interior fix issue 1 by interior fix

interiorfix THE RENTERS GUIDE TO STYLISH LIVING [01]

YOURS FOR FREE GREEN ROOM

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9 DESIGNER WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR RENTAL

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THE HOME OFFICE (IN THE CLOSET)

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

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EDITOR’S NOTES

hello interior fix

Welcome to the first issue of , the renters guide to stylish living. I have been renting for over twenty years from warehouses in London to studio spaces in Perth to houses in Sydney to apartments in Melbourne and whilst I never owned any of these places they always looked like mine.

You don’t have to gut a property or do complete renovations to change the look of a rental home, simple things like changing the hardware on your kitchen cupboards can make your space go from drab to fab. For the very first issue I have scoured the internet looking for rental homes that show personality, style and diy’s and I have featured them within these pages. Inside you will find plenty of ideas that you, as a renter, can do in your own house to make it feel like home. If you have a gorgeous rental home that you would love to share then please email me at magazine@interiorfix.com.au

Claire

Happy reading,

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COVER IMAGE CREDIT : BALCONYGARDENWEB.COM

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green

ROOM

NO-FAIL PLAN: 11 LOW-MAINTENANCE HOUSEPLANTS THAT ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL A house doesn’t really seem like a home until there are plants in it, right? (They’re also great to have around because of their air-cleaning qualities.) But finding plants that will stay alive can be difficult for those of us who are a little … challenged in this department. It took me two years of living in my current home to find plants that would actually stay alive! Here are 11 easy to grow houseplants to invest in that will add a nice pop of color to your home and can withstand a little neglect.

Don’t move them too often Research how much light your plant needs, find a place that works and try to stick with it. Plants have a hard time adjusting to a new location.

First, here are a few tips to get better luck with the plants you already have— and to keep your new ones lasting even longer:

Remove dead flowers or buds So new ones can grow in!

Don’t overwater For most plants, it’s better to underwater than overwater, as too much water can make them susceptible to rot. Make sure your pots have drainage holes, and drain them in the sink when you water if need be.

Watch out for pets and kids If they’re determined enough, they’ll find a way to knock over, chew on and/or dig up a plant—which could kill your plant, ruin your floors and of course, result in a medical emergency or a stressful vet visit. Consult the ASPCA’s toxicity guide before you bring any new plant home (including these ones), as many are poisonous to cats and dogs. To be safe, keep all plants out of reach of kids who are young enough to not know they’re not for eating. Use a big enough pot and plenty of soil Those cute little color-dipped pots you bought on Etsy are adorable, but once your plants’ roots have outgrown them, they will start to die. Transfer to a bigger pot and save the little ones for storage or new baby plants.

IMAGE CREDIT : BALCONYGARDENWEB.COM

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11 LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANTS 1. Spider Plants These spiky-looking plants will clean the carbon monoxide out of your home, and they live for decades in just about any conditions! You can easily transport cuttings from the “mother plant” into water or soil to grow a new plant, too. 2. Snake Plants / Mother-in-Law Tongue My former roommate had a snake plant for the entire five years we lived together. It grew and grew even though she didn’t do anything beyond water it every few weeks, and she never had any problems with it despite keeping it in low light and my cat occasionally taking a nibble. Also known as Sansevieria, these plants have a pretty yellow border around the edges of their leaves. They can rot, but as long as your pot has drainage holes in the bottom and you don’t overwater, you should be fine. 3. Palms Bring a little tropical feel indoors with an areca palm (also called a bamboo palm), which can survive in low light and will often grow to 6 feet or more. Your palm has likely been grown in the sun, so if you’re keeping it in shadier spot, acclimate it by gradually decreasing the amount of sunlight it receives. Make sure you don’t overwater and that you have a large enough pot, too. 4. Aloe Aloes need a decent amount of sun, but it can be indirect. It needs good drainage, and make sure you pot in a wide container. You can cut off the leaves to make all sorts of home remedies and skincare DIYs—or just use the juice from within the leaves to treat sunburn or other skin irritations.

