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Photographer Daniel Temesgen knew he lucked out when he came across this St Kilda rental on the esplanade, with direct views over the bay.
‘I love sunsets and walking on the beach, so it was perfect for me,’ Daniel says.
In addition to its prime location, the three-bedroom apartment also has a rich history behind it, forming part of a stately Victorian terrace that’s more than 160 years old, according to the St Kilda Historical Society.
While the local landmark was reportedly built sometime before 1864, the row was later divided into flats in around the 1920s.
This evolution has left it with an eclectic mix of features from across different eras, including elegant fireplaces inside, and dividing board-style staircases on the facade of the building.
The apartment is a unique space befitting of a professional creative like Daniel, who moved in with his housemates, podcasters Samuel Habtemariam and Jeremy Habtemariam, at the start of this year.
Despite being renters, the trio has made small changes to tailor the share house to their personal style — which Daniel describes as ‘Bauhaus meets mid-century modern’.
‘One of the first purchases were the lamp shades from HAY that set the tone for the rest of the house. And, adding things we love in the house, from our vinyl record section or our vintage dining table where we always eat dinner together at,’ Daniel says.
Quirky details like the kitchen’s red-laminate benchtop and the yellow trim architraves have been enhanced by Daniel’s playful furnishings. There’s pops of red, green, and second-hand furniture he sourced deliberately to create the home’s cohesive vibe.
Many of the homewares are also especially sentimental, like the ‘Habesha lamp’ that Daniel’s dad brought back from Ethiopia, where his family are from: ‘It’s part of my history.’
A gallery wall in the hallway reveals some of Daniel’s own photography, alongside photos by some of his favourite creatives.
The Mortal Kombat arcade machine that takes pride of place in the living room also holds memories of Daniel’s childhood and playing the game with his grandpa, It sits beside a vibrant painting of a hair braider at work by Tianah Miro.
‘I love telling stories about Black hair and it is perfect in our home,’ Daniel adds.
It’s a true artist’s house, and perhaps one of the most put-together share houses we’ve seen in a long time!
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