Letitia and Michael Green
Homes
3rd April, 2013
The Melbourne home of illustrator / designer Letitia Green and her husband Michael Green. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Original Jasper Knight Vespa painting, reclaimed timber table by Blueprint, bowl from South Africa, flowers from nearby Prahran Market! Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Open plan living area. Marimekko and Spacecraft Cushions, yellow Acapulco chair. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Op shop retro chest, Jonathan Adler daschund bowl amongst various vessels and plants, artwork to the right - Tin & Ed letterpress print from The Hungry Workshop, to the left - Pick Me Up print by Letitia, available to buy online! Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
You might recall many many moons ago we ran an interview with amazing local illustrator Letitia Buchan. WELL, she goes by the name of Letitia Green these days, since tying the knot with her man, Michael Green... and today we're very excited to share their colourful home in Prahran with you!
Letitia and Michael have been renting this light-filled modern home in Prahran for only five months. The pair own a small apartment elsewhere, which they finally outgrew last year, so they leased it out and decided to rent for a while, until they know exactly where they want to be. They share their new surroundings with a gorgeous new family member - Winnie the whippet! (SO cute, some pics below!).
As you can see, it hasn't taken Letitia long to really put her colourful stamp on this place! Her eclectic collection of fine art, illustrations and prints really personalise every room, whilst vibrant textiles from Marimekko, Spacecraft and South Africa add warmth and colour.
'All of our art prints have meaning and memories to them' explains Letitia. 'I love our Adam Cullen 'Growler' print from Signed and Numbered, which hangs above the fireplace' she says - this was a recent wedding gift from her brother and sister-in-law. Other favourite works include the magical Aboriginal dot painting by Josie Petrick Kemarre in Letitia's home studio, and the two Jasper Knight originals. 'They are so masculine and different to anything I would normally go for, which is what I love about them!' says Letitia!
Another treasured piece is Letitia and Michael's 'gloriously large' reclaimed Blackbutt timber table from Melbourne furniture manufacturer Blueprint. 'We had become used to eating from a tiny '60s Laminex table for the past eight years, so this table is a new luxury' explains Letitia - 'we can read the newspapers on the weekends while eating breakfast, and have nicer dinner parties now!'
Whilst relatively modest in size, the relaxed, open layout of this 3 bedroom home is so functional, with amazing natural light in every room, allowing Letitia to work from home a lot (though she also has a shared workspace in South Melbourne). Letitia also appreciates the proximity to Fawkner Park, Prahran Market & Greville Street when she needs to stretch her legs after many hours at the desk or computer screen - with Winnie in tow, of course!
Though they've done an amazing job setting up house in just five months, Letitia is quick to point out that this space is still very much a work in progress. Next on her wish list - a fabulous rug! 'The polished cement and floor boards are very low maintenance, and a good excuse to be on the hunt for fabulous floor coverings!' she says. 'Or... I could design one myself with Behruz Studio!'. Now that's an AMAZING idea!
Big thanks to Letitia and Michael for sharing their home with us today! Do pop by Letitia's website and online shop for a closer look at her beautiful work - she is so talented!
Original Jasper Knight Vespa painting, reclaimed timber table by Blueprint, bowl from South Africa, flowers from nearby Prahran Market. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
'Growler' signed & numbered print by (2000 Archibald winner) Adam Cullen - a wedding gift from Letitia's brother and sister-in-law. Didgeridoo a gift from friends. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Busy bookshelf! Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Master Bedroom. Artworks above bed - 'Nest' by Jacinta Patterson, 'Love Life' print by Letitia, and and small artwork by MSG. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Balcony adjoining master bedroom. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Upstairs hallway - Beci orpin Cushion on a blue retro chair, and Letitia's 'beautiful fur baby' - Winnie Green the whippet! Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Main bathroom - Love the Missoni towels, such an injection of colour! These were another wedding gift for Letitia and Michael. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Letitia and Winnie the whippet in Letitia's home studio. Aboriginal dot painting by Josie Petrick Kemarre. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Letitia at work. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Details from Letitia's studio. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
I love the colour and the indoor plants look stunning. Pity plants don’t seem
to survive under my care.
love the interior full of plant life!
The art in this home is brilliant, so different and yet perfectly curated. I love those towels in the bathroom, such a change from beige and white. A home full of positive energy!
Great artwork and indoor plants – this post is getting sent to friends to make them sign up to DF too!
Great to see Letitia on TDF….her work is beautiful as always and it’s nice to see some more local talent.
What a beautiful book – and home! It is brilliant!
Love that woven magenta side table. Anyone know where that’s from?
Cheers.
