Seeking more space to spread out and grass for their dogs, fashion stylist Stuart Walford and Gary Yan began searching for a property to buy in 2023, leading them to this Brunswick house.
‘This house was funnily enough the first home we inspected, and we fell in love with it immediately,’ says Stuart. ‘We loved the location as we are in a pocket of Brunswick that is really close to a lot of parks and green spaces, which was high on the list of requirements.’
Despite the house ticking all the boxes, the couple wanted to be thorough, so they kept inspecting other properties… but nothing compared to this initial house. ‘Although we found some other gems, nothing won us over like the first impressions of this place,’ says Stuart. ‘We were very chuffed when we won at the auction!’
The four bedroom home is well suited to the couple with its generous proportions, providing plenty of room for both to work from home, and for Stuart to get creative. He explains, ‘The space needed to allow for multiple workrooms as when I’m styling out different projects there are A LOT of clothes and props and bits and pieces spilling out everywhere… I didn’t want to take up shared living spaces, as I had done so up until this point.’
In terms of the aesthetics, the interiors are sleek and contemporary, providing Stuart and Gary a blank slate upon which to apply their eclectic and vibrant personal touch. In addition to updating the fireplace and redoing the landscaping with Inner City Nature, the couple have made the house their own through unique styling.
‘I’m very drawn to colours, prints and textures in my styling work, and also in my wardrobe, and I think over time I have amassed quite a collection of homewares that also reflect that,’ says Stuart. ‘Colours bring so much joy to an outfit, or to a space, and they are so easily interchangeable which gives great flexibility to refresh a room by swapping out certain bits and pieces, just like accessories.’
There’s an impressive art collection on the walls, anchored around some sentimental works by Katie Eraser, which were Stuart’s first art purchase when renting several years ago.
‘Our home, when stripped bare, is very grey and white, so adding all our trimmings is what really brings our personality to the space. Eventually I’d love to add wallpaper and colour to the walls in some of the rooms but that is still a fantasy for now,’ he said.
No matter the time of day or season, Stuart and Gary feel totally at home in this house. You’ll likely find them sitting around the fire with the dogs (Peter, Susan, and Elvis!), tinkering on the piano, or entertaining guests.
‘We spend a lot of time at home working, entertaining or just spending time with our dogs’ says Stuart, ‘having a safe haven that feels warm, inviting, uplifting and joyful is paramount!’










































































