Andrew and Tamara live with their three boys, four gold fish, two cats, one Great Dane and an expanding collection of guinea pigs in their double fronted, two story, four bedroom Edwardian cottage in Yarraville that they purchased 11 years ago (phew, that was a mouthful) . Do the maths on that equation.
For a family with a love of the arts and theatre, this home has its fair share of drama! While the back of the house, with kitchen and open plan living, was working perfectly for them, the front of the house had lost its functionality and needed help. With the children now older and Andrew and Tamara financially a little freer, now was the right time to do their forever house up. This is the renovation to end all other renovations.
The master bedroom and ensuite was at the top of their to-do list. The shower had a cracked base and the 80s/90s bathroom renovation felt daggy and dated. The interconnected lounge and adjoining study were desperate for a personality injection with new furniture and lastly, their middle son needed a new bedroom. For years, poor Kielen had endured hand-me downs and mismatched furniture. He had even been sleeping on a mattress that his father had bought when he shifted out of home 25 years ago (that bed was more than ready to move on!!).
Andrew and Tamara have big personalities, but they were not sure how to express themselves with interiors. My challenge here was to create a home that is as vibrant as its many occupants, whilst also being functional and hardy.
Using the period of the house and an aubergine colour as a base, I looked at fabrics and fixtures with lots of pattern and colour to bring out the theatrical side of the family. I also stuck within the warm spectrum because they are the colours that Tamara loves. As it is a male dominated house (even all the animals are male!!), I had to have a palette that was going to work with the boys, and still give Tamara that sense of femininity that she so craved.
This week I used Andrew and Tamara and their family as my inspiration. This house is ultimately a reflection of them, individually, and then through their love of theatre, animals and each other. What a wonderful design glue indeed.
Images: Vanessa Hall, Lifestyl
Megan Dougherty
Bravo Management Pty Ltd
Level 5, 111 Coventry Street,
Southbank VIC 3006
P: +61 (3) 8825 6641 (direct)
Blank Canvas Interiors
598-600, Burwood Road
Hawthorn East, VIC AUSTRALIA 3123