Cyndi Dawes lived in her North Fitzroy home for a year before undertaking a thorough makeover of the house. Working with the expert guidance of Stuart Harrison and Jessica Nixon, the property was reconfigured to create new light filled spaces, garden views, an extension for a new kitchen, laundry, living space, bedroom and bathroom. The redesign created two distinct living zones, connected by the kitchen as the heart of the home.
After deciding her previous family home exceeded her spatial and lifestyle needs, Cyndi identified this home down the street as an ideal location and size, despite it not being on the market. She kept a keen eye on it for several years, and pounced when it became available. When it comes to real estate, patience is a virtue!
Cyndi describes her home as ‘welcoming, feminine, generous hearted, evolving and providing a green sanctuary from the world.’ The house is a reflection of Cyndi’s personality, and features a collection of items she loves and has collected over a life time of travel.
The home is warm and vibrant, and lined with rugs that Cyndi explains as ‘taking 20 years to find!’ She highlights ‘I am now in LOVE with my gorgeous Loom rug in the front living room, it is full of colour and vibrancy and is just gorgeous to walk on.’ Other favourite aspects of the home include the ‘deep murky swamp green cabinetry’ in the kitchen and laundry, and the Belynda Henry artwork that brings a sparkle of colour into the kitchen. Most beloved is the garden, and the way the new extension frames the lush greenery of the outdoors.
Architect Stuart and interior designer Jessica were instrumental in shaping the house to be a highly functional and un-fussy space. Cyndi highlights the bathroom, kitchen and launry as the trickiest rooms to negotiate, but after working closely with the team for eight months, everything now feels ‘just right.’
This super functional and beautiful home is located in North Fitzroy, which Cyndi loves so much, she would almost like to keep slightly secret. She loves the small village feel of the suburb, the walking paths along Merri Creek, and easy access to Melbourne’s best bread!
She highlights ‘North Fitzroy is also home to a lovely mix of people, and loads of quirky dogs which makes for entertaining walks.’ We think Cyndi’s pooches Rosie and Blue are some of the luckiest dogs in Melbourne.
Love this home? Cyndi rents out a room of her house on Air BnB! Click here for more information.
