Tag: home tour

London home gets ‘light touch’ reno with fabulous results

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 3, 2021
No Comments on London home gets ‘light touch’ reno with fabulous results

While we love to celebrate Australian interiors, occasionally an international home comes along that we simply must share. Located in West London, this eclectic Edwardian semi-detached home renovation was designed by the architectural firm Red Deer and draws on Mykonos, Mexico and Copenhagen for inspiration. The result makes for a wonderful rather heady mix indeed.

Owned by Eric Jafari from Birch hotel and hospitality group Edyn and barrister Olivia-Faith Dobbie, the couple purchased the home in January 2021 during the pandemic. Many spaces received a light touch refresh in areas that functioned well, whilst other rooms repurposed reclaimed materials and made the most of timeless existing features.

Living and kitchen — Living room and kitchen

The home’s bold colour palette is what stands out at first; inspired by the home’s existing leadlight, a trio of teal, coral and mustard lead the charge. Elsewhere, pale white hues and raw kermes oak shelves combine with Aztec geometric prints and Danish cane-woven furniture in moments of neutral pause.

The five-bedroom property consists of a ground-floor open-plan living and kitchen area, rear dining room, and front reception room.

A standout space, the front reception room had its original, more traditional, look replaced with dark teal walls and cabinetry. The colour is continued on the floor where teal painted floorboards really give the space a dramatic, immersive feel.

Both powder rooms are brimming with drama courtesy of dark red painted walls offset by brass hardware and marble splashbacks.

The first-floor features four bedrooms (one with an ensuite), a family bathroom and separate toilet. The second floor is in the eaves of the house and features a fifth bedroom and a large home gym.

The bedrooms were overhauled by exposing the floorboards and continuing the paint theme on the walls. The lovely bathroom was upgraded with a unique circular bath and shower, marble sink, brass hardware and pink floor tiles.

“In many ways the house is unrecognisable from January 2021, showing that light-touch interior design can have enormous impact on a home whilst reducing unnecessary waste. The walls of this home were a canvas for the couple to paint their colourful lives on working with the layout that existed,” says Red Deer.

Outside, the lovely garden features cane furniture and a plant wall that was inspired by a Mykonos villa that the home’s owners stayed in

Photography Inna Kostukovsky

For more on Red Deer

Period features maximised in timeless London home

This recently refurbished, warm and welcoming three storey London townhouse has made Jen a little homesick and, with its gorgeous period details, I can totally see why. Located in the…

Tags architecture, home tour, house tour, interior design, interiors, london, renovating, renovation

House Tours

Boyd Blue owner’s home is eclectic and layered with incredible views

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date May 27, 2020
No Comments on Boyd Blue owner’s home is eclectic and layered with incredible views

When a homewares and furniture company owner and an architect get married, you can bet their future home is going to be pretty impressive! Welcome to the beautiful Burleigh Heads house of Boyd Blue’s Shelley Boyd and her husband Ion.

They built the contemporary cantilever pole house 14 years ago. It took nine months and saw Ion carefully design a ‘’glass bowl’’ on the cliff face of the Burleigh National Park. “Our home is our sanctuary and we love spending time on our balcony admiring the view,” says Shelley, who has been selling furniture and homewares to interior designers and stylists for over 20 years.

“My interior style is very layered, textured, eclectic and comfortable, filled with natural materials and textures,” she says. “I like to layer it up with rich fabrics and rugs, rattan furniture, grass weave wallpapers, beautiful linen curtains, simple luxurious large scale sofas, classic hand-knotted mohair rugs, brass and bronze accents and unique finishes like raffia lamination and faux shagreen.”

With a largely monochromatic scheme, Shelley also loves incorporating jewel colours into each room.

You’d worry that being surrounded by furniture and homewares every day for work would mean constantly being tempted by something new and on trend, but it’s quite the opposite. “I have always had the same taste! It has become a little more refined over the years, more pared back, however still layered. I am more considered about what I bring into my home; pieces that I really love, timeless pieces that I will have for a lifetime.”

