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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.
Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.
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.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
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.
Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.
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.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
I CAN'T TELL YOU how long we have been hounding poor Miranda Skoczek about shooting her home. I'm pretty sure it's been a longer campaign than any other home we've ever chased! A couple of months ago, our persistence eventually paid off, and we finally scheduled a time to shoot the beautiful art deco apartment Miranda shares with her son, Harper, in St. Kilda!
Miranda and Harper's apartment is a rental, and they've been here just under two years. The apartment block dates back to the 1930's - which is evident in its generous proportions (they don't build apartments like they used to!), and subtle details such as the ribbed glass internal doors, and original hardwood floorboards. With two bedrooms, generous kitchen and living rooms but sadly no outdoor space, one of Miranda and Harper's favourite things about this apartment is its proximity to the St Kilda Botanical Gardens, which is only a short walk away, and acts as their backyard.
Miranda is a character. Her home, much like her artwork, is eclectic and colour saturated, drawing on a myriad of cultural influences, from middle eastern textiles to modern Italian design, and everything inbetween. 'It's really an interior testament to my love of combining stories and histories' says Miranda. 'Decades old rugs serve as platforms to sleek contemporary lines, contemporary Australian art hangs alongside antique folk art imagery. It's an interior of opposites, old and new, expensive and inexpensive, a carnival of colour settled by key furniture pieces in white. It works because it's never contrived or forced, every piece I own is because I love it, not because it's fashion... although I do love fashion!'.
Since her early 20's Miranda has developed a passion for collecting art and Modernist furniture. 'I place alot of importance on my home being my sanctuary, a space that inspires and nourishes me' she says. That said, Miranda can be quite an impulsive decorator! When she sees something which speaks to her (see - giant gold urn in bedroom below!) she's only too happy to forgo grocery shopping for a month in the interests of acquiring it!
Interestingly, only one of Miranda's own paintings has found a home here, in her son Harper's room. However, the rest of the local art community is well represented! Miranda's fledgling art collection includes works by Rhys Lee, Kirra Jamison, Jacqui Stockdale and Leila Jeffreys, to name a few. Amongst many treasured possessions, her Rhys Lee painting from 2004 is a firm favourite - 'it was my 2nd significant art purchase, my first being another piece by Lee from 2000' says Miranda. 'Both I still look at today and am reminded how I suffered on Baked Beans for weeks in order to secure them!'
HUGE THANKS to Miranda (and Harper!) for sharing their gorgeous little pad with us today. Finally!
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
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