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  • Decorate
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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

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Home tour: Miami-inspired art deco home

Home tour: Miami-inspired art deco home

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Bec Judd shares photos of her gorgeous home makeover

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The must-see transformation of a dull 80s home in Byron Bay

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A classic Queenslander renovated in stunning Hamptons style

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Natalie Bassingthwaighte's house tour is amazing!

Natalie Bassingthwaighte's house tour is amazing!

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This home is perfect – built from scratch by seasoned renovators

Sublime Christmas home renovation

Sublime Christmas home renovation

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10 quotes from happy homeowners to take on board for your next reno

10 quotes from happy homeowners to take on board for your next reno

Step inside the dream home of a Melbourne architect

Step inside the dream home of a Melbourne architect

Home tour: Small home, big ideas

Home tour: Small home, big ideas

This artist's home in Sydney's east is lived in and luscious

This artist's home in Sydney's east is lived in and luscious

This richly colourful Sydney home will make you want to redecorate your own

This richly colourful Sydney home will make you want to redecorate your own

Peek inside this calm, crisp, contemporary home

Peek inside this calm, crisp, contemporary home

Home tour: a stylish and soulful family abode by the seaside

Home tour: a stylish and soulful family abode by the seaside

  1. Home
  2. Open Homes

Home tour: City oasis

How this dark 1970s Melbourne home was transformed into a light-filled retreat - by Anna McCooe
  • 13 Sep 2017
Home tour: City oasis
Derek Swalwell

Earthy colours, easy spaces and feng shui design principles have informed the renovation of this calm and contemporary family haven.

Open spaces abound in the renovated home, with the living room flowing onto the deck, where a limewashed table from House of Orange and tropical plants create a feeling of escape.

Living room
Derek Swalwell

Living room

The neutral lounge setting – try Globe West for similar styles and fabrics – and yellow and grey cushions from Igloo offer relaxed elegance. The eye-catching artwork is by Tanya Hoddinott from Metro Gallery. 

The original exposed brick walls had darkened over time, so the couple had them plastered and painted in Dulux Antique White USA. Hints of blue in thefloor cushions provide a cool contrast to the warm tones of the Tasmanian oak floorboards and sisal rug; Country Road is a good source for similar graphic cushions.

Living room
Derek Swalwell

A green artwork punctuates a corner reading nook with a pop of colour, while the pendant lamp adds a sculptural element. 

Atrium
Derek Swalwell

Atrium

The whole house wraps around the double-height atrium, a casual area furnished with huge beanbags made out of duvet covers, cushions Mimi fashioned from tea towels and an artwork by Jill Lewis. The oversized statement pendant light was custom made by 4M.

Stairs
Derek Swalwell

Stairs

The orientation of the stairs leading up to the airy atrium was changed according to feng shui. “If you have your stairs facing the entrance, all your money is running out the door!” explains the homeowner. 

Dining room
Derek Swalwell
Kitchen
Derek Swalwell

Kitchen

The kitchen leads into both the dining room and the side yard. Practical and beautiful finishes finesse every surface: Caesarstone was used on the benchtops and splashbacks, the lower cabinetry and tall cupboards were clad in Duropal timber-look laminate in Havana Maple, while 2-pac in Dulux Lexicon half-strength was used on the overhead cabinetry.

Bedroom
Derek Swalwell

Master bedroom

The serene sleep-space boasts a well-loved artwork by Tiwi artist Jean Baptiste Apuatimi from Scott Livesey Galleries, crisp waffle-weave bedding and a bedhead covered in woollen fabric which Mimi found at a market.

Kid's bedroom
Derek Swalwell

Kid’s bedroom

Bright linen, wall decals from Love Mae and a pretty inspiration board feature in this cosy child's room. 

Builder: Brendan Cleary of BG & MJ Cleary Builders, 0417 320 037.

For more home tours, click here. 

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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

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Home tour: Miami-inspired art deco home

Home tour: Miami-inspired art deco home

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The must-see transformation of a dull 80s home in Byron Bay

A classic Queenslander renovated in stunning Hamptons style

A classic Queenslander renovated in stunning Hamptons style

{headline}

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Natalie Bassingthwaighte's house tour is amazing!

Natalie Bassingthwaighte's house tour is amazing!

This home is perfect – built from scratch by seasoned renovators

This home is perfect – built from scratch by seasoned renovators

Sublime Christmas home renovation

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{headline}

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10 quotes from happy homeowners to take on board for your next reno

10 quotes from happy homeowners to take on board for your next reno

Step inside the dream home of a Melbourne architect

Step inside the dream home of a Melbourne architect

Home tour: Small home, big ideas

Home tour: Small home, big ideas

This artist's home in Sydney's east is lived in and luscious

This artist's home in Sydney's east is lived in and luscious

This richly colourful Sydney home will make you want to redecorate your own

This richly colourful Sydney home will make you want to redecorate your own

Peek inside this calm, crisp, contemporary home

Peek inside this calm, crisp, contemporary home

Home tour: a stylish and soulful family abode by the seaside

Home tour: a stylish and soulful family abode by the seaside

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