homes

Artist and head of brand at Lucy Folk, Ben Mazey, grew fond of apartment living after 13 years living across Europe and Asia. He found few solid options upon returning to Melbourne, except for two developments by Milieu, including one apartment he purchased off-the-plan, and another he signed the lease on the next day! 

While awaiting the completion of his off-the-plan apartment, Ben has made this rented space in Collingwood his own with furniture sourced overseas, a vibrant gallery wall, and plenty of ceramics.

Not many people look at a bare bones warehouse and imagine living there – let alone a warehouse where they used to work!

After a stint working in this exact warehouse for florist Katie Marx some years ago, Gina Lasker of Georgie Boy floral studio returned to the Northcote property when it came up for sale in 2018. Having already spent time in the space, she knew it would make the perfect home/studio. 

Together with her partner, photographer Dan Roberts, Gina has spent the last two years renovating the space with the help of Dan’s mum, a retired architect, via video calls from New Zealand!

The couple now each work in the studio downstairs, beneath their lofty, work-in-progress home. 

When designer Kim Kneipp’s partner Lou Weis asked what she would love in a house, she imagined somewhere with a north-facing garden, within walking distance of her son’s school, and already renovated. 

This Victorian home in Brunswick East ticked all the boxes, except for the renovation! After some quick cosmetic updates when they first moved in (while Kim was seven months pregnant!), the family embarked on a major renovation, including a prefab extension. 

The completed home combines Lou’s luxurious design aesthetic with Kim’s salvaged style, and fondness for Japanese design, resulting in what she calls ‘humble luxury!’

There’s SO much history in this 1870 South Australia property, having been a church, Masonic lodge, and a yoga studio over its many lives!

Today, the heritage building is the converted family home of Sarah and Adam Fairhead Hall. What was essentially one large space has been divided into liveable rooms including a new mezzanine designed by Adam, who is a drafter, and styled by Sarah, who is a stylist and vintage seller at Read&Hall, and accomodation owner of My Sister & The Sea and Love & Mutiny. 

It’s not easy to make a large space feel cosy, but Sarah and Adam have achieved the near impossible with their creativity, patience, and incredible eye for eclectic vintage wares!

The history of Maddie and Mike Witter’s Fitzroy North home is a bit of a mystery. Thought to be a classic 1960s house, renovations revealed decorative high ceilings likely from the Victorian era, hidden beneath layers of plaster.

Regardless, when Maddie, Mike and their four children bought the property in 2019, the house was in bad shape. To get the home up to scratch, the whole family moved outside into the property’s self-contained backyard studio while they proceeded to gut the main house.

In just a few months, Maddie and her builder Calibre Built Developments essentially created a new home within the existing house’s footprint. The results are remarkable!

Interior designer Léo Terrando discovered this Bells Beach home 10 years ago when he parked his van in front of the property.

He went on to rent the uniquely shaped 1970s house (believed to be the work of architect Kevin Borland), completing only light renovations over the past decade.

With more than 50 windows looking out to peaceful rolling hills and the ocean, this relaxed beachside home makes the most of its iconic setting. Together with his partner Jessica Watts, Léo is truly living his best life!

Renovating a family home is always a highly personal experience, but especially in the case of Rebecca and Tom Long.

Rebecca purchased this Clifton Hill house in 2015 with her husband, actor Tom Long. The pair undertook renovations over 2017-18 while Tom was being treated for multiple myeloma. Tragically, after a long battle, Tom passed away in January 2020.  This home, which holds his beloved family, is part of his legacy. 

Alongside interior designer Kim Kneipp, the couple have created supremely comfortable oasis for their blended family. There’s a very literal, tactile softness in the textured walls, shaggy wool carpets and perfectly worn vintage furniture. A roaring fire in the living room captures a country house feeling, reflective of both Tom and Rebecca’s upbringings.

With its warm, comfortable and natural feel, Rebecca says the home feels like an embrace in times of bliss, and grief since Tom’s passing. Here, home is most certainly where the heart is. 

From the front facade, you’d have no idea of the clever renovations that lie within this Victorian cottage in Melbourne.

Keen to avoid a ‘typical box on the back’ extension, owners and designers Penny and Simon Barnes crafted an alternative, curving roof extension that utilises every inch of available space on the Carlton North block.

The expanded home remains faithful to the area’s original architecture, while simultaneously providing more space and improved energy efficiency for the couple and their three children. 

Leah Holt spent years moving house every six to 12 months, until finding this Flemington rental property with her partner Oliver Whiteley, where she finally feels settled.

As the operations and projects manager at Curated Spaces, and owner of vintage furniture studio LH Design Hub, Leah has access to some pretty incredible furniture. This gorgeous array of pieces, alongside modifications to the lighting and backyard, have turned this rented home into one seriously stylish and cohesive abode!

At the end of a laneway in inner Melbourne is a small, freestanding warehouse with a loft bedroom and a tiny roof garden. ‘What’s NOT to love?!’ says interior designer Leigh Ellwood, who moved into the rental property in the heart of Fitzroy along with her cat Yama a few years ago.

After hearing more from Leigh about her small but mighty home, filled with a lifetime of special things – we’d have to agree!

If you’re a regular reader of The Design Files, you’ll know all the cool kids are moving to Warrandyte. Unfortunately, rentals in the bush-like suburb (about 25 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD) are few and far between, so if you’re keen to secure one, you need to be quick!

Within minutes of this property being listed online, Tilly Barber was driving past the house and messaging friends to move in with her. They did, and it’s now their buzzing ‘modern family’ home, shared with her six-year-old son Mars, and friends Albee Barton and Justyn Burrows. 

We’ve been begging our Advertising and Sponsorship Manager Chelsea Hall to share her renovated Carnegie home with us since 2018, and today is finally the day!

Together with husband Stuart, LSA Architects, and Calibre Custom Builds, Chelsea has turned a once rundown student share house (with locking doors and TV ports in every room!) into a warm family home that’s just as comfortable as it is totally stylish.

Long-time TDF readers will recognise plenty of artwork and objects we’ve featured over the years – let’s just say Chelsea’s place is our idea of the ultimate Melbourne family home!

It’s been 10 years since architect Josh Crosbie first laid eyes on this Lorne home – his favourite on Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road. The house had been in hands of the original owners who built it in 1965, until the fortuitous opportunity came for Josh to purchase it last year.

Since moving in with his sons Levi, Jude, and his girlfriend Mish, Josh has added a lower floor to the house and completed sympathetic restorations. What he hasn’t touched are the ocean-facing facade, hardwood journey, or kitchen floor tiles – original features he deems ‘off-limits!’ 

Late last year we brought you the family story of Holly Thompson and Stephanie Lane, owners of homewares and vintage furniture business Goodspace, who parent their respective daughters Lola (5) and Frida (6) under the one Melbourne roof.

That alone makes this home special, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to also spotlight the incredible mid-century interiors in a little more detail!

The pair came across the Kew East rental property in 2019, and while it wasn’t quite right practically, they knew they had to have it.

With their styling flair and clever interventions, they’ve turned a two bedroom house (with green carpet in every room) into an impossibly stylish, love-filled home for four.