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5. Philodendron This heart-shaped plant is the all-star of the indoor-plant world. It’s hardy, adapts to low light and cascades prettily over shelves and other surfaces. It can also climb upwards if you prop it up. Note that philodendrons are extremely toxic if ingested by either pets and children, though! 6. Mint If you’re looking for a kitchen windowsill herb, mint is one of the easiest and hardiest to grow. You’ll be making plenty of mojitos with this prolific plant; you might actually find yourself with too much! In that case, add some to freezer pesto, infuse water—or some vodka or bourbon— with it, make a minty body scrub, whip up a smoothie, or dry the herbs to display. 7. Ivy It looks lovely outdoors, but you can grow ivy indoors as well. If you have a friend who has an ivy plant, ask for a small stem of theirs, then remove the bottom leaves and plant it in moist soil. You’ll have an ivy plant in no time! Ivy is poisonous to children and pets though. 8. Boston Ferns Hang a Boston Fern in your living room for a bright, frilly, fuss-free pop of green. This plant needs a medium amount of sun and likes to stay moist. It craves humidity, so if you’re in a dry climate it might not work for you. 9. Cast-Iron Plant These indestructible plants grow slow and steady, so make sure you buy them at the size you want. It only needs low light, and can thrive in just about any temperature.

10. Dracaena These spiky plants look almost like large blades of grass. I’ve had good luck with them in all light levels in my house—until my cat inevitably chews them up. They are poisonous to dogs too, so make sure not to buy this one if you have pets. 11. Succulents Watering isn’t a big deal with succulents (including jade, cacti, candelabra trees and many other varieties )—so they’re the perfect plants if you forget to water or aren’t home much. The shiny green leaves of plants like jade are a fun addition to a neutral-colored or minimalist room, and cacti are available in many different colors and shapes. CREDIT : HELLO GLOW

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update your rental 9DESIGNER WAYS TO

JAZZ UP YOUR RENTAL SPACE WITH THESE EASY, DECORATIVE IDEAS.

RENTER-FRIENDLY WALLPAPER For some people, the thought of being surrounded by four off-white walls is simply unbearable. And for others, it's just plain boring. As removable wallpaper becomes more popular, the designs become more stylish and more affordable. It might just be time to pick out your perfect pattern!

CREDIT | HGTV

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GLITZ AND GLAM Washi tape is great, but it certainly isn't the only tape out there that can make a big impact in your home. It only took Dina from Honey & Fitz two rolls of gold duct tape to turn a basic white fridge into a glitzy showstopper.

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LOVE YOUR LIGHTING One of the worst things about rental units has got to be the outdated light fixtures. Luckily, this is also one of the easiest switches. Simply swap out that light fixture for something more your style. Just be sure to reattach the original fixture before moving out.

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NOT YOUR DAUGHTER'S WASHI TAPE Did you think washi tape was just for the kiddos? Think again. With so many attractive styles to choose from, you're bound to find a roll that suits your taste. These washi tape frames add a colorful touch to any space. Opt for cool geometric shapes to give your home even more personality.

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MINIMAL SHELVING Do you secretly long for a wall of custom built-ins, knowing that your landlord would recoil at the thought? These industrial shelves from Fixer Upper offer plenty of shelf space and can be attached with just a few screws.

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WASHI ACCENT WALL A washi tape wall can be as colorful or as subdued as you like. Emily from Everything Emily created this stunning accent wall with just two rolls of black washi tape. The best part? She completed the project for less than $10.

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ELECTRIC STYLE If you like the duct tape idea, you'll love this stylish door by Stacie from Stars for Street Lights. Some quick measuring, a steady hand and a bit of electrical tape totally transformed these contractor-grade doors. The result is nothing short of fabulous!

