The Design Files Daily

Yearly Archives: 2011

Top 5 Australian Homes re-visited – Heidi Dokulil’s Sydney warehouse

The Sydney home of Heidi Dokulil and Richard Peters – architectural perfection! (…and that couch ain’t bad either).  All photos – Lucy Feagins.

Designer details – love love love that ENORMOUS Akari paper pendant lamp by Isamu Noguchi and amazing green dining chairs by Vico Magistretti / Artemide.  OK Hand by Tim Fleming, Flatland OK (from Workshopped).

Eames LCW Plywood chair in RED pops against the utilitarian concrete floor.  So so good.

To top off our TOP 5 Australian Homes of 2011 this week, I just had to slide in another personal fave, the super slick yet super understated home belonging to creative Sydneysiders Heidi Dokulil (of The Parcel Group and The Australian Design Unit) and partner Richard Peters (who studied architecture and is responsible for designing their beautiful home)!  When we first posted this home back in June there was much admiration for the clean lines and clever use of a small space – we even had a few requests for floorplans!

As we outlined in the original post, this unique home is an inspired re-working of what was once a shed at the bottom of a larger property in Sydney’s Randwick – it’s now subdivided, with access via a rear laneway.  Whilst the open plan living and pitched roof give it a spacious feel, this perfect pad is actually deceptively tiny – just 85m2, with one modest master bedroom and an even smaller study. Clean lines, clever built-in cabinetry, under-floor heating and a second roof (to sandwich insulation above the existing corrugated roof!) combine to make this minimalist home practical and comfortable for two very busy creative people!

Whilst the architectural elements and Japanese proportions are a large part of this home’s appeal – it sure helps when you’ve got the coolest furniture in Sydney!  For the full run down and all design details do pop back and re-visit the original post!

Too cool for school.

Bathroom – cute succulents on the balcony.  Galvanised mesh allows light through to the lower level windows.

Top 5 Australian Homes re-visited – Adriane Strampp’s rustic loft

The Collingwood home of artist Adriane Strampp.  The painting behind the couch is by Adriane.  All photos by the amazing Sean Fennessy.

Adriane’s much-loved ‘AGA’ stove!  All photos – Sean Fennessy.

Kitchen details

I know it’s not really cool to play favourites, but just quietly, the magical loft apartment of Melbourne artist Adriane Strampp really did take my breath away when we visited this unique home back in August this year.  It’s definitely one of my favourite Australian homes ever.  Truly. Probably because it is just so unique – so far removed from any other homes encountered on my relentless house hunting mission!

A visit to this perfectly styled industrial home immediately seems to transport you to another time and another world – huddled around the incredible AGA stove on a wintery night, you feel could be in wartime London, or the French countryside, or perhaps even some rustic bohemian Baz Luhrmann-esque Parisian loft!?

As outlined in the original post, whilst it’s cosy and full of character now, when Adriane first purchased this warehouse shell ten years ago, it was completely empty.  Unbelievable!  It seems impossible to picture this home, now layered with history  and eclectic details, as a blank canvas!   The space certainly has a a sense of history and worldliness that belies the ten years Adriane and daughter Lucy have lived here.

Adriane works from a wonderful light-filled studio in Fitzroy, just a short walk from her home (pics of her workspace can be seen in our original post).  She runs popular painting classes here on Monday nights and Tuesday mornings – more info here!  Adriane is also working towards a solo exhibition in Sydney at King St Gallery on William in March 2012.

Do re-visit the original post for many more pics of this truly unique Melbourne home!

Loungeroom again.  All photos – Sean Fennessy.

Top 5 Australian Homes re-visited – Maria Villa and family

The Sydney home of Maria Villa and family!  Paintings in dining area by Maria Villa.  This photograph – Lucy Feagins.

Dining room details.  Paintings by Maria Villa.  Photos – Lucy Feagins.

Upstairs patio / balcony, adjoining dining room.  Photo – Lucy Feagins.

WOW September was a really good month for home tours this year!  Another gorgeous pad we shared in September was the stunning Sydney home of artist and designer Maria Villa.  As mentioned in the original post, Maria is one amazing woman – after undergoing major surgery earlier this year she bounced back with even more energy and zest for life than before!  She is one truly inspiring lady, whose infectious enthusiasm and positive spirit is perfectly exemplified in her home in Sydney’s North Shore – full of life, bold colour and vibrant details.

Maria lives here with her husband Eduardo and son Mateo, aged eleven.  Maria has a background in fine art and interior design, whilst Eduardo is an architect, and together they run architecture and design firm Villa + Villa.  This creative pair renovated the kitchen and bathroom soon after moving in, and added the finishing touches more recently.  An extra living area was added upstairs, in addition to a very special room downstairs, which opens onto the lush back garden – ‘this is our fav-fab room’ says Maria!

