Builder & Designer | Melbourne

Greek vs Levo 🇬🇷🇱🇧 John reckons it’s Greek food… I reckon the Greeks just looked at Lebanese food and said: “Yeah… we’ll take that.” 😏 Hummus? Stolen. Falafel? Borrowed forever. Garlic sauce? Don’t even start. All love though 😂 Same olive oil, same fire, same passion — just one of us had the recipes first 👀🔥 Raf 🇱🇧 vs John 🇬🇷 Comment section… I’m ready for you 🍿 ⸻ #GreekVsLebanese #foodie #comedy #viralreels #funnyvideos

rafbuilt | Mediterranean Wars — Part 1.5 🇱🇧😂 Greeks arguing. Turks claiming it. Italians watching from the corner like: “Wait… is this pasta somehow ours too?” 🤌😂 Meanwhile the Lebo just sitting there like: “Relax everyone… we fed you all at some point.” 😏 Hummus? Debate it. Falafel? Fight over it. Garlic sauce? Yeah nah… that one’s not up for discussion 😮‍💨🔥 All love, all flavour 🤍 Same Mediterranean blood, different egos — one kitchen started the chaos though 👀 Lebo 🇱🇧 vs Everyone Comments… don’t disappoint me 🍿😂. #viralreels #comedyreels #fyp #explorepage #reelsviral

Design is not just what you see… it’s what you feel the moment you step into a space. At RafBuilt, we don’t follow trends and we don’t build from templates. We create custom spaces that don’t exist anywhere else and will never be repeated. Every project is designed with intention, craftsmanship and detail — pushing architecture and construction beyond the ordinary. As a designer, builder and creator, I’m always open to working with brands, collaborators and sponsors who value innovation, quality and original design. If you’re looking to bring something bold, unique and truly one of a kind to life — let’s build it. #rafbuilt #luxuryarchitecture #customhomes #designbuilder #architecturaldesign

In the News: realestate.com.au Period enthusiasts are spending big to breathe new life into modest historic homes as part of a wave of inner-city reinvention. Once bulldozed en masse, a new appreciation of these humble homes and their character charm is driving a revival of the inner-city cottage as a luxe modern residence. From workers cottages to Californian bungalows, these homes are increasingly being hunted for their charm and reimagined by deep-pocketed buyers. Raf Merhi, a self-confessed “sucker for old homes”, spent almost $1 million transforming a tired weatherboard bungalow in Melbourne’s north. The year-long project turned what he described as an “ugly duckling” into “probably the best house in the street”. When the RW Rightway Developments director bought 5 Glencairn Avenue, Coburg in 2025 for $1.25 million, few original features remained. Merhi restored key elements, including timber frames sourced from a home scheduled for demolition, and recreated leadlight details from old photos. Mr Merhi also handcrafted a new front door frame, installed a timber fence and added tessellated tiles to the entrance, while overhauling the garden. The renovation came with challenges, including rot, termite damage and strict heritage rules. Demolition was hardest, involving removal of old timber, a staggering number of nails, and layers of old plaster. “Taking that off is like pulling out teeth. You have to actually sit there with a chisel, crowbar and shovel, and chip it away like an archeologist,” he said. But the effort was worth it, with buyers vying for turn-key homes offering character and a convenient inner city lifestyle. 5 Glencairn Avenue, Coburg 4 Beds | 2 Baths | 2 Cars The transition through the home says it all. Every finish has been carefully considered, every detail intentional — the kind of home that feels as good as it looks. Agent Fadi Khoder 0409 776 966 Builder & Design – @rafbuilt Architect – @wardledesign Stone – @volarostone Tapware – @nerotapware Stylist – @_thestylingsociety Venetian Plaster – @venetianplastergallery_melb Tiles – @betterbathware

Behind every great space is the final layer that brings it to life the styling. Big shoutout to Mariah @_thestylingsociety for the incredible work on this property. Their eye for detail, balance, texture and finishing touches helped elevate every room and complete the vision perfectly. Design and construction create the structure styling creates the feeling. And they absolutely nailed it. Appreciate the effort, professionalism, and talent. 👏✨ #RafBuilt #TheStylingSociety #InteriorStyling #LuxuryHomes #PropertyDesign