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FABRIC FEATURE WALL While you've probably heard of removable wallpaper, removable fabric wallpaper is another great option for renters. It peels right off, and has the potential to add a ton of color, pattern and even texture to your home.

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MAGIC MIRROR Want more space instantly? Add a large mirror to any room, and the visual effect is bound to make your space feel bigger and brighter, all without knocking down a single wall.

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Closets don’t just have to be used for storing bedding and rarely used blankets. Make the most of the space and convert it to a home office.

office THE HOME

(IN THE CLOSET)

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Bi-fold doors allow this office space to open up without intruding too much on the room it is part of. IMAGE CREDIT : SUNSET.COM

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Remove the doors to that built in wardrobe in the spare room, add a table, some shelving and paint the walls using blackboard paint. IMAGE CREDIT : NO. 29 DESIGN

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Keep it in the closet. If you have very little space why not make one of your cupboards into a glam little work space. Dress it up with beautiful colours and you have the perfect inspirational area. IMAGE CREDIT : 18 CHELSEA MEWS

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If you are sharing this could be the perfect solution for you. Simply remove the wardrobe doors and add your little touches to make up the right work space. IMAGE CREDIT : DECOIST

Man up the closet office with wallpaper and fancy lighting. Use the top of the cupboard for that awesome book collection. IMAGE CREDIT : GREGORY HAN

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Just because you live in a rental doesn’t mean you can’t make the house a home and add your creative touch to it. Check out some of these gorgeous rental properties and see what their tenants have done to the place.

rental STYLISH LIVING

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

andrea SOUTH YARRA, VICTORIA

Andrea Moore has been a happy resident of this sweet studio apartment in South Yarra for almost four years. Though she’s renting, the apartment was quite run down when she first moved in, so she couldn’t resist making a few superficial changes early on that have vastly improved the space. One particularly clever addition is the Ikea ‘Stolmen’ shelving system, which establishes separate living and sleeping zones, whilst retaining the open plan feel of the space. (Brilliantly, this system can also be installed without fixings, making it perfect for renters!). Simple vinyl flooring was also installed in both the bathroom and kitchen, helping to freshen up what were previously tired, unrenovated rooms, and give the apartment a more contemporary feel. Although it is tiny, by cleverly zoning the apartment and ensuring there is a designated place for sleeping, living, and even a small dedicated study nook, Andrea has created a surprisingly comfortable and functional home. ‘Living in a small space, everything has to be functional and livable’ says Andrea. Andrea’s style is unashamedly minimalist – she’s a big fan of Japanese architecture and Scandinavian design. ’I see beauty in simplicity’ Andrea says. Many of her favourite pieces have been brought back from trips abroad, such as her ‘No early birds’ lamp designed by Per Söderberg, and bought in Stockholm. Despite the presence of a few of these treasured designer pieces, there is a fundamentally utilitarian feeling here – at heart this is a pared-back, streamlined space, with very little unnecessary decoration.

‘I THINK LIVING SMALL, MAKES YOU APPRECIATE HOW LITTLE YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE’ SAYS ANDREA.

CREDIT | THE DESIGN FILES

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

carla & brett NORTHCOTE, VICTORIA Artist Carla Fletcherand her husband, musician Brett Langsford live in this amazing open plan warehouse in Northcote, not far from bustling high street. Their home is a vast, light-filled, versatile space where Brett and Carla both live and work, alongside their much loved pup, Django. Carla and Brett have been here nearly three years, after picking up the lease from friends who lived here previously (it is, after all, one of those extra special homes that you just wouldn’t expect to ever discover via the usual channels!). After moving in, they put in a few basic partition walls to create a separate studio space, music room and sleeping quarters, though they’re always moving things around to accomodate their various creative projects and collaborations.

