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Writer Sigrid McCarthy doesn’t recall the first impressions of her Eltham house — she was more captivated by the huge garden and surrounding bushland.
‘I didn’t even notice it was near a main road!’ says Sigrid. ‘What I do remember clearly is the feeling we both had when we walked through the property… It hinted at a lifestyle that is increasingly difficult for people to grasp due to a broken housing market and urban sprawl.
‘The idea of having more than one acre within 30 minutes of the city felt truly special.’
Sigrid and her engineer partner Trent Moreschini weren’t looking to buy at the time, but meeting the vendors of the home, including carpenter Peter Budd of Huxley Furniture, sealed the deal. ‘They were passionate about reducing waste in the building industry, so had used mainly reclaimed features such as doors, sinks, and windows,’ says Sigrid. ‘It was nice to know we had shared values and could build on their legacy.’
Seven years later, the families still keep in touch to exchange garden updates.
Sigrid and Trent’s relatively modest 1930s Eltham house has many quirks — there are no straight lines or even floors — but a charming new kitchen and renovated living areas by Peter have made it very liveable.
Few updates have been required since, except for patching, painting, and smaller improvements to refresh and personalise spaces.
‘More recently, we undertook a larger project [with Michael Young] by pulling down and rebuilding the balcony. This included adding stairs to connect the garden to the home and selecting materials that better complement the surrounding landscape,’ says Sigrid.
The couple are also soon to replace the roof, and explore solar installation and other energy-efficiency upgrades to improve the home’s long-term sustainability.
The styling is inspired by biophilic design principles. ‘We were drawn to the idea of bringing nature inside, both through the use of natural materials such as timber, and through an openness to light, greenery, and seasonal change,’ explains Sigrid. ‘I love engaging [our daughter] Matilda on what is blooming in the garden and always have cut flowers and herbs in the house.’
Sigrid and Trent will continue adding to the home only as needed in accordance with their sustainable values. The couple have been known to spend many years searching for the perfect secondhand piece, and are inspired to maintain their home in a way that feels honest, not indulgent. ‘Our ethos is to slowly fill a home with items that have history, feel right, and will last the test of time,’ says Sigrid. ‘This means our home has many gaps but we enjoy the slow build and wouldn’t know what to do with a fully furnished and renovated home.’
Being able to raise Matilda in a bush setting, without feeling isolated, is a dream for Sigrid and Trent who are now deeply involved in the Eltham community. There’s plenty of space for Matilda and her pet Mini Lop rabbit Penny to play, the city is just a short drive away, and there’s always something happening in their close-knit neighbourhood.
‘We’re part of a group that hosts working bees on crown land and organises community building events such as pizza nights, wreath making afternoons and street parties,’ says Sigrid. ‘In a hyper individualised world, it is important to us that we feel part of a community.’
