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Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.
Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.
Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
I know I seem to say this about every second house I ever feature but SERIOUSLY this has got to be one of the bestest Australian Homes ever, right?! This is the STUNNING Northcote loft apartment and studio of Melbourne freelance florist Katie Marx – better known to her nearest and dearest as ‘Katie the Fabulous Florist!’
Katie is indeed fabulous! She is truly just so utterly gorgeous, bubbly and fun and full of energy…. and as you can probably see she is also one very clever creative lass too! Ms Marx is one of Melbourne’s most talented freelance florists, working on a great variety of projects including weddings, private parties and events including Spring Racing carnival and many others! After just a few moments chatting to Katie it’s clear how much she just LOVES her work – being her own boss, rising at the crack of dawn to source the most gorgeous blooms at the market, or daytripping out of town to collect the perfect rustic branches for her clients! When I visited, parked outside her studio was her transit van, piled high with an enormous bundle of prickly branches for an upcoming installation. It was seriously HUGE! “How on earth did you get all that up there all by yourself!?” I asked…. “oh I’m used to it, I’ve got it down pat now” Katie said casually. Jeepers creepers. Not just a pretty face, this one!
Katie’s warehouse-style apartment above her studio is full of so many beautiful pieces she has made or pinched from creative friends. In these shots you’ll spot a chair by the very talented Greg Hatton (aka Twiggy!), incredible pieces designed by Katie’s friend and mentor, Joost Bakker, as well as beautiful artworks and prints by friends including Dane Lovett and Bonnie + Neil. You’ll also see gorgeous flowers absolutely everywhere of course!
Now Before I go I must share one more beautiful little anecdote which perfectly sums up Katie’s unique outlook on life and her passion for beautiful flowers! As I dashed about taking these shots, I commented about the fallen blossom petals strewn across her apartment… “aren’t they beautiful!?” she chirped, without any irritation or compulsion to sweep them up! Instead Katie shared a little story with me about laying awake the previous night with blossom petals falling across her bed from the huge branches in her bedroom… and explaining how magical it was to have them floating to the floor in her bedroom whilst she nodded off to sleep…. with not a moment’s frustration about having to clean them up in the morning! Awwww… I love that! Katie is one special girl.
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First Nations artists, designers, makers, and creative business owners are encouraged to submit their projects for coverage on The Design Files. Please email bea@thedesignfiles.net
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Fantastic. One of my favorites. Thanks
I agree. This is a really beautiful apartment. Thanks for showing it to us!
I love this post! What a pleasure to see inside such a joyeous home. Yay for florists!
Gosh – I love this kitchen and all the little details, like the science beakers and the fruit bowls. Looks like a dream to work in.
Oh wow, I love Katie’s studio and home. Everything about it is just lovely!
Beautiful house! Katie did the flowers for our wedding and she was absolutely wonderful. I can’t reccommend her highly enough.
This post brings home to me how different people approach their living and working spaces so differently from me. I would never have thought of many of the little details Katie has brought into her home. It’s very inspiring, makes me want to let go a little and sprinkle blossoms all over my house.
Please please please let us know if that painting ever becomes a print you can purchase, I love it so. The rest of the house is pretty special too!
We love KM! What a little star she is. Sometimes when we are very lucky we open the door in the mornings to find fresh flowers left on our doorstep from Katie who has been up (amazingly early!) and already to the flower markets and back. It’s the nicest way to start the day. Love this post, love this place. Best neighbour in the world. x
I want one of those branch chairs! Love all the boxes, containers, crates and things…that fencing wire light shade is great too. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, wow & wow! Very unique – nice to see. And local artists.
Oh I need some step-cupboards just like in this post! To fit under a set of stairs, rather than act as a set of stairs. Anyone have any ideas?
Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle
beautiful. looks like such a relaxed & welcoming home. love the warehouse space & gorgeous light.. love the industrial metal pieces & vintage timber bits against the more modern joinery. love that huge painting too. & blossom! what’s not to love? beautiful home.
Love the use of nature in this house.
Do you know if you can but that garden planter by Joost anywhere? I love it!
Wow – such a gorgeous home! LOVE it!!
AMAZING!!!! i love it…fantastic combination of industrial and feminine softness…so beautiful!
This is a wonderful example of a home and it is truly hers through and through. To some people this is their idea of hell, but that should happen else your home becomes just a showroom flat/house, overstylized, plucked from the catalogue with no soul.
Her space is one to be admired and I hope to experience petals settling around me as I fall asleep one day.
Oh my God she is Amazing!!!! I am a Lucky Lady to get to share in creative flower adventures together. Beautiful Lady and a beautiful home. xxx
i love this apartment! When can I move in? :)
One day I told Katie how much I loved the smell of Penhaligon’s Violette perfume and how exquisite the violet flower is, to be able to pump out such a fragrance. The very next day while I was out of the shop, an anonymous person left me a bunch of violets. Thank you Katie, you really are a treasure, and your house exudes your warmth and charm.
Jen x
Does anyone know what plant is growing in the vertical garden planter by Joost? I love that grassy look…
Oh I just LOVE this! It’s just wonderful to see a complete home decorated in a way you would like, I’ve been collecting similar types of objects for years but have yet to find my own home to put them together, this is inspirational, thank-you Lucy!! and thank-you Kate!
beeeeyooooootiful!
I love her home!
There are so many things here that I love that I just don’t know where to start. Whilst I have always steered clear of eclectic spaces in my work (because many of our clients just don’t appreciate them) they have always been a real love of mine. Some things that really stood out to me from these photos include the random collections of jars or boxes (I don’t know why these always look so good to me) and the staggered step-like shelving boxes. Wonderful space overall!
long last we have seen what you do in Aussie! AWonderful illustration of your truly diverse talent.
Lots of love Nigel, Ava, Lyn at Lake Rotoma N.Z. Xxx