‘THE VERSATILITY OF OUR SPACE IS WHAT WE LOVE MOST’ says Carla of the unique living arrangement she and Brett have created here. ‘We change the space all the time for exhibitions, band rehearsals and dinner parties’ she explains. During summer, doors and windows are flung open, and the home is full of sunshine, whilst in winter, it’s all about cosying up in front of the pot belly fireplace. When Brett is rehearsing or recording, the home is full of musicians and creative collaborators, whilst in the lead up to an exhibition, Carla’s oversized canvases take over. Such is the colourful and creative life of this talented and prolific pair. Carla is an incredible artist, and not surprisingly, her home is filled with many of her own beautiful works, as well as those created by talented friends. ‘Our home is a blank canvas that we fill with the things we love most in life’ says Carla – It is dominated by our love of paintings, instruments, textiles, books and plants’. The amazing oversized Koala drawing in the living room entitled ‘The Alchemist’ is one of Carla’s most recent works, and is currently her most treasured piece. Carla also has two very special Indigenous artworks in her collection which each hold nostalgic appeal. Her treasured Minnie Pwerle painting was a special gift from Carla’s Dad – a reminder that ‘You are never too old to be creative or start something’. (Minnie was about 80 years old when she started painting, and became one of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary female Indigenous Artists). The other painting, by David Malangi, is a bark painting from Carla’s Grandfather, who bought it directly from Malangi in the late 1960’s in The Northern Territory. For Brett, a talented guitarist, composer and music producer, nostalgia comes in a different form. His dearest possession is an old pump organ named ‘John’, given to him by his Dad. ‘It has a beautiful haunting old world sound…’ he says.

CREDIT | THE DESIGN FILES

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

jess & ryan NORTHERN MELBOURNE, VICTORIA Moving to Melbourne two years ago with only the small items that could fit in their car, Jess and her partner Ryan were prepared to start from scratch. Finding a 90’s townhouse rental home in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne, which was in some serious need of TLC, Jess immediately saw it as the perfect decorating challenge. “On the whole, the house has great bones, a major reason we wanted to live here. Timber floorboards, high ceilings, lots of natural light. But the house is in a major need of TLC, the walls are in terrible condition, and are about seven years overdue a paint job! We try to hide all the nicks, water stains, peeling paint and eyesores with artwork or just learn to live with it!” With a style that is an eclectic mix of contemporary, industrial and vintage, Jess has a knack for blending and mixing styles. A designer by trade, she has an eye for seeing potential where no one else can, having decorated the majority of her home with quirky secondhand finds. “As budget was a major issue, many of the pieces in our home are from thrift shops or Gumtree, eBay or the classifieds. We have a few splurge items, but made sure these things were items we absolutely loved and would be happy to live with for many years to come.”

“DON’T JUST THINK JUST BECAUSE IT’S A RENTAL AND IT’S NOT MINE, I CAN’T BE HOUSE PROUD.” To make your rental feel like home, Jess recommends doing three things: hanging art, being inventive with light fixtures and adding indoor plants and fresh flowers. “Personalise the space with things you love, make it reflect you and the people you’re living with, hang art using 3M adhesive hooks (or I have used oversized pegs with Velcro 3m adhesive to hang photographs and lightweight prints). Be inventive with light fixtures. I use a bamboo ladder with an industrial miner’s lamp attached to it to add some ambient lighting and height to the room And make indoor plants and fresh flowers a big feature in your home, they inject life and colour and can be moved around, making that boring, lifeless corner more interesting.” “Decorating whilst renting definitely makes you work with what you’ve got and be more spontaneous and open to rearranging furniture and mixing things up. I regularly change the house around; it helps keep things fresh and interesting. And I like to ‘shop your home,’ so change up accessories and soft furnishings that you already own, put some away, take some out, put the cushions on the bed instead of the sofa, that sort of thing.”