Massive thanks again to Maria’s dear friend, photographer Ross Coffey, who kindly allowed us to use some of his own shots of the home, taken independently (which of course are so brilliant and full of deep, rich colour).

For the full tour and many more pics do pop back and re-visit the original post here!

Maria’s new and much-loved downstairs living room!  Rug by Loom.  Amazing paper sculpture artwork by Tracey Deep.  This photo by Ross Coffey.

Top 5 Australian Homes re-visited – Luke Mortimer’s Castlemaine Weekender

The stunning new Castlemaine home of stylist / visual merchandiser Luke Mortimer.  All shots by Lucy Feagins.

Kitchen details – vintage pendant lights and salvaged industrial details

Today we’re re-visiting another super popular Australian Home from 2011 – the country retreat of Melbourne-based stylist and visual merchandiser Luke Mortimer.  This one struck a chord with you guys for more than one reason – when we first posted this story back in September Luke generously offered one lucky reader a weekend stay at this beautiful country retreat!  Needless to say it was a very popular post!

As outlined in the original post, Luke fell in love with this beautiful block of land in Chewton, just outside Castlemaine in regional Victoria in 2009, after narrowly missing out on a similar neighbouring property. After snapping up the property, he worked with his partner (and architect) to design and the perfect home for this site – something that felt ‘nostalgic and modern at the same time’.

We were particularly impressed that Luke managed to fit-out and furnish this generous two bedroom, two bathroom home almost completely with hard rubbish finds, op shop bargains and eBay treasures!  Luke’s obsessive / compulsive op-shopping and eBay habit has certainly come in handy!  Even the bathroom basins and bath were vintage finds – picked up for a steal.  Luke says this is one of his favourite aspects of the home – ‘it gives me a huge sense of satisfaction to know that there are so many recycled pieces in the house.’

As mentioned when we first posted this home back in September, Luke divides his time between this country property and a rented apartment in Melbourne.   For this reason he is able to lease out this property for short stay holiday accommodation.  It truly makes for the most perfect weekend getaway – all info over here!

Do pop back to the original post for many more pics, including our favourite detail – the peppermint green vintage enamel bath and pedestal basin, each picked up second hand in mint condition!  That is what I call Ebay GOLD, people.

Loungeroom including stunning timber mid-century armchairs – another op shop find!

Second bedroom.  Linen and leather cushion by Country Road.

Top 5 Australian Homes re-visited – Jane and Matt Martino’s colour filled family home!

The Glen Iris home of Jane and Matt Martino.  All photographs - Sean Fennessy.

Loungeroom details.  Artwork on right – a timber collage by Matt Martino

Loungeroom looking through to the den – artwork by Matt Martino.

As mentioned last week, commencing today Jenny and I are taking a MUCH needed week off!  We’ve had a brilliant but INSANELY busy year, so we thought this sleepy week between Christmas and New Year would be a good time to take stock of the highs and lows of 2011, and make some grand plans for even more inspired and slightly mad TDF antics in 2012!

BUT it’s not strictly a week off.  We couldn’t possibly leave The Design Files silent for a whole week..!  Instead, as we did last year, we’ve decided to spend this week re-visiting The Design Files’ Top 5 Australian Homes from 2011!   We’ve gone back through the archives and based on pageviews, your comments, and a little of our own personal bias(!), we’ve shortlisted the most popular Australian Homes of 2011.

We’re kicking things off today with a very special family home that certainly won many hearts when we blogged it back in July – the Glen Iris home of Jane and Matt Martino!

As mentioned in the original post, Jane and Matt live here with their three gorgeous young boys Tom, Henry and Sonny.  Their  beautiful home is the perfect pad for this busy, energetic young family –  it feels almost like a rambling farmhouse with it’s high ceilings, generous floorplan and enormous leafy garden – such a rare and wonderful thing just a short drive from the city!

Jane and Matt’s home was designed and styled by artist / designer Matt, whose love of bold colour is clear in his brave choices here.  We love the deep inky blue / grey walls and delicious dusty pink in the ensuite – Jane’s favourite room in the house!  You’ll also notice much of Matt’s own striking artwork throughout.

Do pop back to the original post for more pics of the ultimate Melbourne family home!

Love this view from kitchen/lounge into the dark dining room.  Rug from Loom. Ottomans from Fenton and Fenton.

Christmas Giveaway winners announced + HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Design Files 2011 Christmas Giveaway goodies!

Can you BELIEVE it’s Christmas in 2 days!?  Jeepers.  Where did the year go!

