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LIFE IN COLOUR A fashion-forward homeowner and her family

The quaint heritage exterior life in of this Victorian home belies a contemporary fit-out that’s perfect for everyday bliss and easily adapted for Christmas colour

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Who lives here Peta, trend director at Cotton On Kids; her husband Fletch; their two children: Luella (Lulu), 10, and Liberty (Tibi), eight; plus labradoodle Milla. Style of home A four-bedroom, two- bathroom Edwardian-style 1940s home with a contemporary, open-plan extension. Following two years of planning, demolition work began in December 2017 and the extensive renovation was completed a year later.

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LIVING Come Christmas time, the family starts their festivities by selecting a tree and decorating it to merry-making tunes. The decorations, which take their cues from the large-scale artwork by Bec Connell, are a mix from Target, Down To The Woods and Spotlight; the presents are wrapped with blush-toned paper from Cotton On. Poppies For Grace honeycomb balls scattered throughout bring a decorative touch. Sofa, Jardan. Coffee tables, Freedom. Rug, GlobeWest. STUDY (opposite) A homemade advent calendar made from Cotton On wrapping sits amid paper decorations from Poppies for Grace. Desk chair, Muuto.

Geelong-raised homeowners Peta and Fletch spent many restless nights debating whether to move back home or stay in Melbourne. After a final commitment, it was decided they would remain in the capital until their two daughters had reached high-school age, but following a serendipitous find, neither party could deny the pull of perfection.

“I was away on a girls’ trip to Noosa in 2014,” says Peta, “when Fletch and Lauren, my best friend, found this place separately and sent it to me. The decision to buy it was then made quite quickly.” The location, a leafy inner-west suburb of Geelong called Newtown, was just too good to resist and the stumbling blocks fell away. “It was in an amazing area with a real community feel,” says Peta. “Beautiful schools and a vibrant village were all within walking distance.”

Another clincher was their ability to lock down star architect Ben Robertson of Tecture for their project, which was one of his earliest. During the design process, the couple lived for two years in what Peta admits were “pretty shocking conditions”, with no heating and an interior that hadn’t been touched in over 40 years – by which time it was apparent that their dream home needed to be built from the ground up.

So at the end of 2018, the family finally moved out and readied themselves for a 12-month renovation. As the street is heritage listed, the home’s beautiful Edwardian-style facade was retained while, behind the walls, an exciting new home began to

“This place is so relaxed and calm, it feels like home as soon as we walk through the door”

PETA, HOMEOWNER INSIDE | HOME

SITTING ROOM Tucked away on the other side of the living room sits the real heart of the house, the star of which came from a school fete. “I knew the couch had to be mine!” says Peta. “It was ridiculously affordable, in the most incredible condition, and I was going to make it work no matter what!” Picking up where the velvet sofa left off is the Winston armchair from Jardan and Freedom side table. A Milk & Sugar rug grounds the Fibonacci Stone terrazzo flooring and oozes comfort once the fire is lit. Artwork by Bec Connell. Stacked timber sculptures by Lisa Lapointe. ENTRY (opposite) A handmade wreath on the original stained-glass door is bursting with warm-coloured baubles from Target and wrapped in an olive branch, perfect for welcoming Christmas guests,

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1 Entry 2 Guest bedroom 3 Main bedroom 4 Ensuite 5 Walk-in robe 6 Sitting room 7 Kitchen 8 Butler’s pantry 9 Dining area 10 Living area 11 Courtyard 12 Mud room 13 Garage 14 Playroom 15 Bedroom 16 Bedroom 17 Bathroom

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emerge. “The brief was lots of natural light, storage, and white brick detailing with a neutral palette, among other things,” says Peta. Her non-negotiable? “Black steel windows and doors.”

Travelling overseas frequently for work, Peta found design inspiration in the beautiful cafes and restaurants of Antwerp and Paris, replete with light bright interiors and architectural accents such as the must-have steel detailing. “I would have eaten rice for the rest of my life to get these doors into the house,” says Peta. Having planned the home for so long, she knew exactly what she wanted when it came time to engage Lauren and Matt from Built By Wilson for the build. “I love marble terrazzo and blond timbers with black finishes. I’d always dreamt of this look and stuck to this timeless aesthetic.”

The layout of the house was important for the full-time working family with two young girls, and the kitchen, living and laundry spaces needed to be hardworking but stylish. “We love that everything is hidden and streamlined and we worked with Ben to create a family-friendly island bench,” says Peta, adding that it’s the perfect perch for watching Fletch cook up a storm.

As big entertainers, the couple felt that a seamless connection from their living space to the outdoors was essential. “I have a Maltese heritage, so food plays a huge part in our lives and especially in our Christmas traditions,” says Peta. “When we’re not in lockdown, we love hosting family and friends.” Their big backyard has different zones for impromptu barbecues and long lunches, with room for a pool one day.

