Welcome to my home
Anna Chisholm had drawn a blank as she searched her local area in Melbourne, Australia for the perfect family home. But, after widening the net, she finally struck lucky. ‘I found a timber-clad 1920s bungalow that had been newly refurbished, and had a big, modern extension,’ she says. ‘Inside, it was just white, so although there were some period features, it was the classic “blank canvas”.
‘The two-storey design was a plus-point. My son Charlie was a baby, and I had plans for another child, so a family-friendly environment was on my wish list. I saw that toys and clutter could be confined to a playroom upstairs, and once we’d passed that stage, everyone could have their own space. The open-plan ground floor was attractive, too, as I love entertaining. It brings the kitchen, living room and dining area together and it’s full of light, with huge, floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto the deck and the garden.’
Inspired by the bungalow’s marriage of old and new, Anna started with a clear-out of the ‘beige and bland’ furniture she’d accumulated over time, replacing it with a fresh, distinctive blend of family antiques, vintage finds and colour-packed, modern pieces. ‘I was ready for change, and this move marked a new chapter,’ she says. ‘I’d loved our previous house, but the larger space and mix of styles and eras were very appealing.’
Over the next few years, Anna found her confidence and enthusiasm for bold interiors growing as she pushed her old boundaries. ‘I began putting unexpected elements together throughout the house,’ she says. ‘One brave choice soon led to another, and I’m thrilled with the results.’ After several years here, and now with her own homeware business (bungalowtradingco.com.au), Anna’s looking to put her distinctive mark on a new property.
Sitting room
‘This is one of my favourite spaces. It’s full of sunshine in the morning, but the colours and textures make it elegant and atmospheric in the evening.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Ankara Blue armchair, £499, Dwell. Leverette coffee table, £153, Wayfair, is similar. Try Stiffkey Blue modern emulsion, £49.95 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Open-plan living space
‘The main living area works all year round,’ says Anna. ‘The bifold doors open right along the adjoining deck for indoor-outdoor living during the summer, and the open fire in the seating area makes it really cosy in the winter.’ BUY THE KEY PIECES Cavendish dark wood dining table, £879.99, Furniture Choice, would work here. For similar large plants and indoor trees, try Primrose
“I began putting unexpected elements together throughout the house. One brave colour choice and bold pattern clash soon led to another, and I’m thrilled with the results