Shelley started selling fabric to designers out of the boot of her car in 1999. From these humble beginnings, she has built Boyd Blue into a Brisbane-based, nationwide industry leader, servicing the interior design market with an exclusive range of fabrics, furniture, lightings, rugs and mirrors.

With a focus on nature, scale, texture and finish, Shelley loves incorporating luxe natural materials like linen, cashmere, mohair, alpaca, stone and bronze into her collections. In a world of mass-produced goods, she has remaining firmly committed to her passion for craftsmanship.

And rather than being an extension of her showrooms, Shelley loves mixing Boyd Blue pieces with antique and interesting treasures she has collected from her overseas travels. “I don’t change things too much. I love every piece in my home and I would rather be surrounded by meaningful pieces I love.”

Artwork is something Shelley gets particularly sentimental about: “I have some pieces I love by Charles Blackman, Melissa Egan and Marilyn Reeman. I also have a set of beautiful Brazilian framed Agates.”

But her favourite pieces in the home are actually two oversized linen sofas. In fact, she loves them so much they have been re-upholstered more than once!

Shelley loves styling her coffee table and shares her tips for doing so: “I love scaled up coffee tables, breaking these up with trays in various materials and finishes. Being the heart of the living space, you spend a lot of your time around the coffee table. Place pieces that you have collected over the years that have meaning with sculptural objets. Greenery is always a lovely addition too.”

It’s clear she avoids following trends, preferring instead to have an eclectic mix of timeless pieces, with no particular theme or style.

“Curves and arches are very on trend however,” she says. “Also oversized art and the colour burgundy. We are still seeing a Scandinavian Mid Century feel in interiors as well as a very natural coastal boho look which is big on the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

“I see curtains are making a big comeback, which I love: voluminous linen curtains really frame a window and give a sense of luxury to a room.”

For more on Boyd Blue, which last year started selling direct to the public online too.

Photos: Dale Napier

Tags boyd blue, Burleigh heads, home tour, homewares, interior design, shelley boyd

Architecture Design House Tours Interviews Real Renos RENO ADDICT

Chic Perth heritage reno a seamless blend of old & new

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date March 23, 2020
No Comments on Chic Perth heritage reno a seamless blend of old & new

The heritage home with modern extension, is certainly not a new concept. Regardless of heritage restrictions, many a run-down old character home has been lovingly restored simply because people love a slice of history. From solid timber floors to architraves and unique ceiling details, a heritage home simply cannot be recreated with modern materials; something that was acknowledged by the designers of this gorgeous renovation, located in the well-heeled Perth suburb of Mosman Park.

Owned by the co-founders of Perth architectural and design company MAEK, the home was renovated recently after being purchased in less than ideal condition. And while it would have been easier (and possibly cheaper) to demolish the original abode and build something new, the MAEK team couldn’t resist the old bones of the once-loved home.

“It seemed sad to let the historical façade, and the history within it, disappear from the streetscape. People have since remarked at how glad they are that we had kept the old house and brought it back to life. We feel like we’ve made a real contribution to the neighbourhood and the value of our street,” says the co-founder of MAEK and one of the home’s owners Sophie McComish.

“We believe there is something very authentic and beautiful about a heritage home; something that is hard to replicate new. We get an immediate sense of quality and solidness; a sense that great care has been taken to craft it. This was another driving factor for us to bring the old home back to life – not losing all that beautiful detailing and workmanship,” says Sophie who rebuilt the front façade (the chimneys were strengthened and repaired) and repaired the home’s original six-metre-long jarrah floorboards too.

And when it comes to the home’s stunning rear extension, a commitment to ‘beautiful details and workmanship’ is evident where MAEK settled on a unique blend of old and new. “Whilst we have not imitated the old, we would never do this, it’s difficult to know where the old house ends and the new addition begins,” says Sophie.

For example, the living room (a highly contemporary addition) features heritage sash windows, plus detailed skirting and cornices; and it’s one of Sophie’s favourite places to inhabit. “From an aesthetic perspective, the kitchen and living area is a delightful space to be in. You feel as though you are nestled in your own secret garden with its lush green outlook. It’s beautiful all year round,” says Sophie.

