Photography: Marie-Luise Skibbe
Through her interior design practice Hygge Design, Carlie Fraser creates warm, functional and meaningful homes that enrich the senses and have a deeply personal connection for their owners.
Her clients get a first-hand taste of this signature style when they visit her studio, which is located at her meticulously renovated home in Melbourne’s Bayside area. “We have a materials library, extensive book collection, desks and a lounge to unwind in by the fire,” says Carlie.
“Clients are usually also welcomed into my house, which can really help clarify the more practical aspects of design like ceiling heights, openings, appliances and other decisions.”
Who lives here?
Carlie, an interior designer and owner of Hygge Design, and Marcus, a professional golfer, their two children, Archie, 16, and Lily, 14, and George the golden retriever.
What made you fall in love with this home? “It had a very spacious, welcome feel to it, almost like living in the country.”
Renovation timeline? “We allowed 12 months and finished two weeks before Christmas, just in time for all the family to enjoy the day together.”
The brief? “It’s a big house, but we felt there were some small modifications that would really utilise the whole home to its full advantage.”
Best renovation decision? “We’re really happy with the long run of joinery on the south wall of the kitchen. It has made the room look and feel so much larger, despite being a darker timber. Also, the application of block colour painting – it adds a modern touch to the home, but still enhances the four-metre ceilings and bespoke skirting boards and architraves.”
Carlie shares her home – built in 1890 and named Pointside – with her husband Marcus, their two children Archie, 16, and Lily, 14, and George the golden retriever. Originally the servants’ quarters and horse stables for the main homestead, the Georgian-style buildings underwent a conversion in 1947, which was covered by Home Beautiful in an article titled ‘They Live in the Stable’.
Jump ahead to 2016, when Carlie and Marcus noticed the home up for sale while they were in Rio for the Olympics (Marcus is a professional golfer). “As soon as we landed back home, we went and had a look, and well, it was love at first sight,” says Carlie.
“The landscaped gardens drew Marcus in, while I fell in love with the old lady’s natural light, four-metre high ceilings and all of her character and history. You could almost sense the happiness and memories of other families in the home.”
The couple made just a few structural tweaks to the layout, which proved to be serendipitous. When relocating the kitchen’s entrance, Carlie opened up a wall to find a doorway in the exact place she wanted one. Removing the old splashback to make room for a servery window revealed an original window opening in its desired spot, as well.
“Surprisingly, the house is not heritage listed, but we really listened to her and tapped into her past,” says Carlie.
The interiors, on the other hand, needed a little more help. Working to a brief of ‘warm and welcoming’, Carlie selected quartzite stone for the kitchen, which helped inform the rest of the materials palette. American walnut joinery was the perfect companion, finished off with a tonal scheme of blues, browns, rust and bone.
“Coincidentally, we found a very old hand-printed wallpaper behind plaster in the bathroom that was in the exact same palette,” says Carlie. “We’ve had it framed, and it now hangs in the entry.”
“There is quite a bit of colour, but it’s all tonal, so nothing screams at you. We wanted a feeling of calm and hygge (cosiness).” —Carlie
The cream, brown and blue colour palette continues in the living room, where a blue velvet Togo settee and chairs are perfect for sinking into at the end of a long day. A pale blue stool from Fenton & Fenton and a mustard side table from Facebook Marketplace keep belongings close at hand.
A swirling artwork by Hannah Nowlan commands attention on the walls, which are painted in Porter’s Paints Salt Wattle. Ambient light is provided by a West Elm ceiling pendant and a vintage Danish wall light from the Kraftsman.
Much of the furniture was sourced secondhand; Danish designers are often Carlie’s go-tos. “Vintage furniture is great for the environment. Made so well, it’s ready for another life, and the thrill of patiently searching and finding just the right piece is quite addictive,” she says.
Spread across two storeys, it’s a large house, which suits the family well. Carlie, Marcus and the kids sleep upstairs, while two bedrooms on the ground floor are reserved for guests.
“We are that house that people drop into, and we couldn’t love it any more. We also have a lot of family from the country, so it’s wonderful to have them stay for longer periods – they jokingly request the ‘green’ or ‘blue’ room,” says Carlie.
Above all else, it’s a home for laughter, for food and for flow. It’s a home for simple pleasures, such as reading a book on the daybed by the fire, playing sport on the lawn with friends, or cooking up casseroles or dumplings in the kitchen.
“The renovation has allowed us to really use all the rooms to their best ability,” says Carlie. “I feel comfort, ease and happiness here. Visitors comment that it feels warm and welcoming; that is everything to us.”
Kitchen and dining
The kitchen features American walnut veneer joinery and Mirage Lake Quartzite from CDK Stone, used for the benchtops and splashback. A linear pendant from Beacon Lighting and vintage midcentury sconces from Etsy light the space.
“We entertain a lot and having the extra fridge, double ovens and butler’s pantry behind the wall of joinery means it is a dream kitchen to work in,” says Carlie.
Studio lounge
Living room
“We believe that buying high-quality materials that last a lifetime is one of the most sustainable things you can do.” —Carlie
Family room
The kids lock themselves away in the family room, where a Jardan lounge, Anaca Studio Toulouse ottoman and cushions from Globe West and L&M Home create a cosy hangout.
Curtains and blinds by Fabric Creations and walls painted Dulux Buff It add to the calming palette. Atop the Marketplace sideboard are a Panton table lamp from Mr & Mrs Designer and prints and decorative items from Denmark.
“I have Danish ties and speak Danish, hence the name Hygge Design. This is also why our designs have a strong connection to Denmark,” says Carlie.
Bathrooms
The bathrooms feel timeless and inviting, with marble and long subway tiles from Tiento Tiles, Faucet Strommen tapware and a walnut vanity to match the kitchen joinery.
“Adding underfloor heating to all the bathrooms was one of the best decisions, it is amazing for Melbourne winters!” says Carlie.
Main bedroom
Exterior and garden
Source book
Interior design Hygge Design, hyggedesign.com.au
Joinery South Coast Kitchens, southcoastkitchens.com.au
