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Josh Reed and Meg O’Halloran are the vintage sellers behind Way Back When — their side hustle that sources furniture pieces mostly from the mid-century era.
It comes as little surprise then that the couple have long dreamed of living in a similar-style home.
‘There’s something about the quiet confidence of mid-century design. It feels timeless without trying too hard, and that’s something we’ve always connected with,’ says Josh.
‘Owning a home like this felt like the perfect extension of everything we’d already been sourcing, and now a perfect backdrop for all of our favourite finds. Looking back, it almost feels like we were collecting for a home that we didn’t yet know existed.’
While technically not from the mid-century era, Josh and Meg’s 1978 unit in Ivanhoe shares many of the same design qualities that defined the period.
‘As soon as we walked through the front door, we both looked at each other and knew it was something special. The exposed brick and beams, timber panelling, and beautiful natural light immediately won us over,’ says Josh.
‘As first homebuyers, we never imagined we’d end up in a home like this. We weren’t looking for the biggest house or the newest renovation — we were looking for somewhere with soul that suited our current stage of life.’
According to neighbours, the home was built by local builder Ron Elliot, who only constructed homes within view of the Ivanhoe Town Hall clock.
In addition to its mid-century-like features, the home has generous proportions and a thoughtful connection between rooms.
‘One of the biggest reasons we fell in love with it was how original it remained. It felt like stepping back in time in the best possible way,’ says Meg.
The couple moved into their unit just four weeks before these images were taken, but already it feels like home. ‘Because we’d spent years collecting furniture beforehand, many pieces already had a place waiting for them,’ explains Josh.
Filled with 1970s furniture, contemporary art, and colourful accessories, the house looks playful, without competing with original features.
Josh and Meg’s favourite pieces are the 1970s made in Melbourne modular lounge (sourced with the plastic covers and tags still on!) and Italian 1970s chrome chairs that always attract compliments.
Eventually, the couple hope to sympathetically renovate the bathrooms, add a butler’s pantry, and update the landscaping, all with the goal of improving the house, without removing what makes it unique.
Meg says the home is the perfect reflection of the couple, who are natural collectors and value quality over quantity.
‘Buying this place as first homebuyers felt incredibly special because we weren’t just purchasing a house – it’s an extension of our passion,’ she says.
‘Our aim is to show that a home can feel elevated, fun, and contemporary without a big renovation or the latest, greatest furniture — just thoughtful choices and pieces with a story.’