CREDIT | THE INTERIORS ADDICT

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

laura, alex & mirra PETERSHAM, NEW SOUTH WALES The three creatives who share this beautiful little house on a quiet backstreet in Petersham are Sydney artists Alex Standen, Laura Jones and Mirra Whale. With an impressive art pedigree between them, it would be impossible for this house to be anything short of beautiful. Mirra and Laura moved into the place in late September 2014, which was at the time painted in a questionable palette of blue, magenta, purple and yellow. Though they’re renting, the owner of their home is known to them, which has given them the freedom to significantly improve the place and make it beautiful. Soon after moving in, they wasted no time in throwing themselves into a renovation, ripping up carpet and painting walls. ‘We have such a colourful array of paintings, rugs and objects that we decided to paint it all white. There is nothing like painting a house before you move in, it is like a new canvas’ explains Mirra. Not shy of a power tool and some DIY-style home demolition, the girls’ most impressive project has been the renovation of their kitchen. ‘I have a history in hospitality and a love of cooking, so for me the kitchen is the heart of a home,’ explains Mirra. ‘An artist friend of mine, Celia Gullet, gave me a beautiful stained glass window that she had rescued off the street, and the house is a weather board cottage, so I literally cut a hole straight into the side wall, sanded and repainted the window and put it in,’ Mirra details. There is very little in this home that doesn’t have a story to tell. Almost everything here is second hand, handed down from loved ones, or handcrafted. The dining table was a 30th birthday gift for Laura, made by her brother Elliot, whose business, Telegraph Rd, is based in the mountains where he and Laura grew up. The new kitchen was largely Mirra’s creation, right down to the handmade leather drawer pulls, cut from an old handbag. Alex made the plates and bowls the household eat from daily, as well as the terracotta lamps hanging in the lounge room, and over the dining table. ‘Likeminded’ is an understatement when describing the synergy of these three housemates. There is a certain magic here that really feels like sisterhood. It is clear that Laura, Mirra and Alex each derive great enjoyment and support from living together, and operate more like a family unit than as housemates. Alex reflects on how nice it is coming home each night after a day in the studio, and finding ‘two lovely souls to chat to about similar creative struggles or triumphs.’ Mirra sums up the home these girls have created perfectly – ‘WE SET IT UP

AS A PLACE TO CONSTANTLY BUILD ON, A COMMUNITY THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO COME AND GO, IN SUCH MEANINGFUL WAYS.’ CREDIT | THE DESIGN FILES

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

letitia & michael PRAHRAN, VICTORIA Letitia and Michael have been renting this light-filled modern home in Prahran for only five months. The pair own a small apartment elsewhere, which they finally outgrew last year, so they leased it out and decided to rent for a while, until they know exactly where they want to be. They share their new surroundings with a gorgeous new family member – Winnie the whippet! As you can see, it hasn’t taken Letitia long to really put her colourful stamp on this place. Her eclectic collection of fine art, illustrations and prints really personalise every room, whilst vibrant textiles from Marimekko, Spacecraft and South Africa add warmth and colour.

‘ALL OF OUR ART PRINTS HAVE MEANING AND MEMORIES TO THEM’ EXPLAINS LETITIA. ‘I LOVE OUR ADAM CULLEN ‘GROWLER’ PRINT FROM SIGNED AND NUMBERED, WHICH HANGS ABOVE THE FIREPLACE’ she says – this was a recent wedding gift from her brother and sister-in-law. Other favourite works include the magical Aboriginal dot painting by Josie Petrick Kemarre in Letitia’s home studio, and the two Jasper Knight originals. ‘They are so masculine and different to anything I would normally go for, which is what I love about them!’ says Letitia! Another treasured piece is Letitia and Michael’s ‘gloriously large’ reclaimed Blackbutt timber table from Melbourne furniture manufacturer Blueprint. ‘We had become used to eating from a tiny ’60s Laminex table for the past eight years, so this table is a new luxury’ explains Letitia – ‘we can read the newspapers on the weekends while eating breakfast, and have nicer dinner parties now!’ Whilst relatively modest in size, the relaxed, open layout of this three bedroom home is so functional, with amazing natural light in every room, allowing Letitia to work from home a lot (though she also has a shared workspace in South Melbourne). Letitia also appreciates the proximity to Fawkner Park, Prahran Market and Greville Street when she needs to stretch her legs after many hours at the desk or computer screen – with Winnie in tow, of course! Though they’ve done an amazing job setting up house in just five months, Letitia is quick to point out that this space is still very much a work in progress. Next on her wish list – a fabulous rug. ‘The polished cement and floor boards are very low maintenance, and a good excuse to be on the hunt for fabulous floor coverings. she says. ‘Or… I could design one myself with Behruz Studio!’.

