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Amanda Henderson-Marks and Michael Marks

Homes

The Northcote home of stylist, interior designer and retailer Amanda Henderson-Marks and her family is perfectly imperfect.  Unfinished and ever-changing, this family home is a serene, pared back space, layered with second hand furniture and vintage finds.

 

27th January, 2016

Kitchen details. Amanda’s kitchen with concrete bench tops made by Michael. Above, floating shelves display Amanda’s collections of chopping boards and ceramics. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Stylist, interior decorator and retailer Amanda Henderson-Marks at home in Northcote. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room looking through to the lounge room at the front of the house. As soon as Amanda and Michael moved in they opened the living and lounge rooms up to create one big space for their family. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room. Armadillo&Co rug under dining table. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room. Amanda’s favourite upholstered mustard yellow chair with grey cushions in linen and wool. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The Northcote home of Amanda Henderson-Marks and Michael Marks. above – lounge room. Amanda’s collection of books and artworks collected over the years, couch from Weylandts, and Benny the cairn terrier asleep on the couch (almost camouflaged!).  Walls are painted in Dulux Antique White USA. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Lounge room. Tree log coffee table, HK Living tree stool. Amanda’s collection of ceramics and custom made cushions. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Lounge room details. White vases and glass ware by HK Living. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom. HK Living Egg chair with HK Living grey cupboard. Rugs from Amanda’s shop, Gardener and Marks in Albert Park. Bedroom walls are painted in Dulux Companion. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom. Antique marble console with grey painted base, Bloomingdale gourd lamp with Amanda’s collection of new and old art. Bedroom walls are painted in Dulux Companion.Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom. Old French bed with Weylandts side tables and assorted cushions from Amanda’s shop, Gardener and Marks in Albert Park. Bedroom walls are painted in Dulux Companion. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Amanda’s newly renovated ensuite bathroom. Cement floors and subway tiles to match kitchen. Ikea drawers with a cement top made by Amanda’s husband Michael. Mushroom stool from Gardener and Marks in Albert Park. Photo – Eve Wilson, styling assistant – Nat Turnbull, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Not too long ago we shared the spectacular home of Melbourne stylist, decorator and retailer Lynda Gardener. Today, we visit the home of Lyn’s business partner and long time creative collaborator Amanda Henderson-Marks. Amanda lives here with her husband Michael, a landscape gardnener, and their two children, Gwennyth (10 years) and Isaac (15 years). The family have been here for seven years.

Amanda and Michael spotted this rambling double-fronted Edwardian house for sale online, and though it was in need of a lot of love, they were instantly drawn to it. The pair had previously lived in a double fronted Victorian house for 11 years in Coburg, and were keen to tackle a new project.

With their combined creative skills, Amanda and Michael set to work straight away. As soon as they took possession of their home, they started renovating. Carpets were removed, old doors replaced and interior walls painted. Amanda designed a new kitchen, and Michael poured the dark charcoal concrete benches himself. Amanda selected floating shelves instead of overhead cupboards to display her ever-changing collection of ceramics, chopping boards and kitchenware, and the island bench was a second hand find. Amanda also sourced all the vintage pendant lamps, and had them installed by an electrician.

More recently, the pair have focussed on their sleeping quarters. They have extended and updated the master bedroom, and added an ensuite using what was previously the old laundry space. The bedroom has been painted in a dramatic deep blue / grey, giving it an incredible moody feel, and really distinguishing the sleeping zone from the bright living and dining space across the hallway. ‘The main bedroom has a large set of French doors which takes in the afternoon sun, so we painted this room in Dulux Companion, a beautiful inky blue which balances perfectly’ explains Amanda.

Though carefully considered, Amanda’s decorating aesthetic is intuitive rather than strategic. ‘Our home is very relaxed and easy to live in, it’s not precious’ she says. Employing a pared back, neutral palette, Amanda has created a richly layered space, filled with second hand furniture, collections of vintage ceramics, stacks of books and magazines, artworks, prints, textured cushions and throws. ‘It is chalky and neat rustic if that makes sense?’ Amanda says, when asked to describe the look and feel of her home. Couldn’t have put it better myself!

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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