Serene scene Natural appeal is at the forefront of this dwelling
CARESSED BY NATURE, THIS BEAUTIFULLY REIMAGINED HOME IN MELBOURNE IS AS RELAXED AS ITS STUNNING SETTING
For homeowner Gail, happiness comes from waking to the greenest of surroundings. As the mother-of-three knows, there can be no better tonic to prepare for the busy day ahead. “This home is a new chapter for me, so to open the curtains and look out to the garden and all of the trees is just divine,” she says. “It really is the best way to start each day.” Sitting on a hill overlooking an expansive nature reserve dotted with gumtree-lined walkways, Gail’s renovated Melbourne haven wears its green heart on its sleeve. Expanses of glass ensure the home’s verdant setting is drawn into each of the rooms. “I almost feel like I’m outside even when I’m not!” she says. Yet, the natural backdrop belies the fact that the property is situated just moments away from a bustling suburban village. When Gail – who shares the home with her two grown-up daughters, Sarah and Hannah, and her son, Steve – first walked through the abode some years ago, it was an orange-brick, 1950s house with low ceilings and dated interiors, and had not been designed to embrace its surroundings. “The house was certainly in a very different state at the time,” recalls Gail, who’d had her eye on the location for some time. “It was a little daunting, as I knew that buying it would one day involve a major renovation.” When the time came to do just that, Gail handed over the creative reins to building designer Tina Lindner. “Tina was just fantastic,” says Gail. “She guided me through the whole process and we worked together really well without any fuss or drama. I completely trusted her input and she got the brief down pat. Almost half of the original house was demolished and rebuilt, so it was a very big job, but Tina was completely supportive through it all.” Most of all, Gail – who leads a busy work life running her own business – wanted to create a light and airy retreat where switching off from the demands of the day would be easy. A calming palette of natural tones, along with a contemporary yet warm aesthetic, works perfectly. “I wanted the house to feel like a resort, and it does,” she says. “When I come home, this is a real sanctuary. I feel the work stress leave me every time I walk in the door.” Having created her perfect paradise, Gail is sure of one thing – she’s definitely here to stay. “I never lose sight of what I have and I appreciate everything that I’ve worked really hard for,” she says. “I’m hoping my next chapter will involve slowing down a little, and this is the house for me to do that.”
LIVING ROOM
To maintain a cohesive look in her renovated home, Gail opted for all-new furniture. “Tina helped me choose everything,” she says. “She was a godsend. I’m not a visual person – I’m more factual – whereas Tina could imagine the spaces and knew exactly what would work.” The grey Camerich ‘Lazytime’ sofa (opposite & this page, bottom left), adorned with colourful cushions from Southwood Home and Fenton & Fenton and paired with a marble Camerich ‘Element’ coffee table from Meizai, embody the home’s timeless but contemporary vibe. A ‘Lattice’ rug from The Rug Collection centres the area.
KITCHEN
There’s a lot to love in this bright kitchen (top & bottom right), which includes the ultimate in concealed storage – a well-equipped butler’s pantry. The lengthy island bench, clad in Stone Italiana ‘Thyme’ and illuminated by replica ‘Wood’ Secto pendants from Lucretia Lighting, is a definite crowd-pleaser, and is teamed with ‘Transit’ stools from Meizai. “A large stone island bench and a butler’s pantry were always on my must-have list,” says Gail. A sculptural mixer – try the Nobili ‘Balance’ from Reece for similar – provides a stylish and contemporary match.