CREDIT | THE DESIGN FILES

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

matt LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA On the weekends, Matt often tackles a DIY project around the house and looks for ways to make the space more inviting. When his relatives first came out to visit and saw his place (before the recent updates), they were a little hesitant to give him their approval. Now that the decor is much closer to what Matt had envisioned for the space, he is ready to show off his place to friends and family (and he is using the house tour as the big reveal to his family). Matt and his home are just so cute how could you not love them both! My Style: Modern Eclectic. I have a few Mid-Century pieces and pieces passed down from my family mixed with some new items. Inspiration: I find things that I love and figure out a way to make them work. Favorite Element: I love looking around my apartment and knowing everything has a story and a personal meaning to me. Biggest Challenge: The size. It is a small place with low ceilings, so it is easy for things to look cluttered. I am a big fan of a house accessory, so I have to watch myself and edit often. What Friends Say: Everyone comments on the view when they come down the stairs to my place. You can see the hills of Silver Lake and see downtown in the distance. I have also heard that it feels like a treehouse. Proudest DIY: I luckily have really great landlords; they let me make a good amount of improvements. My proudest DIY would be the bathroom and kitchen renovation. The bathroom originally had a plastic shower surround, which was torn. I had a handyman come in to put in subway tiles and I painted and sealed the chevron pattern on the floor. In the kitchen, I took down the upper cabinets and installed open shelving. We are discussing changing out the kitchen countertop to poured concrete; something to look forward to in the spring. Biggest Indulgence: My biggest indulgence would have to be the bathroom. I split the cost of the renovation with the owners of the house, but the only return on my investment is a nice place to shower for the time being. Best Advice: “IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING, YOU WILL ALWAYS

FIND A PLACE TO PUT IT.” AND CONVERSELY... “IF YOU HAVE TO ASK WHERE TO PUT IT, YOU DON’T NEED IT!” Dream Sources: 1stdibs, Elle Décor, Dwell.

