Melissa Webster and Family
Homes
25th July, 2012
The Newcastle home of designer Melissa Webster and family. Photo – Sean Fennesy, Production – Lucy Feagins
The Newcastle home of designed Melissa Webster and family. Foreground left – GatherKids‘ amazing scandi-inspired kids table setting which doubles as a stylish coffee table – designed by Melissa and husband Trent. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Loungeroom details. Photos – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Melissa Webster of GatherKids at home in Newcastle. (baby bump a little outdated now – Melissa and Trent welcomed little Kobe into the family last month!). Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
REMEMBER GatherKids? That super gorgeous kids bedlinen / furniture label from Newcastle we shared back in May? Well, finally today the time has come to share with you the home of GatherKids designer / director Melissa Webster and her family! (Sorry a little later than anticipated – better later than never!).
As it happens, since we took these pics, Melissa’s family has grown a little. Whilst she’s looking glowing at around 8 months pregnant in the pic above, Melissa and husband Trent welcomed Kobe, their third child into the world last month. Kobe joins their other gorgeous kids Kaila (5) and Blair (3) – jeepers that’s one busy little household!
‘We bought this home on a whim’ says Melissa. ‘Originally it was a tiny two bedroom miners cottage – which was actually smaller than the townhouse we were moving from!’ she recalls. But Melissa and Trent could immediately see the potential of this home, with its generous gardens and room to grow. They put in an offer straight away.
In the end it took two years to finally extend the home – which included the addition of a master bedroom, small study, and reconfiguration of the internal layout. As you can see, the house very much reflects Melissa’s designs for GatherKids. With a background in interior design, Melissa’s Scandi-inspired aesthetic and love of crisp neutral tones is clearly evident in the picture perfect styling of her family’s sweet 3.5 bedroom home in Kahibah, Newcastle.
When asked for her favourite aspect of the home, Melissa’s answer is a little unexpected! ‘I love our white floors’ she says! ‘I would never recommend my clients to go for white with children and pets – but here I am with white! Do as I say not as I do? They are incredibly easy to clean (think baby wipes – those things clean anything) and they have given the house such a light, Scandinavian feel’.
Another design feature which Melissa really appreciates is the open layout and views to the garden from the house. ‘I love that I can see the kids wherever they are playing… I can be pumping out emails at the kitchen table and see the kids in the cubby house out back. It’s a small cottage and suits us perfectly whilst they are young and we are so busy’.
Indeed, busy they are! I get the impression Melissa absolutely doesn’t sit still for one minute – in fact, GatherKids will be exhibiting at Life inStyle in Melbourne next week! Melissa is truly such an inspiring multi-tasking Mum, who somehow combines efficiency with an incredible sense of calm. With a business to run and three kids in tow, it’s amazing just how chilled out this household is. Maybe that calming neutral colour palette is her secret!?
If you love Melissa and Trent’s home, do show your support with a visit to GatherKids online, and don’t forget, retailers can see the full GatherKids range at Life inStyle in Melbourne next week.
Dining table looking through the loungeroom and garden beyond. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Dining. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Kitchen – super stylish. Love the simple black and white! That’s a sweet stool from the GatherKids kids furniture range. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins.
Master bedroom. Photo – Sean Fennesy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Master bedroom. Photo – Sean Fennesy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Master bedroom details. One of Melissa’s most treasured possessions is her Eames rocker… ‘a gift from dear friends with my first baby – it’s served well and is a favourite place I retreat to often’ she says. Photos – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Blair’s bedroom. Super cute owl softie handmade by Melissa’s sister. Photos – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins.
Gather Kids HQ! Yep, it’s only a tiny office, but this is where the design magic for Melissa’s range happens! Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Cubbyhouse in back garden – built by Dad! Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Kaila (5 years) = SO CUTE! (She wasn’t camera shy either!). Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins.
A very peaceful, loved looking home. I like how it is minimal but not stark.
One of my favourite house tours so far. Such restraint and style.
Gorgeous Lucy, love this one.
Beauty in simple things.. the inspired touch of a branch, a bottle, bookshelves and black & white. I enjoy the impression that the furniture is functional and inclusive, that is, the children are catered for with the gorgeous table and stools, the “helper” stool in the kitchen. The front veranda swings are joyful. A home that evokes a feeling of openness and love.
(Hoping the fourth arrives well and safely! xxx)
Mel – a huge congrats on this feature – beautiful home for s beautiful family !
Can’t wait to see you at Life instyle ! Well done lovely lady !
totally gorgeous
The perfect family home. Beautiful and not over-conceited! Love it!
I love seeing Newcastle homes!! From the first couple of pics I was interested, read the words still quite interested but then saw the kitchen and master bedroom and totally BLOWN AWAY!! I LOVE this place :)
really gorgeous – love the white/black/neutral combo – perfect backdrop to the things this fam love around them…hello owl!! thanks guys. Hx
How excellent is that cubby?
a gorgeous home, I love the scandi colour theme and her range of bedlinens and furniture looks lovely!
Dream home alert!
I love it! Everyinch of it.
This is just such a beautiful family home, I can’t imagine you ever want to leave.
Melissa if you get a chance to say…what product did you use to paint/whitewash the floors? Just beautiful.
