Open To Ideas
Homes & Gardens|March 2017

This Melbourne house has been radically overhauled to create a distinctive family home with a convivial open-plan living space at its heart

Jennifer Goulding
Open To Ideas

“Very exciting,” is how Ghabida McGrath describes her experience of living in various locations around the world because of her husband Frank’s job. French by birth, Ghabida is a textile designer and moving to different countries and into new properties has provided repeated opportunities to express her creativity while fashioning each new family home.

Her latest project came when she, Frank and their two teenage children, Théo and Tess, moved from Singapore to Melbourne in 2011. “It has been a wonderful chance to indulge my passion for materials and to showcase the pieces we’ve collected during our travels,” she says.

When they arrived in Melbourne, the family decided to rent a property so that they could get to know the city before they decided to buy. They quickly picked out the affluent seaside town of Brighton, a vibrant, family-friendly spot about seven miles outside the city, as the place for them. “Frank drew up a wish list,” says Ghabida, “and at the top of it was that we wanted plenty of space, inside and out. Brighton is a popular area, though, so it would be a challenge to find the right home.”

This story is from the March 2017 edition of Homes & Gardens.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2017 edition of Homes & Gardens.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HOMES & GARDENSView All
THE NEW SHANGRI-LA
Homes & Gardens

THE NEW SHANGRI-LA

Across the globe, garden designers are creating paradise-like spaces by embracing the flora and heritage of indigenous landscapes

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
A QUIET PLACE
Homes & Gardens

A QUIET PLACE

The beauty of this restored Mallorcan villa is its stillness, both inside and out - and it makes whoever comes to visit completely relaxed

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
THE HOUSE OF FUN
Homes & Gardens

THE HOUSE OF FUN

Fearlessly flamboyant is the best way to describe every space of this 1960s French Regency-style mansion in the hills of Los Angeles

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
HEART & SOUL
Homes & Gardens

HEART & SOUL

A sophisticated use of fresh colours and playful patterns has ensured this modern Singapore apartment is full of character

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
IT'S WARM INSIDE
Homes & Gardens

IT'S WARM INSIDE

In designer Stephanie Barba Mendoza's home, everything was chosen to make her feel cocooned, looked after and full of joy

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
Shopping trips
Homes & Gardens

Shopping trips

This month, Joy Moyler details her strong desire to travel and the pieces she loves collecting along the way

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
A step ahead
Homes & Gardens

A step ahead

A staircase has a dramatic impact on an interior and a great one is both beautiful and practical

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2024
Make an entrance
Homes & Gardens

Make an entrance

Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan opens the door planning and styling a small hallway

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
STATE OF THE ART Collector's piece
Homes & Gardens

STATE OF THE ART Collector's piece

Six interior designers tell us the artists we should be investing in right now

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2024
Mexican revolution
Homes & Gardens

Mexican revolution

Creatives are restoring abandoned homes from the Yucatán's golden era and there's lots to learn from these historic houses

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024