CREDIT | APARTMENT THERAPY

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

penny lane CHIPPENDALE, NEW SOUTH WALES Sydney photographer and creative all-rounder Penny Lane (yes, that is her real name) lives and works from this open plan studio apartment in Chippendale, in what was once an old chocolate factory, now known as the ‘MacRobertson building’. Penny shares her amazing apartment with her beloved pup Rocky Raccoon. She’s renting, and though she’s been here a little while, Penny has already (understandably) fallen head over heels in love with her unique new abode. She hopes very much to be here for a long time, though she says just last week the building was put on the market, so the future looks a little uncertain for now. Not long after moving in, Penny set about freshening up the space with a fresh coat of white paint. ‘I repainted all the white, and anything that wasn’t white (like the raw wooden kitchen, for instance) I painted white, white, white!’ she says. The painted floors in particular give this space such a spectacular brightness and incredible sense of space – this is such a quick and cost effective treatment for any kind of floor (floorboards, chipboard, concrete) which has seen better days. After brightening up her space, Penny’s next step was to fill it with as many plants as possible. ‘There’s no outside space here, which is the only thing lacking, so I’ve tried to bring the outside in’, she says. You’ll quickly realise Penny has a serious knack for fossicking. As it happens, almost everything here has been inherited or salvaged from second hand shops in the last six months alone, since Penny previously lived in share houses, with a lot less stuff. ‘The furniture is all from garage sales/roadside collection/op shops and vintage stores’ says Penny. ‘A lot of them have their own little story, like one day I was running late to a meeting in Marrickville, and out of the corner of my eye, piled up on the front of an op shop’s footpath I saw a set of chairs, so I chucked a crazy u-wy and parked illegally and bought the chairs, somehow fitting them into the back of my car, and I still wasn’t even THAT late for my meeting!’ she recalls proudly. ‘I always seem to be finding the best things out of the corner of my op-shop-eagle eye when I’m meant to be doing something else or running late for something… but I just can’t help it…’ Amongst op shop finds and roadside treasures, you’ll spot the odd obligatory Ikea best seller here, alongside a handful of artworks and prints by talented creative friends. ‘I am so lucky to have the most amazing artists as dear friends, and to be surrounded by so many creative people’ says Penny. She’s particularly fond of an artwork by her friend Jess Racklyeft, a Melbourne based illustrator. ‘I’ve known Jess since grade one and she is a constant source of inspiration to me, and always gives me a kick up the butt when I need encouragement to do things’ says Penny. Penny’s own beautiful photographic prints are also represented here. (cont. pg 77)

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Penny is endearingly gushy about the beautiful, versatile creative space she calls home. It’s clear she’s found her perfect pad. ‘There are so many creative businesses and artists in this area, its just a really lovely, friendly, and inspirational space to inhabit. We can pretty much do whatever we like here (events, openings, exhibitions ) and that freedom in a rented space is rare and not taken for granted’ she says. ‘I think I’m finally living out my dream that has been burning strong ever since watching Heartbreak High in high school, and drooling over Drazic, and being so so jealous of the friends living in a warehouse space…’ says Penny.

“I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE AND WORK IN AN ARTY WAREHOUSE SPACE AND HAVE MY OWN PHOTO STUDIO IN IT, SO ALL THESE YEARS LATER ITS FINALLY COMING TRUE.”

CREDIT | THE DESIGN FILES

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

randi & joe WYOMING, MICHIGAN

Randi and Joe live in a sprawling, 430-unit complex in Wyoming, Michigan a suburb of Grand Rapids. The rental units have the usual beige carpet, white walls, and wall-mounted air conditioners, but those items aren’t noticeable in Randi and Joe’s home. The couple has layered a lot of luxe furniture and textured accessories, making the builder-grade finishes recede—and perhaps even disappear. Nature motifs—whether in the form of natural materials or images of plants—tie each room together. The entrance has floral wall art, raw wood, bamboo, and leather. The living room showcases palm leaf drapery panels, floral-print chairs, banana fiber stools, and more wood. There are woven baskets and an agate painting in the den/guest bedroom. Pineapple lamp bases, a wheat stalk wall sconce, and fur pillows are golden accents around the master bedroom. Our Style: I’m pretty much all over the place. I [Randi] like a classic, elegant look while throwing in modern and rustic layers. Inspiration: Domino, Amber Interiors, and Studio McGee Favorite Element: Taller ceiling heights. When dealing with smaller square footage, having ceilings that are taller than the normal eight feet can help to open up the space and make it feel bigger. Sometimes it pays to live on the top floor of a building. Biggest Challenge: Those dreaded apartment lighting fixtures. They are nothing to brag about, so incorporating decorative table and task lighting around the home helped to pull the eye away from the not-so-pretty ceiling fixtures. Biggest Embarrassment: Probably the dining area, because essentially there isn’t one. A dining table would take up a large footprint and hinder the ease of traffic patterns within the entry. We’ve made it a point to sit at the kitchen counter for meals, or indulge in front of the TV on the sofa. Proudest DIY: My Tommy Bahama Swaying Palms drapery panels. They were the first item to be installed when moving in and they are the statement piece for the whole room. My mom, who is my seamstress, helped in making the panels and it makes them that much more special to me. Biggest Indulgence: The media console. It was well worth the cost for something that is timeless and has tons of storage behind those beautiful, carved, hinged doors. Best Advice: Don’t let anyone do for you what you can learn to do for yourself. Dream Sources: Dwell Studio, Gray Malin Photography, and Jayson Home

