When Briony Goldsmith and Robert Jurcec set out to find their first home together, they were looking for somewhere big enough for their children, that would also allow working from home. When they discovered this Hawthorn home, it didn’t just fit the bill, it was perfect! ‘We found it and couldn’t believe how perfect it was for us, it had everything that we wanted and needed,’ Briony says.
Briony has lived in older Victorian homes in the past, but has come to love the lightness and energy of this recently-built modern home. Among her favourite features are the lush rear courtyard framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, the high ceilings, and how unassuming the house appears from the outside. ‘Everyone gets a shock at how large the place is when they walk in!’ she says.
Living in this house marks the first time Briony and their respective children Maya Jurcec, and Gretchen Ryan, both 9, have lived together. So far it’s been smooth sailing, except for arguments between the grown-ups about whose furniture gets to be in the home! ‘We both had complete homes separately, and we couldn’t fit both of our furniture in,’ explains Briony. Fortunately for her, the home has a Scandinavian feel ideally suited to Briony’s existing Danish furniture pieces. ‘In the end, I won,’ she admits!
Dotted throughout the space are beautiful objects and art that provide a personal touch. ‘I love the energy that gets created when an artist births their vision, whether it be furniture or a painting. By collecting objects and furniture that I love, created by someone that made it from their soul, there is a beautiful energy,’ Briony says. She also has a fondness for crystals, explaining ‘they add to how my home feels, and remind me that I am connected to the earth’.
Other beloved items include Briony’s couch (‘It has stains on it from when I was breastfeeding my daughter, the puppy has scratched it, but it still looks good,’ she says), and the butterfly artwork by Melbourne artist Carla Fletcher. ‘It doesn’t matter where I live, people often comment on the feel of my home,’ Briony says.
Briony is the director and founder of Soul Star Festival – a boutique wellness and spiritual celebration on March 1st. Find more information about the event here!
Twiggy Floor lamp by Foscarini and Tufty Time couch by B&B Italia, both available from Space Furniture. Mark Tuckey egg cup stool. Loom rug. Carla Fletcher painting. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Opinion Ciatti floating bookshelf from Space Furniture. Missoni Home ottoman. Molly the dog sits on a Hans Wegner chair. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Briony Goldsmith. Tufty Time couch by B&B Italia, available from Space Furniture. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Photo styling – Annie Portelli. Interior styling – Chiara D’Aloi.
Loom rug. Phoenix coffee table. Mark Tuckey egg cup stool. Carla Fletcher painting. B&B Italia chair and Tufty Time couch both available from Space Furniture. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
A clear quartz crystal sits beside a gifted vase. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Tufty Time couch by B&B Italia, available from Space Furniture. The Carla Fletcher painting overlooks the living and dining space. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Surround Interiors outdoor furniture. West Elm crystal coasters. Wishbone dining chairs by Fritz Hansen from Cult. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Painting by Joshua Yeldham. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Great Dane Smed stools and wishbone dining chairs by Fritz Hansen from Cult. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Great Dane Smed stools and wishbone dining chairs by Fritz Hansen from Cult. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Bathroom light. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
West Elm bed linen. HAY bedside table. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
A painting by Christine White overlooks the stairwell. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Luke Furniture outdoor setting. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.
