The Design Files: A peek inside the Kip and Co founder's home

Who: Alex McCabe (co-founder and creative director at Kip & Co), Bobby Babb, and baby Quincy Babb-McCabe

What: Converted fresh and bright 1910s family home

Where: St Kilda, Melbourne

Five years after purchasing this 1910s house in a leafy area of St Kilda, Alex McCabe of Kip & Co and family undertook a total rebuild of their home.

Executed by architect Michael McManus of McManus Lew Architects, the renovations included extending the footprint of the house, creating a large open kitchen and living area, and introducing natural light with new windows and skylights.

McCabe describes the home as “light, bright and personable” – and we can only agree.

The new design deliberately brings the outside into the house, with huge floor-to-ceiling glass doors. The styling is eclectic and fun – she says her approach is underpinned by the philosophy that “too much is never enough”.

“There is no strict style, period or colour palette in the house, just a collection of pieces that make me happy and treasures I’ve picked up along the way,” McCabe says.

Of course, Kip & Co pieces are smattered through the home, lending texture, colour and personality.

Beloved treasures include a triptych the family commissioned from artist Fred Fowler, which runs the length of the living area.

“It somehow creates a sense of space rather than closing it in, which is really beautiful,” McCabe says.

The eye-catching crocodile bamboo quartzite splash-back is identified by McCabe as “the biggest statement in the home”.

This incredible addition looks like an artwork, but comes from deep underground, in Brazil. McCabe says “having a beautiful new kitchen made me want to stay home and cook – that’s a really awesome part of our lives now”.

The family’s new living style is enhanced by their new-found love of their suburb.

With the St Kilda Botanical Gardens and foreshore walking distance away, the local neighbourhood becomes their backyard over the summer.

The renovation process itself was a joy for McCabe, with the only niggle being remaining within budget.
She admits: “I am not very good at sticking to one.”

While the budget may have blown out, this home is incredibly successful in capturing and celebrating the identity of its inhabitants.

“I like homes that really reflect the personality of the people living in them, and tell a bit of their story,” McCabe says.

This story is one of sheer joy and over-the-top enthusiasm. What’s not to love?

How to Be Bold

Decorating is all about confidence. Combining bold and even clashing colours and textures creates a distinctively fun and cheerful space. The goal, of course, is individuality. Your home should say something about you, the person who lives here!

• Strangely enough, the kitchen is one of the easiest places to inject colour. Splashbacks offer a huge opportunity to inject colour and pattern, either using tiles or natural stone. Look for a hardwearing finish that contrasts with the cabinets.
• If you’re not quite ready for a full kitchen reno, considering refreshing cabinetry with new doors, or adding new hardware. It’s amazing how much of a difference even new door handles can make.
• You can create a bold and cheerful home, whether you own or rent. if permanent updates aren’t possible, focus on soft furnishings – refresh rugs, cushions and bed linen for instant impact, with minimal effort. Try Kip&Co for brilliantly bold bedlinen and soft furnishings.
• Boldness isn’t just about colour. Consider the texture of the materials in your home. Variety is the name of the game – use timber panelling for walls or ceilings, consider terrazzo and stone in bathrooms and kitchens, and layers of lux textiles to add interest and depth in living and sleeping zones.

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