PART 2 OF 3 — THE KITCHEN The second chapter of this three-part series. A kitchen designed to break away from the ordinary — curved forms, architectural lines, warm oak tones, custom lighting, and a statement island that becomes the centrepiece of the home. Every detail was considered. Every curve intentional. Every finish selected to create a space that feels as good as it looks. Designed. Built. Explained. #RafBuilt #KitchenDesign #LuxuryInteriors #ArchitecturalDesign #CustomHomes

SERIES 1 OF 3 — THE HALLWAY Everyone walks through it… but almost no one designs it properly. This isn’t just a hallway — it’s the first emotion you feel when you enter the home. Every curve, every line, every finish… was designed to guide you, not just move you. No templates. No shortcuts. Just pure intention. This is where the story begins. Kitchen next. Then the bathroom. ⸻ #rafbuilt #homedesign #luxuryinteriors #custombuild #architecturedesign

Curves that don’t follow trends they define them. This kitchen was never about straight lines. It was about flow… Arches layered over arches, creating rhythm, softness, and presence in a space that demands to be felt, not just seen. Wrapped in oak veneer, the warmth balances the sculptural form while the Illusion Bronze marble from @volarostone anchors the entire design with depth, texture, and quiet luxury. Every detail was considered… from kitchen mixer with the travertine handles from @nerotapware to the fully integrated appliances, allowing the architecture to remain uninterrupted. A Bosch induction cooktop with a concealed downdraft rangehood keeps the surface clean and minimal, while custom LED lighting traces the curves echoing the arches beneath the island and highlighting the bespoke pendant lighting suspended above. Natural light pours through overhead skylights, completing the space with a softness that changes throughout the day. Designed and built entirely by me no templates, no repetition just vision brought to life. This isn’t just a kitchen. It’s a statement of how space should feel. #RafBuilt #LuxuryKitchenDesign #ArchitecturalLiving #CustomHomesAustralia #InteriorDesignInspo

True craftsmanship isn’t applied… it’s formed Every element within this hallway was created by hand—no pre-made moulds, no repetition, no compromise The arch alone was shaped from a piece of raw steel, cut and refined into a custom stencil, then carefully worked into form—layer by layer—until it became part of the structure itself The cornices, the ceiling rosettes… each detail placed with intention, each finish carried through with precision This is a discipline that’s slowly disappearing—where time, patience, and skill define the outcome Designed and built entirely by RafBuilt… not to follow tradition, but to honour it #rafbuilt #artisan #plastercraft #interiordesign #melbournehomes

Preserving heritage and deftly incorporating a sleek contemporary extension, it's glamourous, gorgeous and geared to stylish family living. Adorned with exquisite detailing, the front of the home offers large bedrooms, a dressing room and designer bathrooms. Take a tour via https://rea.to/ia5zh or visit the link in our bio. 📍5 Glencairn Avenue, Coburg, Vic 3058

Before… just a space. After… RAFBUILT. What you’re looking at isn’t a renovation — it’s a complete re-imagination. Every arch, every curve, every line… designed and executed by me. No templates. No shortcuts. Just vision turned into reality. I didn’t follow a style — I created one. This is how you transform a hallway into a statement. RAFBUILT. Built different. ⸻ #rafbuilt #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #BeforeAndAfter #MelbourneBuilder

This is not a bathroom. This is a statement. Designed, engineered and built entirely by myself @rafbuilt — from the first frame to the final finish. No templates. No shortcuts. No compromises. Every curve, every line, every surface… executed by hand. Framed. Plastered. Built. Refined. A one-of-one space that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. Award-level design. World-class execution. This is what happens when vision meets obsession. In a world full of copies… we create originals. Tapware by @nerotapware — setting the standard in detail and precision. Venetian plaster & Pastellone by @venetianplastergallery_melb bringing depth, texture and timeless luxury into the space. Fixtures and finishes sourced through @betterbathware — delivering the quality, range and detail required to bring a space like this to life. Design consultation with @wardledesign — appreciate Ben Wardle’s input and support throughout the process. 3D visualisation by @__studio86__ — bringing the concept to life through detailed renders. This isn’t just what we do. This is who we are. Rafbuilt. Built different. ⸻ #BathroomDesign #LuxuryBathroom #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #Architecture