This is just perfect. Such restraint and a beautiful touch with all the accessorising. Its a real mesh of adult style and kid friendly. I would love to know where the black industrial shelving is from?
Also those chairs and tables for the kiddies are on my wishlist for my son!
What an incredibly beautiful, contemporary and fantastically styled home. I LOVE the bedroom, especially the canopy over the bed. Would love to see some other ideas for bed canopies.
Such a beautiful home! It makes me second guess my grand plans for a shiny new home for something that is spunky and REAL like this one. Love it.
Hi – can anyone tell me what the external wall color is? I’ve been looking for something like that but haven’t been able to find the right shade & that looks great. Thanks!
I would love to know the exterior paint colours too! Just perfect!
Beautiful colour palette, quite a nice change from all of the bold colour around lately.
Beautiful home!
I too would be very interested to hear how the floors were treated (eg what type of paint application). Is there a problem with scratches on the painted finish?
Your home looks so peaceful and serene and warm.
Simply lovely!
Oh dear there are SO many clever and hardworking Mums out there.. as usual, beautiful and inspiring.
This is toooooooo beautiful! Love love love!!!
Wow, you have all made opening my home to you feel so wonderful! Thank you for such lovely comments. But hats off to Lucy and Sean for another beautiful shoot – very clever duo indeed☺
Our floorboards are actually very budget friendly Ikea floating floors. We put them down as a short term cost saver when we renovated but they have faired so well (our kids show no mercy) that I don’t think I’ll replace them unless I absolutely have to. I love them!
And the industrial shelving in the bedroom is an Office Works buy (wow, two thifty buys here! Seeing a trend!)
The exterior colours are Dulux Calf Skin to walls, Dulux Lexicon quarter to trims, Porters Vanilla Bean to posts and front door, and the roof is Colorbond Jasper…happy painting☺ Mel x
Beautiful home here. Was wondering if that is a Bromley on the wall in the lounge? I love the brown background of it. Love the coffee table/kids table too. Off to the website now!
truly inspiring
Amazing house, so many beautiful objects but still looks warm and inviting. Especially love your couch, would love to know where it is from?
love!
Oh my I love this home. So peaceful and beautiful. x
Such an elegant and peaceful home!
This is flawless. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m a huge fan of white spaces; but this one is a step above – totally head over heels with this home. It’s picture perfect; my favorites: the thick vegetation outside, the comfort chair with cute stools, age old fan, green bottle on the table and the colorful frames to break the monotony of white. A very good inspiration..thanks!
Such elegance and a great sense of calm. The kitchen is stunningly beautiful, such clean lines and the black and white – so simple but such an impact! This house is a reminder that simplicity and good design is at the heart of all beautiful homes.
What a beautiful home. And Lucy, I just want to say thank you. I visit your blog most days and it is consistently inspiring – there is so much creativity and talent in Australia and you do a great job of showcasing it!
Gorgeous home and that furniture looks beautiful. Will be sure to check it out at Life Instyle next week. My 7 year old has swing envy too!
What a gorgeous colour palette. The simplicity is just beautiful and the space feels so inviting.
I love this home too – more ?’s though – can you tell me where the rug and couch in the lounge room are from? Thanks!
Would you mind sharing you designed/made your kitchen. I love the elegance and simplicity. Exactly what I am looking for. The whole house ticks so many of my boxes – must be lovely to live in. Thank you for sharing.
I know the couch is from Ikea and I think the rug may be the pebble weave from Armadillo & Co. Such a beautiful home! I’m green with envy :)
So beautiful that I had to show it in my blog! Thank you for inspiring me!
http://decouvrirdesign.com/visite-privee-une-palette-de-couleurs-neutre-et-douce-pour-un-cottage-revisite/
Hi Guys, yes the lounge is Ikea and the rug is the Grampian by Bayliss Rugs. A good friend fitted out our kitchen…you can find his details at bilbao.com.au :)
Mel did you have to then paint the ikea flooring? It looks amazing in white. I wonder if it would work for an outside area as well? Is it slippery when wet / mopped? Thanks ! Gorgeous house !
hi there, i also love your sense of style. What colour is your garage door pls? I’m going to use your porters colour in our new mt eliza home and am heading to ikea as some if the things you have got there are so beautiful – and such a relaxed/romantic feel, but pratical with kids, which we have (2,4) yrs) thanks
Mentioned this great home on my blog. Love this style!
http://interieur-coosje.blogspot.nl/2012/11/newcastle-home-melissa-webster.html
Kind regards,
Stephanie Koster
Is the exterior Dulux Calf Skin? I was thinking of doing my house in Newcastle the same colour and I googled the colour and this came up. Your house is very nice.
Hi Mel, love your house! Is there a chance you could take a picture of the house in full sunlight. We have chosen calf skin as our exterior render and my wonderful husband thinks it will look too grey with a shale grey roof as it is a large frontage? Does it throw more creamy or grey hues?
Thanks :-)
Hi Mel,
Absolutely love the colour you’ve used on your interior walls, am on the so-far elusive search for the perfect white – would you mind sharing what you used? Cheers :)
Love Love your house. Are those shears with a touch of the lightest peachy pink? Where to find? I have looked all around for shears that color.
amazing HOME! :)