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In every community, there’s usually one house that is known as the designated host — the place where you know you can drop in for dinners, celebrations, or just to see a familiar face.
Located about 25km from Melbourne, the Craigieburn/Galgi Gnarrk family home of Studio Affogato founder Afraa Ahmed and accountant Adnan Mir is exactly that.
‘We designed our home for the community; I have hosted wedding parties, Eid prayers and so much more,’ interior architect Afraa Ahmed says.
The couple first came across their property about a decade ago, when the empty block was listed for just $210,000.
‘When we were renting in Essendon back in 2014, we would drive here to purchase the fresh fruit and veg from a Turkish vendor. On one such Sunday, loaded with grocery bags, we saw a sign advertising the land [for sale],’ Afraa says.
In 2017, with a limited budget, they engaged a modular builder to create the residence. At the time, the focus was on investing in the home’s infrastructure, leaving the cosmetic updates for after they moved in.
But over the last eight years, Afraa has slowly but surely elevated each space with a series of practical and personal updates.
Externally, they built a new deck that maximises views across Aitken Creek, and installed solar panels, while also transforming the interiors with expressive colours and textiles, drawing plenty of inspiration from her hometown in Chennai, India.
‘Being South Indian, when I moved to Melbourne 16 years ago, I was disappointed to see such restraint in colour and expression. We come from colour, pattern and a history of storytelling,’ Afraa says.
‘Chennai was the city I grew up in, once called Madras, which is known for its handicraft work, and you can see a lot of that in my home. Everything I have collected has been to support an independent artist, manufacturers in India, and from my travels.’
The family’s Muslim culture has also deeply influenced the home’s design and functionality. The front lounge now doubles as a dedicated prayer room, with terracotta-toned walls influenced by the tranquil sunset skies they often watch from the windows in that space.
The study is painted a deep red hue, reminiscent of henna pigment; the cosy dining room is drenched in a deep green; the high-traffic staircase features a pop of plum, deliberately chosen to hide marks from foot traffic.
An original bentwood chair is one of the many Facebook Marketplace gems inside the family home, styled alongside Afraa’s proud collection of tapestries, artworks, and about 50 indoor plants.
There’s an enduring warmth to the resulting interiors, which in large part comes down to Afraa’s belief in having a vision and sticking to it. Even if it takes a little while to bring it to life.
‘I have spent 16 years successfully convincing corporate clients to use colour and identity for a memorable experience. If you can persuade 20 suited men to paint a room yellow, you build enough confidence to trust your instincts,’ she adds.
You can see why their place is known within Afraa’s community as ‘that Aunty’s house’, where family and friends can always gather with ease: ‘It is hard to explain it, but in our culture we don’t lock the door,’ she says.
‘We invite you to break bread with us any day, and my space reflects that. The way we designed it lets the light through, so you are welcome to come in and not feel intimidated – you know you’ll fit right in.’
