This website uses cookies to improve your experience navigating our site. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
OK, I understand
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.
By now it must be getting pretty obvious when photos are NOT taken by me. If they are awesome and uncluttered, if the white balance is totally spot on and not tinged with pink or yellow, then they are most likely taken by someone else. In this case they were taken by the VERY talented Mr James Braund, who also happens to be a previous Design Files interviewee! James was SO generous sharing these shots with you even though they have not been published anywhere else as yet! Amazing. If you are reading this and you are the editor of some amazing cool international magazine and would like to pay a reasonable amount of money to publish these (even though they have now already been on The Design Files!) that would be so lovely. :) You should totally get in touch with James here.
OK so this is the beautiful Heathmont home of Melbourne’s Dumais family! You might remember Natasha & Daniel Dumais best as the husband and wife team behind Ubabub kids furniture and decor? (I blogged them a little while ago over here.)
Natasha and Daniel Dumais bought their modernist marvel back in 2002 and moved straight in. They were immediately attracted by the tree-filled views, expanse of light and the sense of space in the house. Natasha says ‘It was love at first sight when we first stepped into this house for the open for inspection… The sun was setting through the large expanse of windows and the open fire was going and we both immediately gave each other that knowing look that this was the one!’. I don’t blame them! Isn’t it amazing!? (Modernist Australia would be most impressed I am sure).
Gradually over the past few years (and 2 kids later!), the Dumais’ have put their creative stamp on the place – the bathroom and kitchen have been re-worked, and the home is now filled with beautiful modernist design classics such as an original Featherston Contour Chair, authentic Eames dining chairs, George Nelson Pendant Lamps, and a mid-century side board from Angelucci 20th Century! The Dumais’ colourful art collection is another highlight – it includes a favourite painting by David Band and a Howard Arkley print. Favourite pieces from the Dumais’ Ubabub furniture range are also proudly displayed in the bedrooms of their gorgeous kids Bianca, 4, and Sabine, 19 months.
Being an original mid-century home, there are many unique details that the Dumais’ love about their home – kooky features such as the unusually designed window levers, the awesome slanted roofline, and the amazing garden. ‘Our favourite feature is definitely the expanse of windows right throughout the house (even in the bathroom!) which we NEVER, EVER tire of gazing out of!’ says Natasha. WELL yes. Neither would I.
Huge thanks to Natasha and co. for sharing their stunning home, and of course to James Braund for the gorgeous shots.. wowsers I feel like one lucky blogger when such gorgeousness lands literally in my lap! If you like these shots please share the love by visiting the Ubabub and James Braund websites!
The Design Files acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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
The Design Files’ original content and photos are copyright protected. Please email us before reposting our content on other publications, personal websites, or Instagram. Feel free to share our images on Pinterest using the credit ‘via thedesignfiles.net’. Thank you!
wow what an absolutely amazing home. i love the clean lines and its filled with lots of my dream furniture : )
A very serious nod to Australian Cool – great taste, sharp eye for colour and detail.
What a great modernist home. Love. x
beautiful portrait photos of the kids, no.5 photo on James’ website, good for a laugh.
I am completely inspired. And a bit envious!
Absolutely divine house and fabulous taste! As my husband said, ‘that would do us just nicely’!
Oh my goodness. This home is CRAZY. CRAZY-beautiful that is! I absolutely love every bit of it. So calming and perfect! Thanks for sharing Lucy!
That is too much!! Gorgeous! They must be done away with…
Their house was in Real Living Magazine – either Nov or Dec.
Hooly dooly – those windows are incredible – such a cool home!!
What about those Max Dupain photos, AWESOME
Yes I thought I recognised this house too.. LOVE it all the same!
Love it, what a beautiful and comfortable home. …and those Eames chairs OMG!
i love this house! i want this house! It is so clean and natural. what a lovely abode.
This is simply beautiful! I especially love the dining room and that wallpaper!!
I’m in love with the butterfly light fitting in Bianca’s room. Any idea who it is by and where I can get get one??
Hello Lucy + TDF Friends! Thanks for all your truly lovely comments on our home. I particularly enjoyed the reference to ‘Australian Cool’ as we really do have such amazing creative talent in this country as Lucy gracefully heroes every week.
Sarah – The pendant lamp in Bianca’s room is designed and made by an Melbourne-based artist Marc Pascal – it is called the Eyoi Yoi Lamp – http://bit.ly/fYeE9u
wow – gorgeous home! i especially love the master bedroom, but would also happily curl up in the cot…
The Max Dupain prints!! They are the winner for me. I can’t wait to own my own little abode, or have a permanent rental. :)
What about those Max Dupain photos, AWESOME
Ooh, anyone know where you could find the gorgeous little round table & chairs in the 3rd picture? I have been looking for something like this for ages!!!
Hi Emily! If you’re in Melbourne I would try – Twentieth Century Scandinavia in Brunswick, The Junk Company in the city or Angelucci Twentieth Century in Prahran.
Talk to the owners and tell you what they’re after… all these stores they often have stuff out the bank / being restored etc! Good luck!
Anybody who liked this house and is looking to buy, a very similar property in the same suburb just came on to the market.
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-heathmont-118614803