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Ex-Blockheads Julia and Sasha share their latest reno journey

Today, I’m delighted to introduce a new series with ex-Blockheads Julia and Sasha, who will be exclusively sharing their latest reno journey with Interiors Addict, warts and all! As you know, I was big fan of these two and their taste on the last season of The Block. I’m taking major inspo from their Block kitchen for my own! 

Julia Treuel and Sasha Wright-Neville

It just so happens that their latest project, a 100-year-old home full of character (but currently not much space), is only a few streets away from where the new series of the reality reno show (which starts airing this Sunday, yay!) is being filmed in Melbourne.

Julia and Sasha’s Block family bathroom. I checked it out myself and it was BEAUTIFUL.
THAT Block kitchen which I’m taking inspo from for my own upcoming reno (imitation is flattering, right ladies?!)

The girls (Julia’s an interior stylist and Sasha, a software engineer) have been busy bees since they finished up on the show, starting up a design business called Abbey Collective. While their main focus will be flipping their own properties, they’ll also be offering interior styling services to clients.

Without further ado, I’ll hand over to Julia with the first fortnightly instalment of the Little Willow journey, which you’ll only read about online here…

2016 was an absolute whirlwind. We’d recently sold our much-loved property and were packing up our lives when we decided to apply for The Block. It was one of those spur of the moment decisions and we giggled through the entire process. ‘As if we’ll get on,’ we said. ‘Not a chance in hell.’ But we had a few hours up our sleeve and Sasha wanted to give her new camera a workout, so we made an audition tape and clicked ‘APPLY NOW’. 

That decision proved fruitful and two months later, we were standing on a rooftop in front of Scotty Cam, frozen to the bone and absolutely terrified. The next 12 weeks were equal parts challenging and exhilarating. We cried, fought, and laughed our way through the build of our Port Melbourne apartment. It tested us in ways we never imagined but we rode the rollercoaster with passion and determination and somehow came out the other side. The below package sums up our time on the show, expletives and all (Sorry, Dad!).

When cameras stopped rolling after our incredible auction, we were anxious to lock in our next project. Our plan had always been to flip properties but we’d been out of the market for a year and there was limited stock. Serendipitously, a sweet little Edwardian popped up and we knew we’d found the one. We roped our agent into bidding for us because I simply cannot be trusted at auctions and we had a budget to adhere to. After 15 heart-pounding minutes, the hammer fell and the property was ours.

Of course, first things first. She had to have a name and we chose Little Willow. It suits her to a T because she’s currently pretty mini and resides on a street with the same appellation. In her 100 years, she’s housed only two families and was once part of Melbourne’s renowned Rippon Lea Estate. Her weatherboard façade had us at hello but the rear hasn’t been touched in eons. The scope is incredible and even though there’s no heritage listing, we’re committed to preserving her period charm.   

The pair will transform Little Willow into a sizeable family home in just a few months

So, what’s our plan exactly? Well, we’ll be taking her from a tiny three-bedroom abode to a sizeable family home. We’ll retain the four principal rooms and knock down the rest, paving the way for a rear and first-floor extension. All up, there’ll be four bedrooms (including a stunning master suite), three bathrooms, and two living areas. It’s a massive project, our biggest to date, and we’re doing it in a matter of months. After The Block, I swore I’d never work to crazy timelines again and yet here we are. Will I melt down? Probably, but there’ll be no cameras to capture it so you’ll never know. (Jokes – I’m a chronic over-sharer so read about it here first.)

Our vision for Little Willow is in keeping with our design aesthetic of classic meets contemporary with a luxe vibe. The aim is to make it as appealing as possible to the widest range of buyers so we have the best chance come auction. Like most renovators, our biggest challenge is our budget. We have to keep it front and centre if we’re to grow Abbey Collective. This poses a massive problem as I get emotionally attached to things, so let the fireworks begin!

Undoubtedly, a renovation is only as good as the suppliers on board and we’re lucky to have some of the best. Freedom Kitchens will be holding our hands through kitchen and laundry week and NEFF will be kitting us out with their exceptional appliances. The team at Beaumont Tiles must have their blinkers on as they’ve agreed to work with us again, even after I tortured them on The Block. Reece have signed on the dotted line for more bathroom goodness and DIY Online Blinds will be jazzing up the windows. The Montauk Lighting Co. are new on the scene and will be providing some stunning pendants. Our walls will be dressed by the excellent Taubmans and doors by Gainsborough Hardware. Not to be forgotten is Little Willow’s façade. The folk at Scyon Walls will freshen her up with their Linea weatherboards whilst James Hardie will showcase their fab HardieDeck.

We get asked all the time about life after The Block so it’s a real treat to be sharing it with you on Interiors Addict. We’re so excited to be working on this gorgeous home and can’t wait to document it here via fortnightly articles. Until next time, lovelies.   

Julia xx

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Interiors Addict

Illustrator Megan Hess branches into homewares with porcelain vase

Long time readers of this blog will know I’m a huge fan of Australian illustrator Megan Hess so I was very excited when she shared her first homewares piece – a fine porcelain vase – with me.

megan hess vase

The limited edition piece features illustrations from her Black Feather collection on both sides and as it’s black and white, it’ll go with any interior colour scheme, or indeed flower choice! 

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Interiors Addict

Sex and the City illustrator’s converted church home in Port Melbourne

Today I’m very excited to share with you the gorgeous home of Megan Hess, the stylish illustrator of the Sex and the City book cover and much more.

Megan Hess
Megan Hess

Illustrating for brands like Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Dior and Laduree, Megan is living her dream. She lives (and works) here, in the roof of a church, with her architect husband Craig Yelland and two young children. There is nothing usual about this four-bedroom home, which is one of the things she loves the most.

“I initially thought the space was completely crazy,” she said. “It was the entire roof of an 18th century church! The location was perfect and it was enormous BUT it was a roof. Craig took photos, scanned them into the computer and started to show me where we would put walls and how it would work (the perks of being married to an architect!). As soon as I saw that I knew it would be perfect.”

Megan's home studio, where she creates her wonderful illustrations
Megan’s home studio, where she creates her wonderful illustrations

They have transformed it into their dream home and have been living there for three years. “Every single inch of it is built around how we like to live and the things we love.” The kids have their own area where they can play, make mess and hang out, and the “parents’ area” is a retreat from it all. “I feel like my pulse goes down the second I walk into that space,” says Megan.

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Interiors Addict

Room talk: masculine, monochrome Port Melbourne apartment

This project by designer Aaron Wong of Alexander Pollock, was for a young working professional who recently bought his first home in Port Melbourne. He was after a masculine and monochrome palette to suit his no fuss lifestyle.

“A very modern concept was chosen,” says Aaron. “My favourite part of the space was the installation of tinted mirrors to reflect the three tubular pendant lights for a visual effect.”