(my_space)
HALL This is an old French Metro light poster from the ’70s. I gave it to Jayde as a birthday gift. DECK I love sitting here, surrounded by my little plants and pots, but looking out over the dense city. It’s a beautiful juxtaposition.
NATURAL INSTINCT
MAIN LIVING We haven’t spent a lot on furniture. The Chesterfield couch belonged to Jayde’s dad and the table was an old one we sandblasted. DINING AREA We entertain a fair bit, so the bar stools at the kitchen island are perfect for casual drinks. The pendant lights are another DIY job.
WHO Stephnie Croft, design director at The Key Branding (thekeybranding.com), and her partner, Jayde Hall, an electrical supervisor in the mining industry WHERE South Melbourne WHAT Stripped and replanted inner-city apartment
STYLE STEALS WITU plant puff, $165 (plant not included), Monk House Design, monkhousedesign.com LIFE SPACE JOURNEY pendant lights, $780 (small), and $1400, Cafe Culture + Insitu, cafecultureinsitu.com.au
1 _I[ [KMX\QKIT _PMV 1 ÅZ[\ [I_ \PQ[ XZWXMZ\a# Q\ _I[ VMIZ I UIQV ZWIL IVL \PM QV\MZQWZ PILV¼\ JMMV \W]KPML [QVKM \PM TI\M ¼ [ <PM KIZXM\ _I[ _WZV LW_V IVL \PM KWVÅO]ZI\QWV _I[ KWUXTM\MTa _ZWVO _Q\P a massive laundry and tiny living space. But what eventually sold us was the view of the treetops and the light. It was also spread across four levels, which was interesting and appealed to us more than the boxy two-bedders we’d been coming across. It had great potential. From the get-go we set out to demolish and rebuild. Structurally, _M ZMLM[QOVML Q\ W]Z[MT^M[ IVL 1 UIXXML W]\ \PM ÆWWZ XTIV WV \PM computer. It’s the second home renovation I’ve done, so I was KWVÅLMV\ J]\ \PMZM IZM IT_Ia[ PQKK]X[ 1\ _I[V¼\ MI[a OM\\QVO ZQL WN LMJZQ[ NZWU \PM NW]Z\P ÆWWZ J]\ \PM ]X[QLM _I[ \PI\ Ua TMO[ OW\ I UIRWZ _WZS W]\ 7^MZITT \PM XZWKM[[ _I[ Y]Q\M WZOIVQK# _M UILM KPIVOM[ ITWVO \PM _Ia \Z][\QVO W]Z QV[\QVK\[ IVL QV\]Q\QWV <PM whole thing took eight months and we were here every weekend overseeing things and pitching in.
3 8 | SUNDAYSTYLE.COM.AU
EDITED BY KATHERINE CHATFIELD. INTERVIEW: CARLI PHILIPS. PHOTOGRAPHY:DEREK SWALWELL
A COMPACT MULTI-LEVEL URBAN SPACE IS GIVEN AN ORGANIC DIY RENOVATION
I’m a graphic designer, so creativity comes naturally, but until this reno I didn’t realise that Jayde was, too. We were on the same page NWZ \PM UW[\ XIZ\ J]\ 1 LQL PI^M \W ÅOP\ NWZ I NM_ \PQVO[ <PMZM _MZM mirrors left over from the previous tenants that Jayde wanted to chuck out, but I stuck to my guns. My favourite part of the renovation was all the DIY. We’re thrifty IVL TQSM \W ÅVL QV^MV\Q^M _Ia[ WN LWQVO \PQVO[ ?M _IV\ML W]Z [XIKM to be unique, so we weren’t afraid of using our ingenuity to create something different. We had nothing to lose. I turned jars into hanging plants, drawers into display units and used toilet-roll cylinders as hooks. None of the greenery and plants was intentional, but I guess I’m drawn to nature. It’s refreshing, especially living in a city apartment. I love Green magazine, and throughout the refurb I was constantly collecting inspiring collateral from magazines, the internet and the outdoors. I’m a very visual person, so mood boards and themes were useful – it’s something I do as part of my job, too. 7]Z NIUQTa Q[ M`XIVLQVO · _M¼ZM M`XMK\QVO W]Z ÅZ[\ JIJa · [W _M¼ZM about to move to a bigger place. It will be my third renovation and I already have ideas brewing. I’d love to do this full-time. We’re both originally from the country, but I love living in South Melbourne. We’re right in the thick of things: the market, parks, botanical gardens and great little cafes. We barely drive and are a short walk from the city. For me, it’s either one of two extremes: live amongst it or make a complete sea change. BEDROOM The gallery-style wall is a combination of family photos and mementos. It adds warmth to the space. STAIRS The faux grass was Jayde’s suggestion, to hide the scuffing on the stairs and bring some of the outside in.
I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT…
WOOD This pile of birch was salvaged from a family property. It’s now become shelves, coasters and props.
CUSHION Until we get a real dog, I’m keeping the cushion!
SCAN PAGE TO BUY
CHAIRS These were we given to us, but unbeknown to the owner, they’re rare mid-century Artifort and very valuable!