inner light
A focus on energy rather than possessions has turned this family home into a live-in sanctuary
This spa founder has extended the tranquil feel to her home.
I“I TAKE A SIMPLISTIC APPROACH TO STYLING, BUT WITH TWO YOUNG, ENERGETIC BOYS, THE HOUSE HAS TO BE LIVABLE, TOO”
like my environment to feel as calm and warm as possible,” says Melanie Gleeson, who could be talking about her 100-plus Endota Spa locations around the country as much as her family home on Victoria’s beautiful Mornington Peninsula, which she shares with her husband Peter and sons Fergus and Jimmy. “Flow and energy are more important than possessions. I like open spaces with minimal clutter and a flow of fresh air moving throughout. It helps to move any stuck energy.” This translates to high ceilings, walls of glass and a living space that effortlessly rolls from one purpose to the next – plus, a sage smudging stick to burn when necessary.
To maximise their coastal location, the family thought as much about the outdoor
space as the indoor. “We’re always outside, so we built spaces that encouraged this,” says Gleeson, who founded the first Endota Spa in 2000. “My husband created an amazing front garden, with lush grass, a willow tree, red-brick pathway and vegie garden that spans the fence line.” In the backyard, the glittering pool is surrounded by olive trees, with their grey-green foliage providing shade and plenty of hooks to keep the practical stuff like towels hung and dry.
Just like an Endota Spa treatment room (Gleeson worked with the same interior
designer responsible for the spa fit-outs) and the skincare products for which the brand is known, the sun-soaked home pays tribute to the natural environment. “I’m very inspired by natural elements,” says Gleeson. “We’re so close to the beach and I love the ever-changing hues of the bay. In summer, you get days where it’s calm, still and crystal-clear blue. In winter, it can be fierce with dark navy and whitewash rolling waves. That’s why those colours make up the colour palette throughout the home.” The soothing shades are a study in how colour can be even more tranquil than the more obvious soft greys and whites.
Tactile textures like velvet and sandstone as well as the brushstrokes of original paintings help turn the serene home into an inviting family space. “I take a simplistic approach to decorating and only display items I feel a connection to,” Gleeson explains. Indeed, one of her favourite pieces offers a lot more than just aesthetic appeal. “The interior designer found these beautiful green glass pendants that drape from the ceiling above the island bench in the kitchen. Inscribed across the top of each light is a little affirmation: ‘Let your light shine.’” Like with most things, it seems the magic of this house is well and truly in the detail.