Homes

The End Of An Era For This Impeccably Styled Mid-Century Melbourne Rental

Late last year we brought you the family story of Holly Thompson and Stephanie Lane, owners of homewares and vintage furniture business Goodspace, who parent their respective daughters Lola (5) and Frida (6) under the one Melbourne roof.

That alone makes this home special, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to also spotlight the incredible mid-century interiors in a little more detail!

The pair came across the Kew East rental property in 2019, and while it wasn’t quite right practically, they knew they had to have it.

With their styling flair and clever interventions, they’ve turned a two bedroom house (with green carpet in every room) into an impossibly stylish, love-filled home for four.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

Wassily chair, Natuzzi floor lamp (1990s) and blue checkered rug sourced by Goodspace. Black coffee table sourced from Wavey Wares. Limestone sculpture by Lauren Lea Haynes. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Wassily chair, Natuzzi floor lamp (1990s) and blue checkered rug sourced by Goodspace. Black coffee table sourced from Wavey Wares. ‘Sailor’ blanket by Curio Practice. Purple ‘Foli’ table by Lauren Lea Haynes. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

From left: Steph and her daughter Frida, Holly and her daughter Lola in the lounge room of their Kew home. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Wassily chair, Natuzzi floor lamp (1990s) and blue checkered rug sourced by Goodspace. Black coffee table sourced from Wavey Wares. ‘Sailor’ blanket by Curio Practice. Purple ‘Foli’ table by Lauren Lea Haynes. Yellow cherry bomb / Cosmic wand candle by Blazed Wax. Daisy planter by Ellie King. Artwork in the lounge is “Untitled (Red)” by Charlie Ingemar Harding. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Black chairs and dining table sourced from Goodspace. Artwork in the lounge is “Untitled (Red)” by Charlie Ingemar Harding. Artwork behind the dining table is “Here and Now” by Chalom. Bronze sculpture by Caleb Shea. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

A view into the kitchen. Doll house painting by Ruby Hoppen. Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) by Lizzie Nungarrayi Spencer, Warlukurlangu Artists. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Wooden sculpture underneath painting by Lauren Lea Haynes. Wall piece “Untitled” by Hannah Maskell. Artwork “Happy Cat”by Shaye Tek. All furniture sourced by Goodspace. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

‘This room was originally the dining room, but we turned it into a bedroom by adding a curtain wall and positioning the furniture so it felt cosy,’ says Steph. Orange and blue painting (R side of cupboard) by Abbey Rich. Cherry Bomb and Dante candle by Blazed Wax. Cream ‘Foli’ table by Lauren Lea Haynes. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Steph’s room. ‘Steph loves  bright colours and smashing things together that shouldn’t really go, when using lots of patterns I try to keep them tonally similar to create cohesion,’ says Holly. Cut-out side table by P0ly. Blanket by Trinket Solo. Dinner candle by Blazed Wax.  Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Framed water colour paintings by Ruby Hoppen. Drawers sourced by Goodspace. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Cherry Bomb and Dante candle by Blazed Wax. Cream ‘Foli’ table by Lauren Lea Haynes. Mustard checkered rug from Goodspace. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

‘This built in study bookcase turned into storage meant we could create a perfect kid’s bedroom feel,’ says Steph. Wheatgrass blanket by Curio Practice. Wall hanging by Anna Fiedler. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Holly’s room looks right onto the lush backyard. Wheatgrass blanket by Curio Practice. Japanese folding stool sourced by Jolie Laide. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

‘We are obsessed with the free standing fireplace in the centre of the room; we are definitely going to save that in the bank for dream home designs,’ says Holly. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Steph and Holly on the patio outside with a vintage outdoor dining setting sourced by Goodspace. ‘We spend lots of hours on the porch, drinking coffee or yummy wines and it turns into the occasional dance floor!’ says Steph. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
18th of May 2021

Back in 2019, Holly Thompson and Stephanie Lane were in a rush to find their next rental property. 

The house they’d been renting with their respective daughters Lola (5) and Frida (6) was being sold in a hurry, so they decided to inspect a two-bedroom place in nearby Kew East. 

‘From a practical sense, it actually wasn’t suited for our family at all,’ says Steph. ‘We needed four bedrooms and it was two bedrooms and a study. But we just knew we had to have it, so did what we needed to do to make it work for us.’

The mothers are the co-owners of Goodspace (which Holly founded and Steph joined shortly after) that predominantly sells mid-century furniture pieces, so they understood the circa 1960 property’s significance, and its potential. 

‘The home itself is a wonderful example of suburban mid-century architecture, with lots of natural light and exceptional exposed beams and timber panelling,’ says Steph.

Holly and Steph were excited by the challenge of updating the home without making structural changes. Firstly, they partitioned the dining room using sheer curtains to create Steph’s room, while arranging the study to create a ‘super special kids room’ for Lola.

Styling wise, Steph and Holly were inspired by the home’s mid-century features, including the green carpet installed in every room. ‘What could have been a styling obstacle we turned into something that has really worked for us,’ says Holly. 

The pair actually have quite different tastes – Holly’s being more neutral and Steph’s dominated by colour and pattern – but they both love to experiment with current trends. 

‘This is really reflected in each of our bedrooms, and really comes together in our shared spaces,’ says Holly. ‘As you walk through our home, we feel it tells a colour story that reflects each member of the family.’

This home is an example of what can be achieved in a rental property. ‘Renting and budget restrictions doesn’t mean that you can’t make your space your own,’ says Steph. ‘We have sourced nearly everything in our home secondhand on a really tight budget, and then had small splash out moments on pieces of art from local artists.’

We’re sorry to say that this home was recently sold, and is very sadly due to be demolished. While we’re devastated to see the house go, there’s no doubt Holly and Steph will fill their next property with the same wonderful array of mid-century design, and plenty of love. Watch this space!

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