Personality plus

BOWERBIRD INSTINCTS AND A LOVE OF COLOUR MAKE THIS COUPLE'S HOME A CELEBRATION OF VIBRANT DESIGN

- KYLIE JACKES

SPARKING JOY

This cheery 1935 Queenslander is a far cry from the beige home that interior designer Lloyd Hodgkinson and his husband David purchased nine years ago. The original sun-room and entrance (above) is now one of the only white spaces in the home, forming an indoor greenhouse to journey through. “We intentionally kept this room white to act as a sort of ‘palate cleanser’ to the bright yellow living area [opposite] it steps into,” says Lloyd. The front door is painted in Dulux Grass Court, while the floral Bidjar rug is from The Rug Establishment. 

When entering the Brisbane home of Lloyd Hodgkinson and his husband David, there are no prizes for guessing the couple aren't minimalists. Greeted with a jungle of indoor plants, colourful walls, a profusion of pattern and antique finds, their personalities and passions shine within their cosy Queenslander.

"It's maximalist, biographical, classic and, most importantly, comfortable," says Lloyd, who's known for the bright, individualised homes he creates as principal of Oliver Mark Interiors. "This is our first home and, incredibly, it was the first home we inspected when we began searching. We instantly fell in love with the charm of the period detailing and unique character that can't be replicated in newer constructions." The home's bones were solid, but the kitchen and bathroom needed an update, as did the beige-on-beige interior. Although eager to add their own stamp, the couple took a gradual approach over nine years as their time and budget permitted.