family

Jarnah Montersino launched Mont Studio in 2020, after making the leap into the design industry, from her first career in human rights and international development. Although worlds apart, the career change was partially inspired by previous work travels, where she found herself collecting fabrics from around the world.

After struggling to find work with a textiles business that aligned with her personal ethos, Mont Studio was born! Jarnah’s Melbourne-based studio creates original fabrics and objects – her latest range of patterned linens and abstract wallpapers is available via textile showroom, Style Revolutionary.

Ben Mooney has always wanted to live above a shop. After years of scouring real estate listings, he signed a three-year commercial lease to finally make his dream a reality. 

He now lives in the upper level of an 1880s Collingwood shop, which he also rents out as a photoshoot and small events space known as Ma House. The large and flexible property is the perfect canvas for Ben’s many, many furniture pieces and design objects, collected locally and abroad – including enough chairs to seat 40 people!

When pastry chef Patti Chimkire lost most of her work in 2020 due to the Melbourne lockdowns, she decided to make the most of her free time and explore a new source of income baking cookies and cakes from her small share house – and boy, are we glad she did!

Soon after she launched Mali Bakes, Patti was producing countless sweet treats each week and experimenting with cake colours and flavours. Her delicious retro-inspired creations – that look almost too good to eat – have been met with overwhelming demand, and now she has her own adorable Thornbury store.

We recently spent a day in Patti’s world filled with colour, sweet treats, and lots of hard work!

According to a recent report by the ABC, developments in the outer suburbs of big cities can get up to 10 degrees hotter than the city centre. This is due to overdevelopment and poor town planning, where every inch of usable land is occupied with a house, thereby leaving little room for either private or public open place.

From both a human and environmental perspective, we desperately need responsibly designed, accessible housing in new suburban developments. The LiveWorkShare House by Bligh Graham Architects is a prototype for sustainable, flexible housing in high-density blocks.

Located in Samford village just outside Brisbane, the project covers only 40% of its 612 sqm site. Formulated with the work-from-home model in mind, the architects emphasise smart design as a way to achieve the trifecta of functional diversity, density and green space at once.

Even when you’re the editor of a real estate platform, it can be surprisingly difficult to find your perfect family home! 

Domain’s national managing editor and property expert Alice Stolz (you might recognise her from The Block!) experienced this unique conundrum when returning to Australia in 2016, following 12 years living overseas with her husband Adam Stolz and three children. A city-wide Melbourne search ensued, leading to this 1900s Canterbury home, oozing with character and potential. 

Alice and Adam worked with Doherty Design Studio to completely renovate the property within the existing footprint. The result is equal parts practical and playful, exuding a certain ‘je ne sais quoi!’

When architect Kyra Thomas (Kyra Thomas Architects) and her partner Julian Reznik were searching for their new home, they were looking for a challenge; something they could transform into a spacious family home, but that was a little different to the usual inner-city Sydney property.

They found exactly that in an old self-storage warehouse, which they’ve masterfully renovated into an elegant family home that seamlessly connects exterior courtyard spaces with an open-plan, light-filled interior.

The beauty of the creative fields is the myriad ways its skills and problem-solving are integral to non-creative work. Take Micah Scott, for example. The founding CEO of Australia’s first LGBTQIA+ youth organisation, Minus18 Foundation arrived at his career in the not-for-profit sector via training in design. What’s a key way to ensure your community engagement messaging is clear, effective and reaching the right audience ? Design!

In this instalment of our Words from The Wise series in partnership with Monash Art, Architecture + Design, recent graduate Kieran Medici talks to Micah about how training in design honed his communication skills, and how this led to a career at one of the country’s leading youth organisations.

Plus, get a squizz inside the brand new Victorian Pride Centre on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda – Melbourne’s hub for queer organisations and LGBTQIA+led events such as Joy Radio, Melbourne Queer Film Festival and, of course, Minus18. It’s amazing!

The owners of this Jan Jac house came to Not All Architecture with a simple brief; create a small, low impact home that tested the opportunities for living well within a 100sqm footprint. 

But how do you take a modest beach house, designed to be inhabited for short periods of time, and design it as a permanent residence – without significantly increasing its footprint? 

For architect Phoebe Clarke the answer lay in placing the verandah, not around, but directly through the middle of the house – to facilitate year-round outdoor living, optimise thermal performance, and to split the sleeping and living wings for visual and acoustic privacy. Genius!

If interior designer Sarah Conly and engineer Hugh O’Brien hadn’t bought this mid-century house, it’s likely the Ivanhoe East property wouldn’t exist today. 

Not only did the couple save the home from potential demolition, they’ve spent the last two years enhancing its 1960s bones with sympathetic restorations that masterfully blend old and new. 

It’s been A LOT of work, but the result is one very special home!

Perhaps the most striking element of this 600sqm home, is how it expands after you’ve entered through the front door. Its design is deceptive, as from the street, the structure’s breath-taking size and connection to the garden is totally hidden.

This was, of course, the aim of architect Micheal Ong from MODO, who designed the house as a progression of spaces and moments to ensure it never presented as overwhelmingly large.

Smith Architects approached this alterations and additions project with a primary objective: to better connect the humble Queenslander to its landscape and climate. 

Working carefully to preserve the existing rooms, the practice added an elegant extension, focusing on quality over quantity. New spaces indoors and out are playful yet functional, balancing privacy and connections to community.

Craft and design are integral in influencing how materials are selected, used, and repurposed in modern society.  

This notion forms the basis of Alternative Provisions – Craft Victoria’s latest exhibition featuring the work of six artists, makers and designers repurposing organic matter and discarded waste into beautiful and productive items. 

From table lamps made from recycled waste glass, to fishing nets manipulated with masterful weaving and sewing techniques, discover the potential of conscious alternatives in this exciting exhibition.  

Emmy Webbers is a Gurnai/Kurnai woman who lives with her partner Brendan and children Tyreese (6), Arwen (3) and Atlas (1), in the Dandenong Ranges on Wurundjeri Country.

Emmy is the founder of Wurruck Yambo – an Aboriginal education business that focusses on bringing Indigenous culture and knowledge into classrooms, through workshops and creative resources. We talked to her about starting this inspiring family business, maintaining connection to culture, and how her young family have navigated lockdowns and remote learning over the past two years.