SWEET DISPOSITION

TRUE TO ITS OWNERS’ BRIEF, THIS REBORN FAMILY HOME MARRIES TIMELESS STYLE WITH A SCANDI SENSIBILITY – AND PERFECTLY PLACED SPLASHES OF COLOUR

- JACKIE BRYGEL

LIGHT & BREEZY

With its gorgeous blend of timeless Scandi chic and warm pops of colour, Christine and Richard’s weatherboard cottage in inner Melbourne has been transformed into a dream home for the couple and their three daughters, Charlotte, 13, Olivia, 11, and Pippa, eight. An expanse of glass and bright white walls in the airy living zones, including the north-facing family room (pictured), maximises a sense of light and space. The home has many treasured furnishings, such as the Jardan ‘Wilfred’ clover wool sofa in Nigella Seed, the Sketch ‘Nysse’ occasional chairs in Natural/Dove from Globe West and the ‘Reuben’ marble and oak nesting coffee tables by Arthur G. The Hay ‘Strap Mirror’ hanging above the fireplace was found at Cult.

For Christine and Richard, home is a place to retreat and relax, as well as recharge, with their three daughters, Charlotte, Olivia and Pippa. Today, their lovingly restored period abode in Melbourne’s leafy inner south-east delivers on all counts. The sublime setting is also the perfect showcase for the family’s cherished collection of locally designed furnishings, including the piece fondly dubbed Christine’s “fourth child” – the Jardan ‘Wilfred’ sofa in beguiling navy that takes centrestage in the home’s living room. “Most of the pieces in the home are ones we will have for a very long time,” says Christine. “We’re not gatherers of possessions – everything has been bought with a view that it will be here until it breaks and simply cannot be fixed or repaired.”