Sash windows feature in the home's new extension — Sash windows (right) feature in the home’s new extension

The bathrooms, with their generous proportions of marble and stone, are some of the home’s standout spaces. One of them is situated in an original bedroom, and now sports a vintage freestanding bath in front of an original black and white fireplace. “The heritage features are complemented by a generous ceiling height, large proportions of statuario marble, limestone floors and supersized mirrors. The result is grand and luxurious, but also calming,” says Sophie.

Guest bathroom — The gorgeous guest bathroom

The beautiful garden features a few large boulders, nestled beneath trees among plants and rocks, giving the garden a lovely organic feel. “From kids’ playdates to grown up barbeques and lazing about on a Saturday morning, the house works perfectly for us. The kitchen, living area and alfresco are surrounded by an oasis of lush green gardens and pool, which makes for a very tranquil space to enjoy.”

Pool — The unique pool fence appears to be floating on grass. “It hardly requires any cleaning!” says Sophie.

Photography: Joel Barbitta & Jack Lovell

For more on MAEK | A landscape designer’s green oasis in Perth

Tags architecture, design, home renovation, home tour, house tour, interior design, interior designer, interiors, MAEK, perth, real reno, reno, renovating, renovation

Art Design Designers House Tours Interviews

Kerrie Hess: Illustrator’s chic home office

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date January 28, 2019
2 Comments on Kerrie Hess: Illustrator’s chic home office

The creative tools are never too far away for illustrator Kerrie Hess who let us take a peek inside her chic home office recently; an ultra-feminine, largely monochrome space that is punctuated with flashes of dusty pink. “I have been working from this office for about two and a half years and I honestly still don’t think it’s complete – it’s always evolving!” says Kerrie of the space that comprises the entire lower level of her home.

“I would describe my aesthetic as bright, classic and eclectic. For the office, I was inspired by the interior of a Dior store! I love white, grey, pale pink and metallics,” says Kerrie of the space that once looked extremely different! “When we moved in, the walls of the whole house were beige and the floor in the office was covered in bright orange tiles. We had the entire house spray painted a bright and clean ‘builders white’ inside before moving in, to make life easier.”

The gorgeous details – fresh flowers are a staple

The second renovation step for the office involved replacing the orange tiles with whitewashed laminate boards from Bunnings – a practical, sensible choice given Kerrie’s vocation. “As this is the space I am going to be painting and moving large pieces around, it made more sense to install hardwearing laminate rather than proper oak flooring downstairs. I am literally spilling paint every single day! And this surface is perfect for a work space, but still looks fresh and clean.”

Kerrie hard at work — Kerrie at work – her artwork adorns the room

The one other significant change was the addition of simple white moulding – a nod to Kerrie’s time in France. “Having lived in Paris in an apartment that had the most beautiful French mouldings, I wanted to bring a little touch of that to both my home and office.” She finished the room with a statement pink couch – her favourite part. “The rest of my home is really neutral, very black white and grey which I find really calming, but the office is the creative space where a pink couch just feels right,” says Kerrie.

Kerrie Hess office — Photo by Mindi Cooke and styling by Tahn Scoon

“I love being surrounded by art in the space too. My space for painting large originals in my last home was in my garage so having a dedicated painting space with amazing light is my kind of heaven. I sometimes display originals so I can enjoy them before they are sold and leave for their new homes!”

Kerrie's best-selling phone cases — Kerrie’s bestselling phone cases

Kerrie Hess — Photo by Mindi Cooke and styling by Tahn Scoon

As for the pros and cons of working from home, Kerrie likes the flexibility it offers. “For me, in combining motherhood with work, it just made sense to create a studio at home. My son Marcel is often coming down to the office to draw at my desk and I always feel really lucky that this is possible.” She manages to keep work and home life separate, despite their proximity. “There is a tendency to work more hours than you should when your office is your home space but I have gotten so much better at that lately! I really don’t want to work during evenings and weekends. This is my rule and I am so much happier when I stick to it! You have to have a balance in life.”