As much as i love TDF its getting to the point where i’m seeing these over styled sterile homes.
Would it be possible to see something alittle bit lived it. Spaces that create more of a sense of home. Something lived in.
this home is artfully styled, not over styled. it’s not sterile. very lived in. it has an amazing sense of home. i dont usually comment here so just also want to say a big thank you, tdf for this free home features.
Thanks for all your lovely comments!
Chris – sorry to hear you’re not loving this one. We really pride ourselves on finding a great variety of real homes, and on showcasing homes achieved often on a modest budget. Unlike magazine shoots, I don’t bring in any products which don’t belong in the home – we really document these spaces as they are (though clearly, the homeowners do their best to tidy up before we get there!).
If it’s more eclectic, ‘lived in’ spaces you’re after, you might like to re-visit these recent beauties –
http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/02/melbourne-home-simon-griffiths-and-melissa-loughnan/
http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/01/jan-juc-home-kirsty-davey-and-family/
http://thedesignfiles.net/2012/11/fremantle-home-matthew-lucas/
http://thedesignfiles.net/2012/09/melbourne-home-poppy-lane-scott-gibson-of-pop-scott/
http://thedesignfiles.net/2012/08/brisbane-home-adam-lester-caro-toledo-and-family/
Thankyou John Mangila for your sweet comment! x
Hi Chris! Yes, the home is usually very lived in with puppy toys and blankets everywhere, and my usual mess of magazines & books! It just had a clean up for the shoot, everything else is how we love to keep it with fresh plants and flowers. When you work from home, its nice to have these things to make you enjoy having so much time there!
Thank you John for your lovely comments xx
A beautiful home that I could imagine living in myself, I particularly love the array of indoor plants and gorgeous art collection – thanks TDF & Letitia!
Gorgeous!
Absolute love this Lucy, you’re killing it as always and I get so excited when you feature another amazing home. Whenever there is a home on the blog Mum and I have to beat each other to asking if we have seen it yet, it is our favourite part by far. You are an inspiration.
I do not like sterile, over styled shoots either, but this is most certainly NOT one of those. It is eclectic and warm and colourful and gives a sense of comfort and taste. You can easily imagine curling up on the couch with a cup of tea. I love the little stacks of Dinosaur Designs home wares around the place too.
Hi Lucy, I really, really like this space! It’s colourful and I can see personal items which make the house a home. The art work is gorgeous and I love the plant life here and there! I don’t feel the house is sterile as Chris has said, but I do think you do provide an large of array of houses for different tastes – we all possibly couldn’t like all the same things!! I’m glad to hear that you dont bring in other things to ‘restyle’ the home – eg. Missoni towels! Don’t get me wrong I do love the towels (and I would have gladly loved them as a wedding present!) but my sister just recently had her house photographed by a national interiors magazine and they replaced her towels with Missoni towels! I said to her before the shoot – I bet they’ll bring in some Missoni towels in. Great job Lucy and Letitia and Michael. It’s really a beautiful space and you should be proud! PS – I’ll be pinning this house!
I would love to see it messy! I would love to see it with toys and blankets everywhere.
I just find there is something false about “styling” sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong Lucy I love and admire your work.
I guess i’m just a jaded Interior Designer who is battling with this idea of Interior Styling.
letitia your house is incredible.
Gaston Bachelard said in ‘Poetics of Space’ “If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace. ” Alot of these styled images don’t give me the chance to dream. I just find everything alittle bit to tidy.
ps sorry for the worst grammer in the world
Gorgeous home! Love the modular sofa. Where is this from?
I can’t get enough of indoor plants at the moment – I’m drooling over these more than the artwork! Extremely jealous of all that wonderful natural light. What a great home, particularly for a rental. It’s just gorgeous. I would love to know Letitia’s tips on where to buy indoor plants – I struggle to find any places that sell quality specimens and a decent range that aren’t too mature.
I think the tidyness of the home has as much to do with human nature rather than ‘styling’…Isn’t natural for us all when we are expecting visitors to do a quick pick up and wipe down? Especially guests as intimidately discerning as Ms. Lucy…Oh gosh! I would tidy up too (eeek!)
(Oh shoot…I ‘intimidatingly’…if that is even a real word)
Gorgeous home! As with others, I too love the plants, but especially the tree? In between the lounge and dining area. Would never have thought to put a tree inside. Would LOVE to know what this is. Please?
What an exquisite home I just love the perfect pops of colour and art but most of all the giraffe on the work table please please where is it from?
I love growler!
Perfection! The perfect balance of colour!
Hi Lucy, please tell me where that fantastic magenta side table is from, I want!!!
