This Melbourne home is a happy compromise between clean and cluttered

Photography: The Room Illuminated
Author: Kate Hansen

Twenty years ago, Simon purchased a home in the suburbs of Melbourne. Sometime after that he met Jeanie, and when she moved in six years ago, renovations on the ageing weatherboard began. Simon describes himself as a minimalist; his delight in keeping his bedroom neat and orderly as a child developed into an appreciation for the simple, clean aesthetics of timber, glass and stone. Jeanie, on the other hand, was one of nine children in a home abundant with chaos and shared belongings, and now takes pleasure in surrounding herself with an eclectic array of art and other things of beauty. Therefore, when approaching the renovation, a compromise between such disparate aesthetic tastes was clearly needed. While meeting in the middle could have left the home looking confused in its style, clever contrasts, use of colour and zoning have enabled Jeanie and Simon to create a harmonious home – with enough objects on display to create interest and warmth, and just enough simplicity to leave the home feeling calm and orderly.

At a Glance
Who lives here: Jeanie Faure and her husband Simon Power
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

The exposed cement bricks provide a great alternative to the commonly used painted feature wall. “Simon grew up in a gorgeous 1950s Beaumaris home with lots of glass, timber, stone and brick. The vision for the renovation was inspired by his childhood home. We wanted to make the space light and open and organic.”

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Jeanie and Simon are both art lovers and artists in their own right. The large wall in their living room is covered with artwork that they and other family and friends have created.

“I really love the colours green and red. We have tried to incorporate them wherever we can without it looking too Christmassy.”

Jeanie’s love for the green and red colour combination has been carried through to the bedroom. A personal touch to the space is provided by the crochet rug that Jeanie did herself while traveling throughout Italy.

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When renovating, having a reliable, skilled team that can interpret and create your vision is invaluable. Jeanie had worked with builder Chris Cherry on her previous home; his skill was called upon again when Jeanie and Simon wanted bespoke built-in robes and shelving installed.

Compromising on the design of a renovation is made all the easier when you have a room that is yours and yours alone! Jeanie describes this space as her ‘sanctuary’, a place where she can work on art and sewing projects, while intermittently gazing out her window at the veggie patch to plan her next gardening move.

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