Home again The perfect retreat wasn’t far away for this family
BRISBANE COUPLE JANE AND JASON DIDN’T NEED TO MOVE FAR TO FIND THE PERFECT ABODE
When talking real estate, proximity to water is often at the top of the list and for many years Jane and her husband, Jason, loved their home that sat on the banks of Brisbane’s river. Things changed though with the arrival of daughters Annabel and Rosie, now 10 and eight. “The yard wasn’t fenced, so I often worried about them wandering down to the river without us,” explains Jane. “During the 2011 floods there was also a real risk our house would be inundated, so we moved all our furniture from the ground floor to the upper level. Fortunately, the water didn’t make it inside, but for me it tainted the experience of living on the river.” As luck would have it, a house came up for sale on the same street, a little further back from the water, yet still boasting views of the river, something the couple was keen to keep. “We went and had a look and were sold,” says Jane. “It meant we were still by the river, but at a comfortable distance.” Moving in over Christmas 2014, the expansive pool and kitchen were an instant hit, and with what she describes as a “big, beige blank canvas”, Jane began dreaming of changes that would make the home distinctly theirs. Renovated by the previous owners who laid great neutral foundations, it was just finishing touches such as furniture, lighting and window dressings that needed reworking. And the timing was perfect: the couple were ready to upgrade all the furniture they’d had since their children were born. Enlisting the expertise of Melinda Boundy of Melinda Boundy Design, the brief was for a comfortable family home with a timeless colour palette, filled with interesting pieces and a hint of glamour. “I’d never used an interior designer before, but because I like a lot of different styles I wanted guidance to keep the overall look cohesive,” says Jane. “Melinda was wonderful in steering me in the right direction.” Key changes included beautiful timber joinery in the girls’ bedrooms and an upstairs corner cleverly transformed into an intimate library area to house the family’s extensive book collection. The darker tones here were carried through to the main bedroom, providing a moody backdrop for a custom upholstered bed and timber side tables. “One of the advantages in working with Melinda was her ability to source pieces of furniture you don’t see every day,” says Jane. “I remember the day after all the new furnishings were installed I stepped back and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s all so nice.’” With the bulk of their time in spring and summer spent outdoors, the alfresco area around the pool was also beautifully furnished to create an outdoor room, filled with chic cane furniture topped with Tommy Bahama cushions and oversized pots of lush palms. Now, four years after they made the move, the couple has no regrets. “At this point in our lives this house really suits us,” says Jane. “It’s just easy. An added benefit of staying on the same street is that my sister, Emma, and her family live on the street, too, just four houses down.” Making this home truly a family one.
LIVING ROOM “The dark navy cabinet paired with gold accents is not something I would have thought of myself,” says Jane of this piece (top left) chosen by interior designer Melinda. “But I like that it brings a glamorous element to the casual living room.” Melinda sourced the drawers from Regency Distribution, the gold tray and decanters from Boyd Blue and the table lamp from Bloomingdales. The relaxed classic lines of Hudson sofas from Molmic were a timeless choice for the room (opposite), with removable custom slip covers perfect for a family with young children and fluffy couch-loving dog. To complement the grey, throw cushions in Duralee fabric pick up the blue tones that feature throughout the room. Jane’s love of plants is also evident with beautiful orchids imbuing elegance and a touch of greenery to tabletops, while a heliconia adds a tropical flavour.