Homes

A Family Home Of Style And Function

The sandstone exterior of this property gives little indication to the history of the site. This Bellevue Hill house was originally built by the church as a home for priests, almost 100 years ago.

When interior designer Melissa Marshall and her husband James purchased the property, there was a serious overhaul ahead of them to open up their historic home. They now share their elegant abode with daughters Romy (5) and Eva (3), and a Hungarian Viszla called Winnie. With twins on the way (in June!) this incredible house is about to feel a whole lot fuller!

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

The entrance foyer of interior designer Melissa Marshall’s STUNNING Bondi home. Custom Den Holm solid limestone pedestal table. Turned Italian marble floors from Aria Stone Gallery. Murano glass chandelier from New York. Artwork by Coen Young. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

A quiet moment in the dining room. Den Holm vase on antique stone pedestal from The Vault. Anna Charlesworth wall light. de Le Couna fabric for curtains from Boyac. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Gorgeous Melissa, who is due to add twins (a boy and a girl) to her family in June! Custom Den Holm solid limestone pedestal table. Turned Italian marble floors from Aria Stone Gallery. Murano glass chandelier from New York. Custom sheepskin ottoman by Melissa. Outdoor teracotta pots from Garden Life. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

I mean…have you ever seen a more idyllic entryway? ADORE this custom Den Holm table – the perfect piece for this space! Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Custom Den Holm solid limestone pedestal table. Turned Italian marble floors from Aria Stone Gallery. Murano glass chandelier from New York. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The sitting room. MCM House sofa. Kelly Wearstler cushions. Visual Comfort wall lights. Cotswold Furniture rattan-backed chairs. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The sitting room. MCM House sofa. Kelly Wearstler cushions. Cotswold Furniture rattan-backed chairs. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The foyer. Artwork by Sidney Nolan. Formations side table. ‘Napoleon’ brass head sculpture. Custom tufted leather ottoman designed by Melissa. Armchair from Formations. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Den Holm solid limestone coffee table. Sisal matting. Mara and Mine raffia slides. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Custom Den Holm solid limestone coffee table. ‘Linfield Gardens ‘ (1978) artwork Brett Whitely. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Looking from the sitting room into the kitchen. Antique armour from The Vault. Custom bowl pendant by Anna Charlesworth. Artwork by Susan Rothwell. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Not a bad kitchen view! The English Tapware Company tap. Custom made brass stools with Pelle Leather detail. Stone from Harmony Stone Gallery. Joinery designed by Melissa. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Melissa and James ‘opened the whole house internally by removing walls and heightening and widening doorways.’  Formations dining table. Anna Charlesworth custom bowl pendant. Susan Rothwell artwork. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The master bedroom. Robyn Cosgrove wool rug. Custom blue velvet bedhead. Custom coffee table. Visual Comfort wall light. Linen from Boyac for curtains. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Master bedroom balcony. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The outdoor pool with a view! Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
27th of March 2019

Interior designer Melissa Marshall and husband James purchased this sandstone home three years ago, but only moved in just over a year ago. Located in Bellevue Hill, just minutes from busy Bondi, the property is surprisingly private, and serves this (soon to be growing!) family perfectly.

The home underwent a massive overhaul before the family moved in, and Melissa’s interior design flair is evident in every corner of the home. She explains that the renovations maintained the original sandstone and majority of the exterior structure, but they ‘opened the whole house internally by removing walls and heightening and widening doorways.’ Four new doors connect the back of the house to the garden, and link to an extended veranda and pool.

Inside, every surface is new, including the doors and joinery. The renovations also converted a previously external element into an interior feature, through enclosing the stunning portico to create a large (and seriously wow-factor!) foyer entrance. Custom steel doorways welcome guests to the house, and bring a contemporary edge to the century-old sandstone structure.

Melissa works from home, and has used her interior design expertise to create a calm and peaceful house and workspace that is also robust enough for kids to play in. ‘I love a home that looks interesting and unique, but that you can live in’ she explains – ‘it has to be practical.’

The understated, refined aesthetic here has been achieved through the use of Mediterranean sandstone, and a soft, muted colour scheme. Melissa explains that she ‘kept a fairly neutral palette inside’, with rooms in white, Dulux ‘beige royal’, and the master bedroom featuring a soft green.

This serene colour scheme allows for the artworks and beloved objects to really sing, including the stunning ‘Lindfield Gardens’ painting by Brett Whiteley (yes!) which Melissa highlights as a particular favourite. Other special items include the Formations dining room table, that she admits to dreaming about ‘for years before I even had a spot for it’, and the Den Holm custom designed table in the entrance, that ‘is so dramatic and sculptural it looks and feels like art.’

The whole home has an impressive sculptural element, as the converted portico frames the entrance to the house. Here, Melissa has created a robust and refined home that reflects her own aesthetic style, as well as accommodating the needs of their young family.

Similar Stories

Recent Homes