Kerrie with her son Marcel. Photo by Mindi Cooke and styling by Tahn Scoon

For more on Kerrie and her work

Check out Jen’s home office (also pink!)

Kerrie has designed a new logo for our Instagram styling challenge, 7 Vignettes, starting again on 1 February. Find out more.

Tags art, artist, design, fashion illustrator, home tour, illustrator, interior design, interiors, kerrie hess, renovation

House Tours RENO ADDICT

Would YOU live in a converted church?

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date February 21, 2018
1 Comment on Would YOU live in a converted church?

Vivienne Winborne shares the highs and lows of living in a converted church home with her fiancé Andrew and kids Violet and Amos. But would YOU live in a converted church?

Living in a church sounds heavenly, right? All those high ceilings, open spaces and stain glass windows. We bought a 1926 converted church in Newcastle last year. It is an amazing space with tonnes of potential but when you need scaffolding to change a lightbulb, you realise there may have been a few things you didn’t consider. So, what are the pros and cons?

converted church house dining room — The old church hall, now dining room

Character
Some people love shiny, new modern houses. We are all about character. Our church house has original stain glass in the façade, and the original light fittings in the main living space. We loved the metal trusses, the interesting ceiling line where the organ was built in and the stone plaques out the front. When my father-in-law pointed out how wonky the floor was, neither of us blinked an eye.

Quirks
How many people can say they have a crying room? We are planning to use the 2 x 2 metre room with a window through to the main lounge room as a bike storage area.

Location
Most churches were traditionally built in fairly central locations in the village, so chances are if you live in a church, you will be near cafes, shops and a school. We got really lucky and found a church that is centrally located but not on a main road.

Space!
Our church house was previously a church which connected to a large hall via a lobby. It has been converted into a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom house with two enormous living spaces. When we first moved in we would despair every time we accidently left something at one end of the house and had to go back for it. Our 2.5-year-old rides his bike around, drives his big red car and plays cricket in the lounge room (although I think that has a very limited lifespan!!). It does mean that normal furniture looks like dolls house furniture.

You need scaffolding for EVERYTHING
Light bulb has gone out? Scaffold. Painting the interior? Scaffold. Painting the exterior? Scaffold. Want to take down the disco ball which isn’t really working with the 1926 style? Scaffold. Replacing the ceiling fans? You get the idea.

Maintenance
Like any older house, our lovely church needs a bit of TLC. While I am dreaming of a shiny new kitchen and tracking down a beautiful 1920s wooden door, our money is being redirected towards a new roof. And don’t even get me started on the cost of stain glass restoration…

Stain glass restoration doesn’t come cheap!

The graveyard issue
We inspected a charming 2-bedroom stone church in Hinton. But apart from being a bit small, there was a graveyard out the back. Now I wasn’t worried about things that go bump in the night. But we did have a dog who was a bit of a Houdini. And he just loved bones. We kept looking.

Heating and cooling
I heard recently that tide is slowly turning with the open plan living trend. Big open spaces have a lovely feel, let in more light and work really well for entertaining. They also make it easy to cook dinner and keep an eye on the kids at the same time. But they make heating and cooling really tricky. We have installed extra insulation, two giant air-conditioning units and invested in a good quality gas heater.

Overall verdict? Pricey, but worth every penny!

— Vivienne is a freelance writer, blogger, brand manager and mother of two. See more of her church home at www.homesweetchurchhome.com.

Tags church conversion, converted church house, heritage home, home sweet church, home tour, newcastle, real home, Vivienne Winborne

House Tours

Gemma Peanut shows us around her new Sydney home

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date August 23, 2017
No Comments on Gemma Peanut shows us around her new Sydney home

Today’s tour is the first home of actress-turned-photographer Gemma Peanut and her husband Matt. Like many young Sydney couples, they missed out on several apartments before securing this one, on the lower north shore. “Searching for any home is a path paved with excitement and heartbreak,” the former Neighbours actress says. “We missed out on a few places we loved but were big believers that the home you end up with was always meant to be!

