Homes

Natalie Doherty and Grant Edhouse

We are BIG fans of award winning Melbourne interior designer Mardi Doherty of Doherty Design Studio, so when Mardi got in touch recently to share her sister’s Prahran home, we knew we were in for a treat.

The renovated three bedroom Victorian home that Natalie Doherty shares with her husband Grant Edhouse is a sophisticated yet relaxed and functional home, defined by a distinctive materials palette, and brave blocks of colour.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins

The Melbourne home of Natalie Doherty and Grant Edhouse, with interiors designed by Natalie’s sister Mardi Doherty of Doherty Design. Above -open living area looking onto the courtyard garden. Togo couches from Domo, rug and urns from Natalie’s travels in Turkey, FLY coffee table from Great Dane, and side table  from HUB. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room. Black cockatoo from Feather & Willow, rug and urns from Natalie’s travels in Turkey, FLY coffee table from Great Dane, and side table from HUB. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Backyard courtyard detail. Blue and white Morrocan tiles were selected  to represent Natalie and Grant’s travels throughout the world. Design by Mardi Doherty of Doherty Design. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room with white brick tiled fireplace, rug from Turkey and Togo couch from Domo. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room. Black cockatoo from Feather & Willow, rug and urns from Natalie’s travels in Turkey, FLY coffee table from Great Dane, and side table from HUB. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen details. Bench seats from Living Edge and pendant lighting from Ross Gardam. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen. Custom splash back with Ross Gardam pendant lighting, accessories from Great Dane and various other bits and bobs collected by Natalie over time. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining area. Artwork by David Bromley, dining table by Jardan and dining chairs from Great Dane. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Main bedroom details. Gold sculpture by Safari Living and artwork by Lumas Gallery. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Main bedroom. Light from Design Stuff, bedside table from Hermon & Hermon, bedding by Rachel Castle, and artwork by Peter Clarke via Rebecca Hossack. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The front facade of Natalie Doherty and Grant Edhouse’s house. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
7th of September 2016

The renovated three bedroom Victorian home that Natalie Doherty shares with her husband Grant Edhouse is a sophisticated yet relaxed home, designed around Natalie and Grant’s busy lifestyles. The pair are big travellers, so were keen to create a functional, low maintenance space they could return to after weeks overseas and feel instantly at home.

Natalie and Grant lived here for 8 years before deciding to tackle a renovation. Both busy, career focussed people, they were keen to enlist the help of experts when the time finally came to update their home. They worked with Anthony from Chan Architecture for the architectural design, and Natalie’s sister Mardi from Doherty Design Studio on the interiors.

‘They were both phenomenal throughout the entire process’ recalls Natalie. ‘They have ideas of how to best use spaces, maximise the amount of natural light, and fit in enough robes with shoe drawers to house all our clothes and shoes!’

The renovation was extensive. Retaining the distinctive Victorian front part of the home (complete with ceiling roses, cornices and gorgeous period details), Anthony reworked the rear of the home, creating a light filled, contemporary living and dining space which maximised the tight width of the block (just 6 metres). Meanwhile, Mardi selected the perfect unexpected details to complete the look – from patterned tiles, to painted wall panelling, electric blue carpet and contemporary light fittings.

Having only completed their renovation last year, Natalie is still very much in the loved-up honeymoon period with her new home! When asked for her favourite element, she struggles to choose. ‘Everything!’ she says, enthusiastically. ‘From the front picket fence, to seeing the stunning hand blown glass pendants in the corridor, to walking past the beautiful bathroom, electric blue carpeted stairs, passing the grey panelled walls and walking into the kitchen/dining area and seeing our beautiful island bench…’ the list goes on!

Natalie has recently taken  a leap of faith and left the corporate world behind to launch her own dog walking business – Melbourne Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun. Natalie is CRAZY about dogs, so her new little biz is well worth a look for Southside pooches in need of a little extra love during the week!

Natalie Doherty (left) with her sister Mardi Doherty of Doherty Design, who designed the interiors of the home. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

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