Why SUKU Home Founder Chrissy Lafian Bought a Half-Finished House

# The opportunity: buy a house at the finish line Chrissy Lafian, founder and creative director of SUKU Home, and her partner Chris Zancan found a new-build house in Brooklyn, Melbourne, that was roughly 80% finished. The vendor could not complete the project and listed the property. The couple inspected the home on impulse and decided to buy it hours before another auction they were due to attend.

# Why they chose a half-finished build

# What they changed and why With the structural and logistical work already done, Chrissy and Chris focused on internal finishes and the parts that would determine daily life. Key changes included:

• Finalising the open-plan kitchen so it flows with the living area and overlooks the new front landscaping.
• Covering some plywood panels with white plaster to soften the material palette and make space for colourful textiles, furniture and art.
• Integrating vintage and customised furniture alongside cinematic prints and curated ceramics to give the home a personal, lived-in feel.

# Design language and personal touches

Small DIY projects made a noticeable difference. For example, Chrissy updated IKEA drawers with a timber veneer front, which changed how she felt about the piece. Other touches include custom reupholstery of vintage sofas and bespoke curtains under a laundry sink.

# How family needs shaped choices The house is presented as a family home for Chrissy, Chris and their young son, Enzo. Practical finishes—like the kitchen layout, durable flooring, and considered storage—were finalised with everyday family life in mind. The interiors balance playful colour with calm, neutral surfaces so the household pieces and art can take centre stage.

# What to take away Buying a nearly finished house allowed Chrissy and Chris to skip heavy structural work and focus on the creative, human-scale decisions that make a home feel personal. Their method: keep the vendor's structural intent, selectively change finishes to broaden the palette, and layer in vintage pieces, artist prints and textile-driven colour for warmth and individuality.

# Visual highlights to look for Expect timber-lined moments, plastered white walls paired with plywood, vintage modular seating, SUKU Home bedding, Jakarta photographic prints, and small, thoughtful DIY upgrades that turn ordinary furniture into bespoke pieces.