This is an unconventional interiors story for us. Mostly because nothing has been changed since this Mount Waverley house was built in 1976. But that’s what makes it so epic!
The home of Ted and Denise Mason has been lovingly documented by their granddaughter, stylist Cassie Smith, who remembers spending years here drinking banana smoothies and making furniture in her grandfather’s workshop out the back.
Ted – a civil and mechanical engineer who built everything from cars to submarines – designed everything himself, acting as architect, draftsman, interior designer and landscaper on the project. ‘He even built a to-scale model of the project, which still exists!’ laughs Cassie. ‘Just about every book, ornament, piece of furniture and light fitting had been there since 1976.’
Shag pile carpet, macrame plant hangers, and rattan from floor to ceiling greet visitors from the threshold while brass details, curved archways, designer light-fittings and iconic mid-century Australian furniture unfold as they move through the house. Classic vintage pieces like Featherston dining chairs, lounge suites by Fler and Aristoc, and Stylecraft armchairs galvanise its retro status.
Every element of the house had been painstakingly documented by Ted. ‘In his folders were handwritten lists of every paint colour and wood stain that was used throughout the house,’ Cassie says. ‘He even kept the brochure for the mouldings and vinyl colour samples for some of the furniture they had custom made.’
The rich textures and deep jewel tones (hello crimson and emerald green accents!) are complemented by green vinyl dining chairs, gold-flecked lino and geometric-patterned curtains – all perfectly intact. Ted’s impeccable eye for detail is on show in every room – the red tiles in the bedroom are even colour matched to the doorhandles!
The only thing Cassie added ahead of this shoot was some lush green velvet bedding from Kip&Co (‘which was probably not too far off what they might have had in the 70s!’) – plus some ornamental plants that were popular at the time.
This untouched gem totally suspended in time gives new meaning to the phrase ‘forever home’!