Such a bright, cheerful and happy looking house. I want those towels!
lovely!
Hi Serena! The sofa is from Freedom!
To Natalie! My all time favourite indoor plant nurseries are in Albert Park, garden of Eden http://www.gardenofedennursery.com.au and I also LOVE Botanics on Punt Rd as it has a great small selection of indoor plants that just LAST without having a green thumb! http://www.botanicsmelbourne.com.au Also, check out Glasshaus in Richmond for hanging plants!
http://www.glasshaus.com.au
To Rachel! The tree is a Spanish Olive Tree I picked up at Prahran Market before Xmas, and it seems to love it there as it gets some sunshine x
To Kylie: The Giraffe is from Urban Jungle on Greville Street (a while ago now) and so is the little purple/magenta table. Although I did see a matching chair at Safari Living yesterday! x
What a great use of colour! Instantly creates a happy-looking home.
Thank you Letitia for sharing your home and inviting us in to enjoy the colours and stories it holds. I particularly like Josie’s dot painting in the studio and the vibrancy of the red and purple dots side by side.
I adore this space, so much positive energy buzzing around, with relatively few ‘things’ cluttering up the flow. Makes me determined to keep on getting rid of things till only my absolute favourites remain. Great inspiration… Thanks Leticia for letting us in for a look!
Beautiful home Letitia, I don’t think it’s overly styled, just the home of one stylish woman! I understand Chris though and feel some homes in magazines can be a little heaving on the “styling” but then it’s also nice to dream… Mel
oh i’d love me an indoor plant or two… but my kitty cat like to eat them :(
love this home lucy, thank you very much for sharing. i also might need to dognap winnie xx
oh, most importantly, thanks to Letitia and Michael for sharing!!
Lucy, this home is incredible! the most beautiful home on The Design Files
Love the light and colour in this house, gorgeous!
And, to weigh in on the debate (against my better judgement!) I don’t think it looks sterile or overly styled at all. I think the personality of the owners shines through in every photo – the placement of that plant, that print, that flash of colour; all the little treasures (the twig nest on the book case, the woven basket…) that I’m sure have stories behind them. Messy doesn’t always equal ‘real’ (I know because I live a ‘real’ life in a neat house!).
Love the chairs for the dining table! Where are they from?
this is the most sunshine filled home i’ve ever seen. i can’t imagine how happy life must be in such a colorful home!
I discovered your weblog web site on Google and check some of your early posts. Continue to keep up the pretty very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading extra from you later on!
Love the pops of colour throughout this pad – amazeballs!
Hi Lucy, beautiful house selection as always… but isn’t that purple flowered plant Sea Lavender (Limonium) not hoya?
Hi Lucy, loving your house selection as always… but isn’t that purple flowered plant Sea Lavender (Limonium) not hoya?
..oops!
New to the blogging world but not the design world and am totally in awe of sites like designfiles.net! How did I not know that you existed and that there was a catalogue of ‘house porn’ available at the click of my mouse! Looking forward to reading/seeing more and I LOVE Letitia’s style – So Melbourne! Cool but warm – if you know what I mean.
Lucy, you do such a fabulous job presenting such a vast array of gorgeous, original houses to cover different tastes and introduce new ideas …. that said I have not been moved to comment before now ….. What a fabulous “happy” home you have create Laetitia and Michael, if I was coming home to all of that fabulous colour and “easy living” I would have a smile from ear to ear. Three cheers for you!
Love your home, such beautiful artwork. Really really taken by Jacinta Patterson’s Nest over the bed. Where can I find her work?
Letitia’s an amazing designer! We have her to thank for our new look logo and website as well as creating some beautiful invitations and signage for our clients. Thanks Teesh for being so lovely and so easy to work with. M.x
Teesh, I cant even tell you how much I LOVE your house, your taste and the styling, to die for! Thanks for the inspiration! xx
Loving the polished concrete floors… They seem to be a staple for the interior design inclined, at the moment!
I love this house and I love Wednesdays thanks to your website, it’s like waking up to a box of chocolates, such a treat! Thank you, thank you, thankyou. xx
Stunning! I absolutely love the bookshelves. :) ..and the stairs and bathroom!
I must have missed this post back in April. Loved seeing “Growler” by Adam Cullen featured in this gorgeous home, and so beautifully hung! It actually looks like one purchased from Tusk Gallery in South Yarra!! I do understand though that Letitia promoted “Signed and Numbered” as she designed their web site – and she did a really great job too.
Love the styling of the house and all the bits and bobs, and love this website. A massive congrats Lucy for showing so many stunning homes which I drool over, and for being the absolute best writer in this industry. Definitely setting the standard!!