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Noemie Le Coz and Jeremy Elliot, creative directors and co-founders of Little Troop, discovered this Fitzroy North terrace house for sale in April 2020, back when Covid was reaching peak crisis mode in New York City.
Scrolling through real estate listings in Noemie’s hometown started as a bit of pandemic escapism, but soon turned into late-night bank calls and a last-minute loan application. ‘At the time, New York was going through a lot, and heading back to Melbourne felt like a safe, comforting escape from all the craziness,’ says Noemie.
With the help of mutual friends and a little serendipity, Noemie and Jeremy inspected the house via video call, then listened nervously over the phone from their Brooklyn apartment as a friend bid on their behalf. ‘We couldn’t believe it when we’d won it,’ says Noemie. ‘We were both really over the moon.’
There’s something about the playful yet minimal style of this house that appeals to designers — a profession Noemie and Jeremy share with the previous owners, and the tenants before them. ‘It’s a humble little house, but one that felt like it had been very carefully planned out with some very creative minds and a lot of good taste,’ says Noemie.
The previous owner worked with an architect to add a modernist-style extension to the 1880s terrace, which remains in perfect condition. Details such as built-in storage solutions, blue bedroom carpet, raw concrete kitchen benches, and Baltic pine flooring imbue the home with unique character, yet with a level of restraint suited to Noemie and Jeremy’s taste, as epitomised by the caterpillar-like cushion in the lounge room. ‘It adds just that perfect amount of oddness to an otherwise straightforward room!’ Noemie explains.
‘We’re generally quite playful people, and love unique, beautifully crafted spaces and things… but also lean on the tidier side. Classic designers, in that sense!’
A sunroom overlooks an internal courtyard, before the study at the very rear, which has been a delightful place to work from over the past few years spent between Melbourne and NYC.
Noemie and Jeremy have made only minor changes to the home, the most impactful being DIY shelves to display their growing collection of design books and mementos. ‘We’re not the sort of people who put everything behind closed doors. If we can find a way to display it beautifully, we will!’
The couple feel especially grateful to have lived in this house during the pandemic, and as a growing family, due to its rooftop deck, sense of community, and location just one street back from Edinburgh Gardens. ‘It’s one of those spots that no matter which direction you walk in, it’s wonderful,’ says Noemie. ‘We also really love our neighbours. We’re all quite close and get together often, which I think is a bit rarer these days. It’s a very special street!’
Since having two children — Luca (4) and Hugo (1) — regular trips to New York City have become less sustainable for Noemie and Jeremy, so they’ve decided to put down roots again in the US. The family are building a larger home in upstate New York, inspired by this one, but are hopeful of one day returning to Fitzroy North. ‘We’ll just need a tiny bit more space!’ laughs Noemie.
