Homes

A First Home Buyer’s Refined Brunswick ‘Terrace House’

When looking to buy her first property, art director Izzi McGrath was seeking her ‘forever home.’ To Izzi, this meant a well-designed and centrally-located property requiring minimal maintenance. 

‘Terrace House’—a multi-residential building developed and designed by Austin Maynard Architects—ticked all these boxes and more. Izzi joined the waiting list for the development, becoming one of 20 purchasers to live in the innovative Brunswick apartment building. 

Izzi’s personal styling builds on the enduring architecture of her apartment, with a considered, playful, and ever evolving collection of furniture and collectables showcasing both Japanese and Scandi influences. 

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

Italian vintage mirror by Geoffrey Hatty. Vintage Hans Wegner sofa (Model GE 236/4) and Finnish armchair bought from Gibson’s Auctions, and reupholstered by Martel Upholstery in Kvadrat (‘I got fantastic advice from Martel in Richmond about sympathetic fabrics and chose a Kvadrat wool fabric in a deep turquoise [for the sofa] that has flicks of yellow and green, which is a wonderful calming colour to live with and it changes colour with the light,’ says Izzi). Vintage Hans Wegner coffee table (Model At15) from Angelucci. Vitra Akari Floor Lamp from In Good Company. Muuto Compile Shelving System. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

The built-in desk on entry to the home. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Izzi McGrath in her home. Vintage Hans Wegner sofa (Model GE 236/4) and Finnish armchair bought from Gibson’s Auctions, and reupholstered by Martel Upholstery in Kvadrat. Vitra Akari Floor Lamp from In Good Company. Muuto Compile Shelving System. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

1970s Kartell Nesting Tables from eBay. Muuto Compile Shelving System. Swan sculptures (2011) by Heather B. Swann. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Unknown paintings displayed via a Hangzen picture hanging system. Italian vintage mirror by Geoffrey Hatty. Vintage Hans Wegner sofa (Model GE 236/4) and Finnish armchair bought from Gibson’s Auctions, and reupholstered by Martel Upholstery in Kvadrat. Vintage Hans Wegner coffee table (Model At15) from Angelucci. Vitra Akari Floor Lamp from In Good Company. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

The Shadow (2003) by Lisa Roet. Bentwood stools bought from Facebook Marketplace. Muuto Compile Shelving System. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Muuto Compile Shelving System. Thonet dining chairs from Leonard Joel. Vintage Danish dining table from AngelucciHAY Rice Paper Lantern. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Muuto Compile Shelving System. Swan sculptures (2011) by Heather B. Swann. Collection of vintage Danish candlesticks from Chapel Street Bazaar. HAY Portable Light. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Wall hanging of The Gold of the Azure purchased at the Fundació Joan Miro in Barcelona. Artemida Tolomeo Lamp from eBay. Kartell Componibili bedside storage bought from Facebook Marketplace. Wool blanket bought from a Kyneton op shop. Bedlinen from Sheet Society. DusenDusen tissue box holder. HAY Rice Paper Lantern. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Alien sex magick (2016) by Jess Johnson. Artek Stool 60From Little Things Big Things Grow (1994) David Band. String Furniture system shelving. ‘It felt like a strange choice to put magazine shelves in my room but I love it! It gives me a chance to display favourite art, magazines, and books, and encourages me to reach for a book before going to bed rather than my phone,’ says Izzi. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Prints by Rupa Anurendra. Filing cabinet purchased from Objects of Yesterday. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Marcel Duchamp exhibition poster from Tokyo National Museum. AstroChimp (2004) lithograph by Lisa Roet. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

Bird Girl (1993) by Mirka Mora. Birds and Wallaby (2000) by Peggy Napangardi-Jones. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

The front of Izzi’s home, designed to look like an authentic workers’ cottage. Kinto hanging pots. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli and Sarah Hendriks

The facade of the Terrace House, designed by Austin Maynard Architects. Photo – Derek Swalwell

Writer
Lucy Feagins
8th of March 2023

Many of Melbourne’s first inner-city houses were terraced workers’ cottages: small Victorian homes, built in rows that generated a close community.

Terrace House—developed and designed by Austin Maynard Architects—reimagines this typology for the modern day. The 20 homes within the development are modelled on a traditional terrace plan, and stacked on top of one another across six storeys.

Located in Brunswick, the project offers the liveability of a house, with the social, financial, and sustainable benefits of a multi-residential building.

Art director Izzi McGrath was attracted to the values of the development, which was initially sold via a balloting system. The first home buyer wasn’t seeking an investment property—she was looking for her forever home.

‘As a first home buyer, the value in buying into an architect-designed, brand new building, with the promise of minimal maintenance and thermal efficiency, with lower ongoing utility costs, was incredibly appealing,’ says Izzi.

‘I joined the waiting list after the Terrace House building had already been balloted, but luckily for me, when one of the original purchasers pulled out, and after a bit of a process, it was offered to me. A day I will never forget!’

While the building was under construction, Izzi took time to carefully consider her future home’s interiors, even drafting these on The Sims to get a better idea of how they’d look! (‘Hilarious to look at that now, but I must say it is a pretty accurate version of the 2023 reality’ she says!)

Izzi’s home styling was guided by a wall hanging of Miro’s The Gold of the Azure (originally from her childhood bedroom), and a vintage Hans Wegner sofa purchased secondhand at auction and reupholstered. A secondhand Muuto Compile Shelving System, and hanging system by Hangzen provide plenty of space to display treasured books, knick knacks, and artworks.

Izzi loves her home’s terrace-like floorplan that provides a natural separation between the study at the front, and the living space at the rear. ‘I’m often waving or opening the door for a chat during the day and there are quite a few young children who love to come to the window when I am working,’ she says.

Towards the end of each day, Izzi finds herself gravitating towards her own west-facing living room and balcony. ‘I never miss a sunset, which is a dream come true,’ she says. 

Izzi’s brother also lives in the building, providing a wonderful sense of connection among a wider community of like minded residents who enjoy meeting on the rooftop garden with expansive views. ‘The best backyard in Brunswick!’ as Izzi describes it.

Inner-city apartment living never looked so good!

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