View of the bookshelves which continue up the staircase. The natural, oiled timber column is visible in front. Fleur, Murray and their builder Hamish traveled to the timber yard together to pick out their favourite. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

‘I found this old printer’s tray years ago at the Camberwell Market’, tells Fleur, ‘it’s been fun finding tiny things to sit in it’ Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

View of the kitchen from the dining room. Guni Semi Pendant (large) from Surrounding. Green splashback tiles are Inax Biyusai from Arte Domus. Wall light is Artemide Dioscuri 140 from Artemide. ‘We’ve exposed the galvanised steel structure which supports the stair to the bedroom above, the timber shelves wrap around the diagonal columns.’ Murray explains, ‘The grooved cupboards are a reference to Fleur’s old kitchen in her original home.’ Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The southern shady garden view of the house. The reading room upstairs angles to look out at the large snow gum. The rain chain was at the request from Fleur and carries rain from the small roof. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

View down the staircase. The large slider on the left opens the reading room and main bedroom into one space. The roof/ceiling kinks to allow for the existing trees. The painting of the hydrangeas above the staircase is by Fleur’s mother. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

View from the reading room. Fleur shares, ‘This is my mother’s desk. My mother died 30 years ago. I love sitting at her desk high in my study looking out through the trees. The birds watch me and when I open the little windows I think one day one might fly in and sit on the desk as I write. The desk still holds some of mum’s old notebooks and photos.’ Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

View from the kitchen through the hallway and into the guest bedroom. Fleur’s father collected old books, and she says she has ‘inherited a love for them’. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

View from the main bedroom into the ensuite. The story behind the Leaf Collector banner above the windows, according to Fleur – ‘A few years ago I had a stall at the Rose Street market in Fitzroy. I was the Leaf Collector. I painted leaves and made things out of them. My house is now filled with leaves that I love. It is funny now that I live amongst all these beautiful trees, I find eucalyptus leaves blow in all the time. I find them everywhere- in the living room, the bedroom and even in my bed sometimes.’ Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The small window connects to the high hall void, it lets in the morning light, additional cross ventilation. The cupboard handles are The Dots from Muuto. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The main bathroom. Fleur collected the antique tiles at markets, and Murray incorporated them into the bathroom vanity. Wall light Artemide Dioscuri 140 from Artemide. Tap fittings Icon collection from Astra Walker. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

(From left to right) Murray Barker, Fleur’s daughter Hazel Brown with her son Earl, Fleur Glenn. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The exterior of the happy home. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.