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When Nick Edwards and Amanda Hall decided to downsize, they realised they’d likely have to leave their beloved South Yarra neighbourhood of over 10 years… until Nick noticed a new Davies Henderson apartment building being built around the corner.
Turns out the developer was an old friend, and one of the apartments was yet to be sold. ‘We quickly came to the conclusion that this was the solution to a major dilemma: how to downsize in the neighbourhood that you love, without having to compromise on scale or amenity,’ says Amanda.
As the property was purchased before its completion, the couple were afforded some choice in the design of its finishes. The plan was to eventually cover the entire space in art, so they opted for a restrained and neutral interior scheme. ‘Apartments can be somewhat generic, but knowing we were to fill the walls with paintings made the move less challenging,’ Amanda says. ‘We knew we could impose ourselves on the building very quickly.’
Impose they did. Today there’s barely a surface in this home that isn’t covered with vibrant paintings, ceramics and sculpture! ‘The display of the artwork was like a giant jigsaw puzzle,’ says Amanda. ‘We are huge advocates for a tight, ‘French hang.’ The more eclectic the better. I don’t mind leaving them sitting on the floor either.’
Every few years the couple repaint, patch up the walls with half strength Dulux Dieskau, and start the art hanging process all over again, featuring new and old pieces. ‘We have collected art for a very long time and have never based a decision on where it might go; the work is the most important thing to us,’ explains Amanda. ‘There are just as many works in our collection in storage, or at our children’s homes, as there are on the walls in the apartment.’
If this is what downsizing looks like, sign us up!
