We shoot all kinds of houses. Big expensive houses, teeny tiny shoebox apartments, cute and crafty houses, minimalist masterpieces and artfully cluttered, eclectic spaces. If I'm honest, we really like the imperfect ones best - you know, the ones which seem to have been thrown together intuitively, without too much thought, and which, in their layers of detail, quietly tell the stories of the people who have lived here or spent time between their walls. Today's very special Melbourne home is one of these. Of all the homes we've ever shared, this is definitely one with a few stories to tell! (And one of those stories involves Beyonce... not even joking!).
With it's rough and ready exterior, at first glance you probably wouldn't imagine a family live in this disused factory in the backstreets of Fitzroy. In fact, this unlikely industrial building and its surrounding compound is home to Andy Portokallis (an engineer by trade who now runs live music venues The Tote & Bar Open), his partner Priscilla Blake, their toddlers Mabel and Barnaby and Andy’s two eldest kids, teenagers Jack and Dharma. It's a busy, creative and at times slightly chaotic household - and that's just the way they like it!
The family have been here since early 2010, when Andy and Priscilla decided to build a temporary home inside the old warehouse, which Andy had purchased 6 years prior with plans to develop into apartments 'sometime down the track'. 'At the time, searching for rental properties in the area that would accommodate almost teenagers and our new baby was proving a challenge' says Priscilla. So, one night, she and Andy drew up some simple plans for what was then a very unloved old industrial building, found a ragtag team of local blokes, and started building their ad-hoc house within the factory walls. 10 weeks later, they moved in.
Andy and Priscilla's whole ‘house inside the warehouse’ was built using recycled materials, with the idea that it would always be something of a temporary home, using materials which could be pulled down and re used again at some point. They didn't know then that they'd end up here for over four years! 'Someone donated the floorboards, the carpet came out of an old office, and we bought the kitchen on e-bay for $400' says Priscilla. The back wall was built from windows found in a skip, and Andy swapped some steel for the claw foot bath which now takes pride of place in the bathroom. It was the ultimate 'make do and mend' project, bringing together a variety of materials and finishes for an unmistakeably eclectic, frugally efficient family home.
'Because we knew it was temporary, we built and fitted out using only what we already had, or were given or found' explains Priscilla. 'So in some ways every single part of the design and build and interior aesthetic is a compromise. The furniture and art are mismatched bits and bobs that found their way there from all over to share the space! I can’t label it! But over time it all married and became kind of cohesive!'
The house is full of treasured second hand pieces, artwork and posters, books, textiles and bits and pieces collected on overseas travels. But beyond the furniture, artwork and textiles, it really is the warehouse itself, with its recycled materials and salvaged details, that bears a distinct, larger than life personality.
'Our original intent was to create a place that first and foremost accommodated a diverse range of family needs' says Priscilla. The luxury of space has not been wasted on this busy household - the younger kids love riding their little bikes here (both outdoors and in!), Andy appreciates his workshop and adjacent carport where he tinkers with his much loved old cars, and when not playing soccer in the hallway, the teenagers occupy their own versatile living space / TV room at the front of the warehouse.
'To have so much space tucked away in here behind an unassuming exterior has been pretty special and unique' says Priscilla, whose unusual home has also been used as a location for a number of television commercials & shoots over the years. In October last year Beyoncé filmed here for her visual album released in December - you can see the kitchen, bathroom, lounge and bedroom as well as Andy's car in both Rocket and No Angel! (SO IMPRESSED, you have no idea!).
I'm so glad we've been able to document this amazing Melbourne home, because the Portokallis / Blake family's time here has recently drawn to a close. More than 10 years after he first purchased the warehouse, Andy has finally commenced the development of the site, and his family have recently moved to a new home not far away. End of an era! So glad we snapped it just in time!
Huge thanks to Priscilla and Andy for sharing their home, and to the whole family for participating in the beautiful short film captured for us by local filmmaker Paris Thomson aka SIRAP! Whilst we can't do it for every single home, we do love to share a little motion snapshot of the most interesting homes when we can, and we are so grateful to amazing Paris for bringing these to life. Do check out the vid above - it only goes for 1 minute, would love to know what you think!
Such love and life in that home.
I esp like the backyard area.
possibly one of the most interesting , least tricked up, formulaic posts I’ve seen in DF!
Finally a house with character and personality. I don’t think I saw one thing in it which you could buy from a trendy shop!