CREDIT | APARTMENT THERAPY

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STYLISH RENTAL LIVING

sarah & david BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Sarah and David’s apartment is the perfect example of a great tenant/landlord relationship. Their apartment had great bones to begin with, with exposed brick, a beautiful chandelier, and lots of lovely traditional moldings that provide a nice contrast to the soon-to-be married pair’s modern taste. In addition to that, their landlord refinished the floors and added a brand-new kitchen. And if that weren’t wonderful enough, there’s even a private patio, which the couple has tiled with wood patio flooring from IKEA (see last photo for a summer pic). In short, this place is every apartment dweller’s dream. Sarah is a therapist and David is a lawyer for non-profit. While their jobs require a more serious side, the couple has a fun and quirky sense of humor (evidence: David’s framed NYS driver’s license collection where he grows his hair out and makes silly faces), and they’re also very gracious hosts (homemade chocolate cookies + espresso drinks). Many items in their home were given to them by friends or family, including David’s own mother’s framed photography. Sarah makes David handmade greeting cards, which he has lovingly framed in a clear acrylic card holder that sits on the fireplace. Remaining pieces have been scoured nearby at Brooklyn Flea. David recently scored his glass Room & Board work desk off Craigslist for just a fraction of the original cost. Sarah and David make thrifted furniture look rich and beautiful. Style : We had a hard time with this one— negotiated classic? eclectic Brooklyn? modern Flea? We finally agreed that it’s a mishmash of things that we found and like (and things David reluctantly agreed to, like the fur blanket in the living room). We moved from two very different apartments, one in Carroll Gardens and one on the Upper West Side, and we sold off or threw out most all of our old furniture. Building a home together and merging our two tastes was fun, but a lot of work as well. We were very fortunate in that our landlord takes wonderful care of her buildings and meticulously renovated our apartment before we moved in, including redoing the floors and walls and renovating the kitchen from top to bottom. We are very lucky — not many NYC landlords take such care with their property. Biggest Challenge: Besides agreeing to furnish the apartment from scratch, our biggest challenge without a doubt was the picture rail. Because our walls are thick and stone, we can’t nail anything into them. Our landlord installed a picture rail for us, which was great, but proved a tremendous challenge for our physics-challenged eyes and hands. Hanging art is hard enough, but working with the picture rail was, for us, the home decor version of climbing K2. And not being the types to make things easy, we decided early on to create a gallery wall, with a mixture of art from our previous lives and David’s mother. We love the way it turned out, but picture hanging + fishing line + high ceilings + unskilled labor (Sarah) is not a recipe for easy weekends. (cont. page 65)

CREDIT | APARTMENT THERAPY

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Proudest DIY: We repurposed some old furniture from our previous apartments with a little bit of paint. The bookcases in the dining area are perfect, but they are just those collapsible bookcases that everyone has in college, painted white this time. The high round bookcase in the corner has followed me through three apartments — Sarah found it in an apartment on the LES in 2005, and has painted it three times. Best Advice: It takes two to hang a picture. Especially when it’s from a picture rail. Also, when you need to shop, IKEA is like a ghost town on Friday nights, and patient hunting on Craigslist often leads to bagging that expensive piece of furniture you really want (a great glass desk or a regal chair) but can’t afford or otherwise wouldn’t buy. Finally, decorating, like so many things, is not an art but a science — of negotiation. Dream Sources: The Brooklyn Flea has served us very well. Items of Interest, a store in Park Slope, has beautiful stuff.

CREDIT | APARTMENT THERAPY

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