“I definitely didn’t fall for it instantly; my eyes widened at the opportunity and potential to convert it into something wonderful. I think the reason we were able to secure it was because it was so poorly presented for sale that many people were turned off. It would’ve looked like a lot of work to most but to me it looked like one hell-of-a fun project to sink my teeth into.” Smart buying indeed!

The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, top floor apartment is in a small block of 11. On getting the keys, aside from feeling “like my bank account had been brutally violated,” Gemma felt overwhelmed with excitement. “Getting on the property ladder started to feel like an impossible dream in Sydney. We were elated when we finally signed the papers to our new baby. I don’t know if this is a common reaction, but a few weeks after the excitement of being home owners wore off, the reality of the huge job ahead of us started to sink in and nerves and anxiety about our renovations started to kick in.”

The renovations took 4.5 months, during which time, the couple lived with her parents. “We gutted the entire apartment and started over. We removed all the bathroom tiles, built in wardrobes, carpet, the works. We also removed one wall to open up the kitchen into an open plan living room and kitchen. Most 1960s building have kitchens hidden away in a tiny room and I’m a sucker for lots of light and open space. That was never going to work for me. Plus, when I entertain friends, I like to be in the kitchen prepping a meal and still be able to hang out with everyone.”

The couple wisely ensured they’d be able to remove the wall before signing on the line to buy the place as it was a potential deal breaker. Then Gemma got to work with a very clear vision in mind, with Matt giving her free rein on all design decisions, provided she stayed within their agreed budget. “The greatest challenge was sticking to the budget but I enjoyed this challenge. It forced me to be resourceful and really sniff out those deals. There were certain things we splashed out on and then found ways to save. It’s all about striking that balance of affordable mixed in with fancy.”

Removing that kitchen wall undoubtedly made the biggest impact, allowing much more light in. “I’m a light junkie,” says Gemma. “I work from home and need to be flooded with light constantly for my own mental health. So that wall removal was the ultimate game changer.”

Now it’s finished and furnished, Gemma describes the space as calming, modern and homely. “Many friends have come over and said it feels soothing and relaxing. I would say my interior style is clean and modern with a sprinkle of bohemian. Matt self-nominated to have zero say in the interior styling of our apartment but he surprisingly dug his heels in on one topic: carpet. That was the only time he piped up. I wanted to go for a light grey/oat coloured carpet and he passionately disagreed. He wanted a dark grey. And seeing as I didn’t have many battles to fight, I let him win the carpet battle. And since moving in, I have to take my hat off to him. The darker carpet is much more practical and contrasts nicely with our bright white walls and bed linen.”

Being that she works from home, creating the perfect space was even more important to Gemma, who has carved out an impressive career as a photographer over the last few years, also running a popular online photography course. “I have a desk but I tend to move locations throughout the day. I’m fidgety so I’ll hop from working at my desk to my dining table to the kitchen island and then tend to end the day working on the couch. I’m sure all this shifting is terrible for my back but I’m incapable of sitting still and staring at the same wall for hours on end.”

Gemma recently launched a print shop too, selling some of her favourite photos as high quality art. “I’ve always followed my heart. I was that girl who knew her mind and my parents didn’t stand a chance in hell of guiding me towards a sensible and risk-free career. I’ve always been a believer that you will spend a giant chunk of your life working so you may as well love what you do. And I’ve been fortunate enough to explore all my creative passions and work within them with ease (although never void of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears). Transitioning to a business owner required a mammoth mental shift. I had to learn blind confidence and really back myself and belief that I could do it. There were a lot of growing pains along the way but I wouldn’t change a thing!”

Gemma loves art on her own walls too. “Art is where your can really express yourself and overtly share your personality. I like to make a statement, which is why my print shop offers large size prints with frames. I like people to solidly commit to my photography and go for something that takes up a lot of real estate and becomes a statement piece that can’t be ignored.

“My favourite is called Wild Love. It’s a picture of a maternal monkey breastfeeding her young. It brings such a grounding and earthy energy to my home. You can also walk straight into my apartment and completely understand my undying love for our natural environment. I love bringing the outside world inside. Hence all the indoor plant babies.”

