After spending months glued to real estate websites in search of a retro home, Hannah-Lee Hughes ended up stumbling upon her dream listing on Facebook.
Hannah (senior interior designer at Pasquale Cook) and her husband Joel (executive chef of No.7 & Meletos) had their hearts set on finding a mid-century residence in one of the leafy neighbourhoods near Warrandyte, ideally designed by a Melbourne architect. Not only that, but they were looking for a place in original condition.
In the end, it wasn’t a real estate site, but a Facebook group that delivered the goods! Hannah saw a post about this 1970s Briar Hill property in her favourite Facebook group dedicated to sharing retro houses for sale. Serendipitously, it was exactly what they had been looking for.
‘The house was designed by the renowned Melbourne architect Graeme Gunn and constructed by the visionary Merchant Builders, complemented by landscaping from Ellis Stones,’ Hannah explains.
An example of Merchant Builders’ ‘Two-Storey Model’, the home exuded ‘a welcoming warmth’ and had ample space for entertaining, while the combination of the timber ceilings, cork flooring and modest sized rooms still made it feel intimate and cosy.
‘I was instantly in love,’ Hannah says of her first viewing. ‘Joel later toured the home on his day off and shared my sentiment that this could indeed become our new home, although I believe his decision may have been swayed by the presence of a pool.’
The couple purchased the house at auction in early 2022, and have been lovingly updating it ever since. Small changes like getting new carpet, new lighting, and re-painting the walls in Dulux Antique White USA completely refreshed the interiors within just a few months.
One of their most notable additions was the installation of a new volcanic rock wall encircling the pool area. Transforming the garden has also been a real labour of love for Joel, who’s spent countless hours bringing the new landscape design by JALA Studio to life.
‘We are the third owners of this exceptional property, and take great pride in preserving and revitalising its unique character. Regrettably, many Merchant Builders homes across Melbourne have been poorly renovated or demolished,’ Hannah says.
That’s why she and Joel have decided to take a slow and steady approach to the renovations, ensuring this next chapter doesn’t lose sight of the original design.
Inside, Joel and Hannah have been just as thoughtful about their home’s styling. Each room showcases a sentimental collection of vintage furniture, alongside new and handmade pieces that reflect the mid-century flair of the home, including a ‘meticulously crafted’ spotted gum wardrobe in their serene bedroom, and a matching timber console in the dining room made by Joel’s father, Ivan.
The walls are also lined with artworks the couple have been gifted by their siblings over the years. ‘Some of these artworks show previous family homes, our beautiful dog Flo, or funny stories or conversations we’ve had, that they have brought to life as incredible illustrations,’ Hannah explains.
‘The first floor of our house is pretty special too. We love walking upstairs on sunny mornings and seeing the reflections of the pool water dancing across the ceiling. On warm days, the whole first floor smells like pine, which takes me back to my childhood home — it’s these little nostalgic moments that make each day here so memorable.’
