Take a tour through this modern Melbourne home

Earthy colours, easy spaces and feng shui design principles have transformed a 1970s Melbourne home into a calm and contemporary family haven - by Anna McCooe, Styling Jo McComiskey

Deck

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

DEREK SWALWELL

Living room

Inside, 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.

DEREK SWALWELL

Kitchen

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.

DEREK SWALWELL

Dining zone

The kitchen flows into a dining area, where a framed tea towel serves as a vibrant artwork. The couple designed the dining table and chairs and had them made by Pylo Steel Furniture. The timber seat is a Stokke adjustable high chair.

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.

DEREK SWALWELL

Living room

The sculptural pendant was crafted by a student at St Michael’s Grammar School.

Stairs

The home spirals around communal spaces, with quieter nooks shooting off at every turn. Functional storage and natural, easy-to-maintain materials make the family’s busy life seem a little simpler.

DEREK SWALWELL