With her renovating adventure now at an end, Gemma’s best advice from the experience is to pick a builder you like and trust. “You will spend a lot of time communicating and negotiating with them, so it’s important that you get on well and trust that they share your vision.

“My next big tip would be to stick with neutral tones when it comes to your kitchen and bathroom. You can express your love of colour through soft furnishings. Interior colours and styles move in waves and trends. It’s much easier to replace a pink cushion than it is to replace pink bathroom tiles.

“My last tip would be to plan lighting way ahead of time. This is something I wish I’d done sooner. The infrastructure needs to be set right at the start and isn’t something you can easily add in later. I wish I pre-empted that I might like a pendant light in my bathroom. Suddenly the bathroom was done and it was too late and too costly to add one.”

More about Gemma

More house tours

Tags actress, apartment, before and after, blogger, gemma peanut, gemma pranita, home tour, neighbours, photographer, reno, sydney

Designers House Tours Interviews Styling

House tour: Step inside this beautiful Byron Bay abode

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 11, 2016
1 Comment on House tour: Step inside this beautiful Byron Bay abode

One half of the Byron Bay interior styling and staging duo Alida and Miller, Margaret Scholley has the kind of magazine-worthy home that looks straight out of a film set. Located in Bangalow, not only is the outside painted pink (how fab!) but the inside is a gorgeous blend of moody blue hues, black and lots of beautiful, eclectic styling – no doubt the result of a lifetime of collecting.

“I love colour and texture, and love that my home is a place my family can feel incredibly comfortable in,” says Margaret of the 1980’s house she bought six years ago before completely overhauling it.

3812option — The kitchen: Those blue encaustic tiles are fabulous!

“I wanted everyone that came to visit to have their own space. Living in Bangalow, you constantly have friends and relatives drop in or stay for a while so I wanted to make sure that the guest rooms were down one end of the house, and our bedrooms and living space was at the other end, with the hub of the home (the kitchen) in the middle. That way, they can stay as long as they like and you don’t want to kick them out after a couple of days.”

Unbound by one particular aesthetic, Margaret takes a free-wheeling approach to styling her home and with pretty fabulous results. “If I like something I will put it in my home no matter what design period it’s from,” says Margaret who clearly has a particular talent for pulling all of the different elements together.

“My favourite part of the home is the kitchen as it has a big table in the middle, so our extended family of nine can all sit around it, chat and eat. I also love that my house is painted pink.”

A seasoned renovator, Margaret started flipping homes over 25 years ago on Sydney’s northern beaches before moving to Byron Bay and doing more of the same. “When we moved to Byron Bay 15 years ago, we continued renovating and selling houses, so I was able to meet a lot of the local real estate agents, and they were able to see what we did. Three years ago, McGrath Byron Bay invited my daughter Kit and I to style some homes they had listed for sale, and our property styling business Alida and Miller was born.” Her business has now expanded into private interior design work too.

3858 — We’re loving those birds of paradise!

“We are so lucky that we still work for McGrath and that has been the launch point for the interior design side of the business. We now work with private clients and their stunning homes too.”

Check out more of Alida & Miller’s work online.

Photography: Jessie Prince

Tags alida & miller, byron bay, colour, design, home tour, interior design, interior designer, interior styling, interiors, real home, styling, stylist

House Rules Styling

Seven stylists share a favourite corner of their home

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 13, 2015
2 Comments on Seven stylists share a favourite corner of their home

Our recent post where bloggers shared a favourite corner of their home was so popular, it got us thinking who else’s homes you’d like to take a peek inside. And surely stylists would be top of the list? We asked seven of our favourites to kindly give us the tour…

Steve Cordony: “With the little time I get to spend at home, this is my favourite spot. The light streams in through windows and I grab and iPad or magazine, curl up in the cushions and shut off. Bliss!”

