prefer – high-end or bargain buys?
I’m a hunter and gatherer – the opposite of cookie cutter. You’ll find high-end brands like Poliform, Space, Coco Republic and Living Edge alongside thrifted finds and offshore pieces that bring character. There’s real beauty in marrying both.
Best furniture purchase?
For me, it’s a cast concrete picnic table I designed and had made in New Zealand 22 years ago (Bunnings has just released something similar, two decades later). For John, it’s the CB2 brass chandeliers imported from Canada.
What is your favourite room or spot in the house now?
Our morning ritual happens on the top balcony off the main bedroom. It’s a sanctuary and the best spot for a quiet coffee before the children descend
What do visitors comment on?
The backyard. With my farming roots, I crave green space. The landscaping was designed to block neighbouring homes and traffic noise. It feels private and restorative.
See more images of John Aiken & Kelly Swanson-Roe’s restored Victorian home below:
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