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Phillip and Lauren Li and Family

Homes

Today we check out a bright and breezy family home in Melbourne’s bayside suburb of Parkdale.

This 2 bedroom unit belongs to interior designer Lauren Li of Sisalla Interior Design, her husband Phillip, who works alongside her in the business, and their two gorgeous girls Indigo (3 years) and Coco (2 yrs).

12th October, 2016

Living room details. Bottom shelf, blue Bitossi vase (found in op-shop by Lauren’s sister!). Gold spot from West Elm.  Low blue bowl by Adele Macer Ceramics. Blue and white glazed little pot by Arcadia Scott. Gold key/pen from Pass The Baton. Top shelf- White pot by Adele Macer Ceramics. Blue dot pot by Arcadia Scott. Little white pot by Adele Macer Ceramics. Cup with face by Yiying Lee. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Living room – Blue chair from Poliform. Llight from Euroluce. Cushion from Ni-Ni Creative. Artwork from Otomys. Rug from Halcyon Lake. Cabinet from DesignAge. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Living Room – Sofa from Domo. Rug from Halcyon Lake. Shoe storage and round mirror from Ikea. Cushion from North. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

The home of interior designer Lauren Li of Sisalla Interior Design and family. Living Room – Beige armchair from Domo. Blue chair from Poliform. Rug from Halcyon Lake. Cushion from Ni-Ni Creative. Side table from Freedom. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Kitchen – Appliances by Fisher & Paykel. Stone benchtop from Stone Italiana. Cabinets from Ikea.  Tiles from Perini Tiles. Knobs from Anthropologie. Wall light from Cedar and Moss.  Tapware is Sussex. Buddha is from Springvale! Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Dining room – Vintage Poster from The Design Files Open House 2014!  (The Galerie). Table from Freedom. Chairs are vintage Ercol. Ppendant light from Hub. Floor Rug (seen in living room) from Halcyon Lake. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Kitchen – Appliances Fisher & Paykel. Stone benchtop from Stone Italiana. Cabinets are from Ikea.  Tiles from Perini Tiles. Knobs from Anthropologie. Wall light from Cedar and Moss.  Tapware is Sussex. Buddha is from Springvale! Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Girls’ Bedroom – Wallpaper from Hygge and West. Bedlinen from Adair. Mushroom from Turner and Lane. Cot from Ikea. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Bathroom – Mirror from ‘Mirror Mirror’. Vanity from Ikea. Wallpaper (seen in reflection) from Hygge & West. Tiles from Perini. Shower curtain from Anthropologie. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Master Bedroom – Pendant light over bedside from Hub. Bedlinen from Bedouin Societe. Painting by Richard Claremont. Side table from Globewest. Bedhead is custom made. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Master Bedroom – Pendant light over bedside from Hub. Bedlinen from Bedouin Societe. Painting by Richard Claremont. Side table from Globewest. Bedhead is custom made. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

The Li family at home!  From left, Indigo, Coco, Phil and Lauren. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files.

Lucy Feagins
Wednesday 12th October 2016

Interior designer Lauren Li and her husband Phillip Li moved into their sweet two bedroom unit in Parkdale two years ago, and though she was 7 months pregnant at the time (!) Lauren wasted no time putting her stamp on the place.

‘It was all original 1970s kitchen and bathroom, so it was time to go’ Lauren recalls. A new kitchen was quickly designed installed (incorporating IKEA cabinets) – Lauren selected a distinctive sea-green colour for the cabinetry, paired with a stone bench top, handmade tiles and brass details. The pair also added ‘V Groove’ paneling to the kitchen and living room walls for durability and texture, and installed a sliding barn door to separate the living area from the bedrooms, which was important with little ones sleeping.

Gradually, they’ve added finishing touches, including the most amazing wallpapers from US brand Hygge & West. The overall result is a bright and cheerful space, with a slightly 1970s, beachy vibe. ‘Every room has a different colour or pattern but to me, it’s not overdone. It keep things interesting’ Lauren says. ‘Why not splash around some colour, it feels good and makes me happy!

Though there’s not an inch to spare, for the Li family, this two bedroom unit is the perfect size. Having spent the past 10 years living in small apartments, Lauren has been quite strategic in her design approach here. Interestingly, she’s not a fan of open plan living.

‘Often with these small spaces, the first instinct is to remove the wall between the kitchen and living, however we like being able to separate the spaces.’ Lauren says. ‘With cooking smells and noise, it’s nice to be able to slide across a door. Also it’s nice to relax in the living room and not see mess and dishes in the sink. I think that there is a growing realisation now that open plan living isn’t always the right approach for every space’.

We love Lauren’s fun, relaxed decorating aesthetic, but we also love her no-nonsense approach to apartment living. ‘We love living in a small space, no one gets lost and you can almost vacuum the whole place from one power point!’ she says. ‘We use the space very efficiently, we can’t hold onto too much stuff. If toys don’t get played with, they’re out. And guess what, they’re not even missed. It’s a humble home, as you can see, but we love it.’

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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