Lucia Braham: “I think it’s pretty predictable that the favourite corner of anyone’s home would be a place where your favourite pieces accumulate, right? I love this sun drenched spot for the multitude of lovely memories it evokes. The mantle is home to a small collection of my global flea market finds and a self portrait my mother drew in 1974. The chair was a bargain purchase which I restored myself and had re-upholstered in remnants of Belgian linen. The un-fired clay wall hanging is by Sydney artist Angela McNay, and I picked up the Pendleton rug, direct from the Wool Mill in Portland, Oregon, on a recent trip. This spot is a little insight to my travels overseas and I love it for the crazy mix of vintage, contemporary, antique and handmade.”

Jessica Bellef: “Owning a wall of shelves had been a dream of mine for so long, a sign that my stylist/hoarder tendencies are on the extreme end of the spectrum. My custom shelving was designed and built by my fiance’s dad and I, quite soon after my fiance and I bought our house. Running almost four metres across and housing favourite books, records and objects, I love how the shelves fill the space and compliment our 1970s home. And yep, our poor dog Charles Barkley is sporting a very undignified cone on his head in this shot. The little guy had surgery recently and he is now on the mend. The tail wags again.”

Aimee Tarulli: “My favourite corner of my home is my bedroom. It’s my quiet, calm sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of my day to day life! I love the soft layers of Cultiver linen on my bed in pastel shades, it’s so cosy and I get up every morning and just want to jump right back in. I’ve added lots of layers and texture through linen and velvet cushions and my favourite throw from Tribe & Co giving my room a lush, inviting feel. This is the spot I look forward to getting back to after a long busy day!”

aimee bed — Photo by Red Rabbit Photography. Click for details

Adam Powell: “”I’m enamoured by the theatricality of lighting so at night, this little corner comes alive. My newest addition is the lava lamp; time to bring them back I say! It’s hard to miss my obsession with colour, especially against that amazing chalkboard wallpaper.”

Julia Green: “I love my dark walls and how everything seems to pop with colour against them, including this photographic artwork print from Lumiere Art + Co.”

Sophie Thé: “My favourite corner is the cockpit of my boat, where I can seat, read and daydream while looking at the world go by.”

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Tags adam powell, Aimee Tarulli, home tour, interiors, jessica bellef, julia green, lucia braham, sophie the, steve cordony, styling, stylist

House Tours

Real homes: Jenny McCown’s happy and colourful Queenslander

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date September 24, 2015
12 Comments on Real homes: Jenny McCown’s happy and colourful Queenslander

By Rachael Honner

From the Street, Jenny McCown’s home is a hidden gem amongst the palms that surround the front veranda. It isn’t until you step through the lattice threshold and see her bright pink front door that you become aware of the beauty and flair that lies within this unique abode.

It has been decorated with well-travelled collections, cool vintage and country glam aesthetics, where the colours pink and blue seamlessly tie the whole home together.

Jenny is an artist, a recent empty nester who shares her four-bedroom East Brisbane Queenslander with a family who frequently come and go. East Brisbane is an older suburb with many original Queenslander homes; it has a strong community spirit which is made up of both long term residents and new.

Perched on the slope of a hill, Jenny’s home was originally built in 1905 by a grazier for his three daughters to live in. Jenny bought the home in late 2009 because it was simply the only house she could imagine herself really living in.

Jenny’s paintings often capture the magic of her colourful home, where flowers bloom inside beautiful vintage jugs placed on bright coloured tablecloths or well-loved stools. A collection of bright coloured artworks, including her own pieces, adorn the home’s walls.

Jenny and her family were keen to keep the original character and style of the home therefore preservation has been an important focus. Jenny also prefers to reuse and recycle where possible, opting to update the home by painting the interior entirely white with Dulux Fair Bianca, including the original silky oak kitchen.

They also upgraded the hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms. The open plan kitchen/dining area was transformed by adding a black and white linoleum floor.

Jenny’s decorating style is instinctual; she deliberately chooses to decorate with pieces that speak to her sentimental or emotional sides. She styles her home with happiness in mind, literally by layering her home with a varied range of treasured possessions that make her smile.

In the main bedroom is a gallery of sentimental artworks and trinkets; three artworks are particularly special to her because they were creations of her boys when they were little.