Homes

Melanie Clark and Joe Ottone and Family

Today we visit the Yallingup home of Joe Ottone and Melanie Clark, who run Perth’s much-loved homewares store Remedy. The couple lives on this eight-acre property nestled 300km away from town, with their twins Gabriel and Sofia, and family dog Alvy. They describe their home as an extension of their store, with many pieces by Australian designers and bushy, scenic views of kangaroos hopping by.

Our Perth contributors Anna Flanders and Angelita Bonetti recently visited this couple at home to chat about life in the hills.

Written
by
Anna Flanders
Supported by Dulux

Dining room. Kate Stokes’ Coco Flip pendant, chairs from Feel Good Design, and Bonnie & Neil tablecloth from Remedy. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Dining room. Kate Stokes’ Coco Flip pendant, chairs from Feel Good Design, and Bonnie & Neil tablecloth from Remedy. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Dining room. Kate Stokes’ Coco Flip pendant, chairs from Feel Good Design, and Bonnie & Neil tablecloth from Remedy. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Hallway details.  Muuto dots and George Nelson bench available through Living Edge. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Banquette seating featuring a scattering of Bonnie & Neil! Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Living room details. Sofa from Muuto, Armadillo & Co. rug, Bonnie & Neil cushions. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Living room details. Sofa from Muuto, Armadillo & Co. rug, Bonnie & Neil cushions. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Kitchen. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Kitchen. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Kitchen details. Black Japan-stained recycled board with a dark IKEA kitchen, and tiles from Armanti Tiles. Island bench from Empire Bussleton, Bonnie & Neil teatowel, Normann Copenhagen mortar and pestle, Menu salt and pepper grinders, Ode apron, Bison vase, Tom Dixon chopping board (all from Remedy). Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Main bedroom details. Bonnie & Neil boxes as side tables, Emily Green artwork, Kip & Co and Major Minor sheets. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Sofia’s bedroom. The bedding is mostly Kip & Co, with a handmade quilt by Melanie. The Heico bunny lamp was a Remedy piece and the stuffed toys are a collection by Maiike and Melanie’s Aunty Anne. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

‘This is my favourite room in the home. I love sitting in the bath watching the birds and roos in the bush. You can’t beat it,’ says Melanie. Patricia Urquiola tiles, Mod Collective pendants above. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Laundry details. Joe made the bench top and side cabinet, with a little help from IKEA, and Bonnie & Neil tiles! Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

‘It’s alfresco dining for this family all summer!’ says Melanie. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Outdoor table setting. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Fire pit. Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

Writer
Anna Flanders
14th of December 2016

Joe Ottone and Melanie Clark found this former Yallingup holiday home in 2010. At the time, the couple were living in a three-bedroom cottage in Fremantle with toddler twins, with one entire bedroom dedicated as storage space for their homewares store, Remedy! They had quickly outgrown the space, and were deciding between renovating their Fremantle cottage or moving to the Yallingup region for a tree change. Within in a week of looking, they had found and purchased a new home!

Originally designed as a holiday home, when Melanie and Joe took possession, a few updates were necessary to make the house function as a full time family home. ‘We have essentially given the whole house an overhaul’ explains Melanie.

The couple re-worked the floorplan, creating a new entry, and redesigning internal doorways for better flow between the private and public areas. The kitchen was renovated (and doubled in size), the bathroom was updated and a home office added. Outside, expansive decks were wrapped along the front of the home to take in the bushland views, and offer a spot for sky-gazing at night!

‘I call it the house that Joe re-built,’ laughs Melanie. ‘Joe did the majority of it, with structural help from our builder friend Ken Norrish, and it’s everything we had hoped for.’

When re-designing the house, Melanie and Joe felt it was important to be true to its ‘bush house’ origins, while giving a strong nod to their love for mid-century Australian and European design. True to their passion for authentic design, the pair have filled their home with second-hand furniture pieces, Australian design, and contemporary European design, with various vintage and new pieces from their much loved store.

‘Anyone who knows our stores will recognise many Remedy products, both past and present, in our home’ says Melanie. ‘We don’t own a lot, but what we do have, we love.’

Today, the couple continues to run the business side of Remedy from their bush land home office, also travelling 300 kilometres to and from Fremantle and Leederville to work in their stores and catch up with customers-turned-friends. Despite this epic regular commute, they make a strong case for the benefits of a tree change. ‘Being here has brought me an awareness of just how your environment can impact your well being, from your home’s structure, to the items you choose to live with (or without), to the neighbours and community,’ says Melanie.

To see more of Joe and Melanie’s store Remedy, visit them online here.

Joe Ottone and Melanie Clark at home with their dog, Alvy! Photo – Angelita Bonetti. Styling – Anna Flanders.

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