The Geelong home of designer Lucy Young and partner Marcus Miller.  Painting by Miranda Skoczek.  All photos - Lucy Feagins.

Painting by Miranda Skoczek, sweet re-purposed light fitting in entrance hall made by Lucy's partner Marcus out of a basket from a 100 YEN shop in tokyo. cute!

Dining room - rug by Loom, yellow 'Wedding Lantern' from Fenton & Fenton

Today's beautiful Geelong home is I think perhaps the very best advertisement for a sea change!  Designer Lucy Young and her hubbie Marcus Miller moved  to Geelong from Melbourne only a year ago - and look how good their home already looks!  Serious seaside cuteness.

Lucy grew up in Geelong, but has lived in Melbourne most of her adult life.  She finally convinced Marcus to move back to the surf coast last year for a few reasons.  'Even though Geelong gets a bad wrap, it's actually a great place to live being so close to the surf coast, especially when we love the beach so much!' says Lucy.  'It also means that we can have a garden and a dog, and don't have to put up with the Melbourne traffic and pace. Geelong is a very relaxed place to be. We just need a few more good eateries!'.

I was impressed to hear that Lucy and Marcus have been here only a year.  They've done so much to the place!  In that time they've painted the home  inside and out,  installed new blinds throughout, landscaped a little and extended the outdoor decking, converted what used to be the TV room into a serene dining room (a separate dining room - so lovely!), and given the kitchen a cosmetic makeover by painting the cupboards and changing the bench tops!  Genius.  They also appear to have hung up ALL their artwork, which is kind of amazing.  I still have artwork leaning against walls nearly 4 years after moving into my place.  Perhaps they hung up every last picture the week before I visited?!

With a background in textile design, it's no surprise Lucy loves colour and pretty, feminine, quirky details - although credit goes to Marcus for giving her free reign with the styling of their gorgeous home!   One of Lucy's most treasured possessions is the yellow 'wedding lantern' hanging in the dining room -'I loved it when I saw it in the window at Fenton & Fenton, and then when I heard it was called a Wedding Lantern, and we had just got engaged, I had to have it!'.  Another favourite piece is the beautiful deep indigo painting by Miranda Skoczek in the entrance hall.  STUNNING.  That Miranda certainly has a way with indigo blue.

Massive thanks to Lucy for her time last weekend when I dashed down to visit her and photograph her place, and for feeding me watermelon and chocolate chip cookies.  :)

Ps.  Today's home is the first GEELONG home to grace The Design Files!  Can you believe it!?  SO very negligent of me!  I am sure there are many more lovely houses out this way and along the surf coast... but I am not across every neighbourhood - please forgive me!  If you would love to see a few more homes from your neck of the woods please tip me off! (with photos!)

Front door, Loom Rug (seen here by Lucy, and purchased not long after!)

Lounge / TV room - cherry blossom print on the left screenprinted by Lucy for Nest Homewares

Details from the lounge and dining room

Painting in entrance hall by Laura Skerlj  - another of Lucy's favourite pieces

Master bedroom - beautiful bedlinen from at Nest in South Melbourne (screenprinted by Lucy who prints all Nest's designs!)

Sweet bedroom details - love those rustic timber wings!

Lucy's study

Study details

Sewing room!  YES if you move to Geelong, you, too could have a separate sewing room!

Sewing room details

Ok so it is actually impossible to photograph a neon sign.  :(  In real life this cute pink neon sign is amazing.  'Louli' is Lucy's nickname and the name of her textile / T-shirt label.

Cute kitchen details

Outdoor decking - gorgeous cushions by new beach/lifestyle/homewares label Goldnbrown

House exterior - front garden