“The backyard is east-facing, so we get sun beaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the timber slats create amazing light and shadows,” says Peta. It makes their mammoth undertaking more than worth it. “This place is so relaxed and calm, it feels like home as soon as we walk through the door. I love this house and wouldn’t change anything about it.” Contact Ben Robertson of Tecture through tecture.com.au. Built By Wilson is at builtbywilson.com. Follow Peta @peta_baldacchino_style

KITCHEN “We love the streamlined look and that everything, including the integrated appliances, is hidden,” says Peta. The kitchen’s cabinetry and bespoke island bench with rounded legs took their cues from the Muuto stools. Peta didn’t want a line through the marble, so the top is made with the largest single slab of Carrara that was available. Open shelving above the splashback holds a number of Peta’s collected curios and her beloved Andrea Shaw original artwork. BUTLER’S PANTRY (opposite top) For keen entertainers Peta and Fletch, a place to stash the mess, with a second sink and dishwasher, was essential. Custom V-groove cabinetry in Dulux two-pack Vivid White flows through the kitchen into the pantry. DINING (opposite below) Tritt House dining chairs mirror the black steel windows and are a perfect match for the GlobeWest dining table. The Douglas and Bec pendant with camel-coloured globes takes centre stage.

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LESSONS LEARNT “It pays to speak to your neighbours”

PETA, HOMEOWNER “After striking up a conversation with the neighbours about our plans to build the garage, we quickly discovered that part of the lane we intended to use was private property. We immediately had to go back to the architect to flip our plans. While it was stressful at the time, it has given us a much more sheltered, and therefore enjoyable, outdoor area.”

GIRLS’ BATHROOM (top left) The mosaic tiles provide a simple backdrop for the Carrara marble benchtop and Fibonacci terrazzo splashback that’s mirrored in the subtle border around the bath. Mirror and vanity, SCLK. Towels, Kip & Co. LULU’S BEDROOM (top right) Bright bed linen and a Rachel Castle artwork make this space. Cushion, Sage x Clare. WALK-IN ROBE (bottom left) “This is my sanctuary,” says Peta. “I’ve worked in fashion for 25 years, so clothing and shoes are my weakness.” Blond timber floor-to-ceiling cabinetry houses plenty of storage. Handles, MadeMeasure. Bench, Country Road. Flooring, Cavalier Bremworth. ENSUITE (bottom right) All the bathrooms in the house have a consistent look. Carrara marble and a blond-timber vanity soften this beautifully detailed space. MAIN BEDROOM (opposite) The luxurious Ethnicraft bed from GlobeWest has jewel-toned bed linen from Jardan and soft velvet cushions from Castle. Side table, Target. Fritz Hansen ‘Caravaggio Read’ wall lamp, Cult. Ceramic vase, Boom Gallery. Carpet, Cavalier Bremworth. Artwork by Rachel Castle.

GREAT FINDS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Line 02 pendant in White and Raw Brass, $1930, Douglas and Bec. Flowerbed I print by Kimmy Hogan (40.6cm x 50.8cm), $310, Greenhouse Interiors. Muuto ‘Nerd’ bar stool in Oak, $805, Huset. Carrrara marble surface, POA, Artedomus. Talis M54 single-lever kitchen mixer 220 (1 jet) in Matt Black, $794, Hansgrohe. Acrylic wall paint in Hailstorm, $130 per 4L, Porter’s Paints. Multicoloured Melange woven cushion, $79, Kip & Co.

Golden Days velvet pillowcase set, $99 for two, Kip & Co. Tepih Neptune rug (260cm x 340cm) in Rose, $2760, GlobeWest. Livorno outdoor dining table in White Speckle, $2875, GlobeWest. Sicilian medium Turban Head vase in Apple Green, $690, Fenton & Fenton. HK Living ‘Straight L’ white speckled clay vase, $129, House Of Orange. Terrazzo Naxos tall pot in Pistachio, $140, Fenton & Fenton. Atelier 2+ ‘Abigail’ cane chair in Black, $595, Trit House.

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GARDEN With an east-facing aspect, the backyard is flooded with light, making it a great spot for summer breakfasts. The outdoor dining table from GlobeWest is often used for impromptu barbecues. Chairs by Hay. Stylist Emma O’Meara made the garland using honeycomb balls and paper decorations from Poppies For Grace. Peta’s collection of planters and vases is perfect for the DIY backdrop. EXTERIOR (opposite) “I love the black timber cladding from Eco Timber, and the slight barn look it creates,“ says Peta of the home’s contemporary extension. Green chairs from Hay surround the Early Settler fire pit, a favourite place to gather on cooler nights.

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