The adage claims that ‘pink and green should never be seen’. But if one home can change your mind, it’s that of AFL star Patrick Dangerfield.
The Geelong captain and his wife, occupational therapist and podcast host Mardi Dangerfield, recently underwent a stunning home transformation with the help of celebrity interior stylist, Julia Green.
The young couple were living in their coastal dream home on the Great Ocean Road when they decided it needed a colour makeover. And we have all the details.
Who lives here?
Geelong AFL captain Patrick Dangerfield and his wife, occupational therapist and podcast host Mardi Dangerfield and their three children, George, Flick and Winnie.
The brief? “The brief was to bring warmth, personality and colour into the home while helping Patrick and Mardi feel more confident using colour,” Julia Green tells Home Beautiful. “We wanted to create spaces that felt layered and lived in, while still complementing the home’s beautiful coastal setting.”
Favourite spot to spend time? Patrick: The swivel armchair in the living room. “Not just because of the way it looks, which is fantastic,” Patrick says on Instagram, “but functionally, everything about this room is the view… so when I don’t want to talk to [people] I can just swivel, turn and watch [the view].”
The biggest change? “The biggest change in this entire project has been the change of colour,” says Patrick, who loves the choice to colour drench the study ceiling with Dulux New Penny. “I love it.”
A colour-perfect kitchen and dining area
Nature can be an artist’s greatest inspiration, and this was the case with Patrick and Mardi’s surprising pink and green colour scheme. Drawing on the Great Ocean Road landscape, the pair were drawn to the “dusty olive greens of the surrounding vegetation, earthy coastal tones, and the soft pink colours that appear in the sky at sunset”.
“The palette came directly from the environment around the home,” Julia confirms. “We started with a Pantone card exercise that allowed Patrick and Mardi to identify the colours they were naturally drawn to. That became the starting point for the palette throughout the home.
“It was a simple exercise, but it gave us a clear direction and helped them feel confident in the decisions we made together.”
From the native vegetation to the changing colours of the coastline, there was plenty of inspiration right outside the front door.
— Julia Green, interior stylist of Patrick Dangerfield’s home
The open-plan living, kitchen and dining space is the heart of the home — and naturally it comes with sweeping coastal views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Although the walls themselves remained neutral in tone (painted in Dulux Clay Pipe Half), colour was injected through decor and furnishings. largely sourced through Julia’s Greenhouse Interiors studio.
In the kitchen, muted pops of pink were introduced via striking Centième French Petal Pendant Lights, married perfectly to a rose-hued stone backsplash and benchtop. (This pink marbled finish recurs throughout the home to stunning effect.)
A living room with a view
In the living room, the GlobeWest couch and armchairs in dusty shades of pink and brown, are balanced by sage-hued Kanso Stonewash linen curtains, custom made by Champion Blinds.
“The lounge room would have to be my favourite room,” Julia confesses. “The view is extraordinary and every decision we made was centred around celebrating that outlook. It’s a space that feels relaxed and welcoming, and it’s where the connection between the interior and the landscape is strongest.”
Patrick Dangerfield’s home office is a retro dream
As you enter the more private rooms in Patrick and Mardi’s house, the colour becomes stronger and warmer, with colour-drenched walls in Dulux New Penny pinkish-brown.
Patrick’s home office is a retro haven, where American oak timber walls surround a custom-made desk by Hammer and Stone (who also did all the home’s joinery). The room is covered in artwork, down to the desk’s statement totem legs, crafted by Elvis Sabi.
“Artwork played a major role in the project and helped shape many of the design decisions,’ Julia shared. “Rather than treating art as something to add at the end, we used it throughout the process to guide colour choices and bring personality into each space. The collection gives the home a sense of individuality and tells part of the family’s story.”
The bedroom offers a lesson in pattern clashing
The bedroom is similarly soaked in colour, with a candy-striped bedhead pulling focus. Julia’s bed styling is a masterclass in clashing patterns, using different coloured plaid and florals to complete the look.
Sculptural works adorn both bedside tables, including a unique Rabbitwoman piece by famed art duo Gillie and Marc.
Patrick, 36, has been proudly posting his home renovation on Instagram, saying it’s “just a joy to see what’s been done”.
The AFL star worked closely with the My Reno Rules interiors expert, who instantly struck a rapport. “Patrick and Mardi were very involved from the beginning,” Julia shares. “They both had strong instincts around colour, materials and how they wanted the home to feel for their family.”
The result? A dreamy retreat for a stylish family… plus one kangaroo who loves to stop by for a visit.
SOURCE BOOK – your trusted home directory:
Interior design: Julia Green, greenhouseinteriors.com.au
Joinery: Hammer and Stone, hammerandstoneworkroom.com
Listen to Julia Green on The Edit podcast:
