Fiona Richardson and Family

The truly incredible Melbourne home of Fiona Richardson and family.  The painting is a portrait of Fiona's husband's grandfather, and the bust on the table belonged to his grandmother, who had a few artist friends. 'Legend has it she would pull things out of their rubbish bins and take them home - I think this might be one of those pieces' says Fiona.  Fiddle leaf fig tree behind table. Wall paint colour - Dulux 'Juvenile'. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Another angle in that incredible back living room. Armchair from Leonard Joel Auctions, made good with Christopher Farr peony fabric, table also from Leonard Joel Auctions, painted in Dulux 'Silkwort', Moller chair an auction find, Armadillo & Co. woven circular rug, fiddle leaf fig tree. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room opposite kitchen.  Fornasetti wallpaper,  Italian woven chairs from Geoffrey Hatty, Jardan Stanley Stool, portrait of Fiona's Mum, lamp by Workroom (now known as Douglas and Bec!) - bought at TDF open house 2012! (EXCELLENT WORK Fiona!). Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen, looking through to butler's pantry. Ceiling lamp was purchased in France, hand-me-down bentwood chairs, Gervasoni desk to the left with Zuster stool, artwork by Mike Nicholls.  Wall is painted in full strength Dulux 'Juvenile'.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room opposite kitchen.  Italian woven chairs from Geoffrey Hatty, Jardan Stanley Stool.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

OK here I go again.  We photograph incredible homes every single week (usually more than one a week actually).  Inevitably, in our relentless search we see so many amazing, beautiful, creative and inspiring spaces... and yet, sometimes one comes along that literally knocks my socks off.  We have another such beauty to share today.  It is truly something special. This incredible home in Prahran belongs to stylist Fiona Richardson and her family. Fiona lives here with her husband and three boys aged 8, 7 and 3.  The family have been here about 12 years, but as is often the case, it wasn't always quite so photogenic! During the '50s, the original Edwardian house had been divided in half, with two bedsits tacked on to the back creating four different addresses. 'What we bought was essentially student digs with incredibly high ceilings' recalls Fiona. 'It was a rabbit warren, with bathrooms divided into small cubicles with partitions. I remember feeling mildly horrified when my friend commented that it reminded her of her school!' However, Fiona was drawn to its generous proportions and farmhouse feel, and could see the grand potential of this rambling, unloved property. Initially, Fiona and her husband worked with designer Stephen Akehurst to draw up a master plan for the homes renovation, with a view to restoring the house to a single residence over a number of years. Once the plans were done, the family moved into flat number two and did up the front part of the house - 'mainly cosmetic and a big revamp of the scary bathrooms' says Fiona. When this stage was complete, the family shifted back into the front part of the house, and rented out the back flats. 'Two children later and bursting at the seams, we put a hole through the back wall into flat number two, and let the children basically draw on the walls!'  says Fiona.  And then finally, three years ago, when the rising damp and perilous nature of the fifties additions had finally taken their toll on this family of five, the last tenants out the back were let go to allow the final stage of Stephen's master plan to be completed. 'We pulled off the back of the house and rebuilt an open plan living area, and extended into the roof to create bedrooms for the children' says Fiona.  Fiona worked with her sister Sally Richardson on the interiors for these final rooms. Fiona's decorating approach is measured, thoughtful and perfectly executed.  She has styled her home with a respectful nod to its Edwardian heritage, and an intuitive sense for how contemporary colour and pattern can be introduced in a period home.  The result is a residence that is grand in scale, yet feels understated, intimate and unmistakably 'real', with just enough eclectic detail to keep things interesting!  Fiona's chosen colour palette of deep blue greys with blonde timbers and accents of yellow and mustard is just so spot on - she has an incredible way with colour and pattern.  With three young boys to consider, Fiona is also refreshingly utilitarian in many ways - dark grey walls have proven the perfect resilient hue for six eternally grubby hands! Aside from it's great bones and strong foundation of brave colour and pattern, the real magic here really comes from Fiona's careful layering of inherited furniture and art pieces, museum-like auction finds and hand-me-downs, new pieces and treasured hard rubbish finds!  Almost everything here tells a story, or harks back to some nostalgic tale, and it shows. 'If we had to choose a favourite piece it would be the portraits of my husband's grandfather, who died suddenly a matter of weeks before my husband was born' says Fiona 'He was an orphan who was mysterious about his past, and has always been a source of fascination in a Don Draper-esque way – every now and again we learn something new about him'. Another key focal point of this home is the impressive Aga stove in the kitchen (we seem to be seeing more and more of these beautiful cast iron cookers in the homes we shoot these days!).  'I am fascinated by the power of childhood memories and how they influence design' says Fiona. 'I grew up on a farm and my grandparents had an Aga, and I have very happy memories of huddling around it first thing on a winter's morning. Now my new Aga (same colour!) takes me back to a place of great comfort in my life, and I love seeing my own children sprawled in front of it' 'I think what I love most about our home is being surrounded by our things - so much of it would have little or no value to anybody else but it seems to tell our story' says Fiona thoughtfully when asked what she loves most about living here.  'Most of our pieces are a reference to a trip, a Grandparent, or even a confrontation, like the deer head my better half bought at an auction – I stormed out, he walked home!'. Fiona has her own fledgling styling business with friend and creative collaborator Belinda Hall, called Richard Hall & Son. Under this name Fiona and Belinda assist residential clients to give personality and meaning to their own spaces through careful editing and layering of colours, pattern, textile and carefully sourced objects - if you love this home, do check out Fiona's website for a little more about her business and passion for interiors! OH AND ONE MORE THING.  We've been planning experiment with video for some time... and quite coincidentally, Fiona has also been thinking about a way to capture the spirit and energy of her family home on video.  In an unexpected turn of events, this amazing young filmmaker called Paris Thomson entered the scene and made this very short little film which documents Fiona's home in a new way which I think really complements our photos... and so... here it is, a new collaboration - an 'Australian Home' video, by Paris Thomson aka SIRAP for The Design Files. It only goes for 1.5 minutes, would love to know what you think!

The home of Fiona Richardson and family, a film by SIRAP for The Design Files. (If you can't see this video please click here to watch it on VIMEO)

 

Incredible enormous light filled kitchen featuring another incredible AGA stove.  Love them.  The ceiling lamp was purchased in France, along with the door hardware, bought from the equivalent of Bunnings in Paris!  'The back wall is painted in full strength Dulux Juvenile and yes, I had to lobby my husband every night for four months during our reno before he would let me paint our entire back room in this dark colour!' says Fiona.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Butler's pantry.  Fornasetti wallpaper, old scales (a wedding present), and 'sad basil in sink waiting to be made into pesto!' - Fiona. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Beautiful master bedroom.  Pendant light by Russell Pinch 'this was a birthday present - I absolutely love his pieces but unfortunately they are only available in the UK' says Fiona.  The bedhead was commissioned by Fiona, after seeing something similar in an old magazine by a Sydney designer Darryl Gordon Design.  'I absolutely love the Christopher Farr fabric designed by one of my design heroes Ilse Crawford' says Fiona. (The bedhead fabric is available at Ascraft).  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom details.  Wire sculpture by Fiona's friend Kate Hendry (enquiries to Anita Traverso Gallery).   Lamp bought in France. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Couldn't resist another angle in the master bedroom! Mirror above fireplace from Geoffrey Hatty - one of Fiona's absolute favourite pieces.  'It acually took me 10 years to find a mirror for above that fireplace, and it was worth the wait' she says.  'Geoffrey's pieces are so special because you rarely see them anywhere else - they have also done the test of time.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom detail.  Bar trolley used as bedside table.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom looking to garden.  Fireside chair featuring the boy's scribbles ('a good compromise now that the wall are out of bounds!' says Fiona). Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Study. Floor lamp base found at Leonard Joel Auctions, Pinboard behind cabinetry covered in Florence Broadhurst fabric. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Sitting room.  Fiona's grandmother's piano, with her old music books and show programs on top, pineapple lamp base from Leonard Joel Auctions, spray painted and tarted up with a Florence Broadhurst 'hessian' covered shade, round arts and craft-style table an auction find discovered by Fiona whilst visiting her sister in the country, portrait of Fiona's husband's grandfather above fireplace by Gil Jamieson. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kids bathroom upstairs.  Stool from Zuster.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Boys' bedroom with map wallpaper.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Stairwell details.  Deer head named 'Mortie' bought at Leonard Joel Auctions, hall table from Geoffrey Hatty, wee chairs a hard rubbish find. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

I think definitely the most beautiful stairwell / balustrade combo we have ever photographed. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

 

Front door.  Pendant lamp a birthday present bought online from the USA, rug a hand-me-down from family.  Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Back garden.  Butterfly chairs from Angelucci Twentieth Century, 'Jil' side table from Tait. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Front exterior.  Chairs from Montreux. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.