LOVE
Proof it’s not so much how much money you have but what you can find and the amount of ingenuity you have.
A perfect example of how recycling and finding beauty in other people’s throwaways makes for truly beautiful and unique home. Can’t beat those dear (sic) doors! Just lovely.
You are so right Lucy, it’s the imperfect ones that draw us in. I’m a sucker for a warehouse (most of my favourite Design Files Australian Homes are warehouse conversions). I loved the character of this space especially the back garden, hills hoist and all! I will be very interested to see the development. I hope it will retain some of the original details (I’m sure it will) especially the facade and windows – perhaps even including some of that graffiti!
Love it!!! How wonderfully creative and resourceful!
love the vid. complements the post superbly and shows us the humans who live inside (or did)
How I’ve loved looking at these pics. I can just imagine how much fun it would be to live in this house, aspects of it remind me of various inner north student houses I’ve lived in over the years. Don’t think I could live there myself now, but it’s got soul seeping from every nook and cranny, brilliant. I’d love to see what priscilla and andy do with their new place. Great vid too ;-)
totally delicious
Such a welcome relief from perfectly coiffed homes. Best TDF Wednesday interiors-porn in a long time: Bravo!
Oh yes, a place to call home. No tricks, not styled but individual. What a luxury to have such a space in which to live, work and play.
Love this! So raw and lived in. Gives off a beautiful family vibe!
Thank lucy! You’ve nailed it…. I’ve been reading TDF for ages and its gems like these that keep me coming back. I know its not possible but the Video is a wonderful touch – not possible to have more of these in future posts?
Ahhh!! What an inspiring and delightful lviing space. Gotta love Lucy’s description of an “unmistakeably eclectic, fruugally efficient family home” – in a nutshell!
But hey, there is nothing “compromising” about Priscilla’s found treasures and mismatched beauties. And Mabel’s artwork, oh so wonderful – each one a masterpiece, worthy of framing.
What a fabulously interesting house, I imagine the people that live here are some super cool cats indeed…… I love that fact that nearly everything was salvaged from garage sales or junk shops – great inspiration to those looking to create a home with character without having to spend a fortune. The backyard is so cute, reminds me of a something that would belong to a little old nonna in the 60’s…
Absolutely love this home!! So glad you showed it to us. The addition of the video is a fantastic idea!! I really love the use of colour in Mabel’s room. Any chance you could tell me what colours were used on the wall behind the bed?
An awesome tribute to an awesome lady. Looks great P (and Andy too of course!)
All of the homes you show us are beautiful Lucy, but this one is hands-down my favorite in a long time.
Love it! SO real and the kids rooms are full of colour!! Fitzroy is one of my favourite Melbourne suburbs.
I just want to feel what it feels like to be in this home. It has such warmth and love in there. May be I can buy one of the apartments and get a bit of that love inside my own little patch in there. Such a delightful home. Where can I find out more about buying one of these?
This is so much more inspiring than the expensive, sterile homes. Some of which you can’t imagine anyone living in. Please lets see more real houses.
YES!!! Every Wednesday I cross my fingers for a some of this action. The bestest and most interesting since Ozzy Wright and Mylee Grace’s pad of pure inspiration, love and fun. This is living with joy!
Thanks Lucy!
LOVE the video! Beautiful home. The film gives such a different perspective beyond the images. Can we please see more of these in the future?
Yes yes! The video is amazing. Definitely would love more videos to give even more insight into the personality of the homes and the families who live in them! Love it.
One of the best houses this year! Warmth, style and personality! Wouldn,t want to move from there myself!
Just gorgeous. Absolutely fell head over heels in love with this much loved family home. Just proves we can make the most interesting, fun homes from recycled goods & wares. Reminded me of Nina’s home in Offspring. Love it & Love the Kismet Lodge sign. This home has my brain ticking full of new or not so new ideas & inspiration. Thank you for allowing us a glimpse of this much loved space. Shame it has to go but I eagerly await to see what they come up with next.
Hi Lucy, Adore the warehouse and the creative family behind it. Loved the video, it’s great that it’s only one minute but it captures the character of the place and the people beautifully. Please make more of those!! Fantastic!
just catching up on my tdf reading …. and couldn’t not say that I absolutely love these little films. so clever and beautiful. they give the perfect little insight into the family that lives in this stunning space. more vids please team tdf…. love what you do :)
The work bench in the kitchen is a great hero piece, brings such strength and warmth to the space.