NOW without gushing too much, I thought it would be appropriate, as this is our final ‘proper’ post for 2011, to just say a rather massive THANKYOU to all you excellent people who read this blog!  You are such an AMAZING amazing bunch and I am just endlessly overwhelmed by your support and loyal readership – thankyou thankyou thankyou!

Thanks also especially to all those who came out and supported our epic TDF Open House event in Melbourne earlier this month – it was a truly beautiful thing to see so many wonderful friendly faces and meet many of you in person, and to feel a real sense of community and likemindedness amongst all of you who read this blog!

NOW just so ya know, next week we will have a little break – I really need one!  But don’t fret, things won’t be completely silent around here. As we did last year, next week we will post the TOP 5 AUSTRALIAN HOMES from 2011, re-visiting 5 of your favourite homes as featured on the blog this year.  Then we’re back again with content as usual on Monday January 2nd 2012!  :)

Now originally we said we would draw the winners of the 2011 Christmas Giveaway on Christmas Day… but that was before I realised Christmas was a Sunday, and anyway… who really opens their laptop on December 25th?

SO instead of waiting til Sunday, we decided to break with tradition today and forgo the usual Friday interview to announce the winners of the TDF 2011 Christmas Giveaway today!!  Yeehah!  We had 2,666 entries (thankyou all who completed the reader survey!) and there are just 20 giveaway winners – the lucky ones are announced below!

Christmas Giveaway Winners 2011

1 – ‘Princess & the Pea’ beach umbrella by Basil BangsWON BY megan [AT] jeffreybroadfield

2 – Stationery container and magnetic tower from SA design team Daniel : Emma - WON BY Lauren Mifsud

3 – Handblown glass Kink oil bottle from JamFactory in Adelaide – WON BY N. Dummigan

4 – Alby 75cm floor cushion pouf in Kvadrat Coda 410 yellow upholstery by Jardan - WON BY Janet Robe

5 – Richard Ginori ‘Blue Sponge’ 18 piece table setting from Safari Living. ($435.00 value) - WON BY mbajugi

6 – Pack of Penguin classic novels in re-released decorative cloth-bound cover designs (Pride and Predjudice, Charlotte Bronte, Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Sense and Sensibility). – WON BY Adriana Christianson

7 – Pack of six wines from Yering StationWON BY talk [AT] arwengiel

8 – Set of 6 Inky napkins, yellow hakea placemats and pink geometric coasters fromBonnie and Neil - WON BY Suzanne Karagiannis

9 – Scandi Phone from Vintage & Nostalgia CoWON BY jessica [AT] honeymoonchil

10 – Phillippa’s delectable Christmas Hamper containing plum pudding, a dozen mince pies, caramel brandy sauce, cranberry and orange biscotti, iced gingerbread Christmas trees, red pepper relish, parmesan sables and peppered cashews. - WON BY aysengazi [AT] gmail

11 – Made by Mosey plush hot air balloon hanging mobile – WON BY Mimikletterbox

12 – Pack of Melbourne design titles from Thames and Hudson including Characters by Stephen Banham, Forty-Six Square Metres by Stuart Harrison and A Place in the Sun by Stuart Harrison – WON BY Lisa Ricko@bigpond.com

13 – MINI Black Jack on-board suitcase – WON BY Olivia [AT] pips

14 – Design House Stockholm ‘Cobalt’ tableware by Catharina Keppel, including 450ml jug and mugs, from Vincent2 - WON BY Jo Brady

15 – 1 set Rachel Castle fluoro orange dot pillowcases and velvet yellow pom cushion – WON BY jjlillico [AT] gmail

16 – Art Series Hotel accommodation package including an overnight stay for two people at The Olsen in a Studio Suite, two hour Kronan Bicycle Hire, car parking, late checkout of 1.00pm ($414.00 value) – WON BY Nic Wesley

17 – Harvest Textiles tote bag – WON BY giacobello [AT] hotmail

18 – NoteMaker stationery giftpack including Defonics large pencil pounch, Rollbahn notepad, Archie Grand notepad and 10-pack of Japanese washi tapes - WON BY Amy Thomson 101

19 - The Design Files 2012 Calendar print of winner’s choice (unframed) plus TDF Calendar from Lamington Drive.  (total value $330.00) - WON BY rbstw [AT] bigpond

20 – Acca Kappa Green Mandarin bath and body pack from Saison, including handwash, bath and showergel and soap - WON BY Jane Cockram

Massive thanks once again to all the designers, makers and brands listed above who generously contributed to this huge giveaway!  AND once again, thankyou so much to you all for reading!  We heart you bigtime.

Happy Hooooolidays!!!

And bring on 2012! x

Related Posts with Thumbnails