The Design Files: The beautifully designed home that feels like a jewellery box

Who: Jessie Oldfield and Adam Murfet, of CKOL

Where: Princes Hill, Victoria

What: A creative couple’s sanctuary

Partners in both life and business, Jessie Oldfield and Adam Murfet are a dynamic creative team. The husband-and-wife duo run a production company together, and are passionate custodians of a beautifully designed little house, built by celebrated Melbourne jeweller Mari Funaki, who died in 2010.

Funaki was one of Australia’s leading contemporary jewellery designers, and this was her home and studio.

“When we moved in, all the paperwork was left here – all Mari’s notes and correspondence with the architect, showing the meticulous detail and thought-process of what she wanted her home to feel like,” Oldfield says. “It’s a really special place to live in; we feel very lucky to enjoy the beauty she created.”

Nestled in an unlikely spot in a back laneway in Princes Hill, this neat little two-bedroom house feels a little like a jewellery box. Meticulously designed cabinetry folds out seamlessly, revealing hidden compartments and versatile configurations.

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Noting its timeless aesthetic, Oldfield loves the way the house flows. “The outside is part of the home in every room,” she says.

“The house feels intelligent, inspired by nature and the elements.”

Layered over this clever design, of course, is Oldfield and Murfet’s own history – including treasures collected in their travels, as well as artwork and handcrafted things by talented creative friends.

Favourite pieces are those that exude a unique personality, such as a collection of hand-painted tiny ceramic houses from a town the pair fell in love with in Brazil, a giant “wet-looking” ceramic fish from a small town in Sicily, a solar-powered rainbow-maker, and a giant dream-catcher made by Oldfield’s sister. “Everything in our house inspires us,” Oldfield says.

For Oldfield and Murfet, home is a magnet for creative ideas and like-minded people. “I have heard from people that Mari was a big advocate for bringing people together, and that our house was a meeting place for artists and conversations,” Oldfield says. “There is something about the space that attracts this in our life too, and we love that.”

The Design Files guide to making do

Furniture-making is an art and, frankly, an undervalued one. It’s preferable to buy a beautifully crafted piece over a cheap, expendable knock-off. But, when we can’t afford everything all at once, a little “make do” goes a long way.

• DIY dining table – trestle legs look great paired with an old door, the more rustic the better.
• In need of a new couch? Create a comfy daybed from a single futon, a snug fitted sheet in robust fabric, and a whole lot of oversized cushions.
• Low shelving or an entertainment unit really can be nothing more than a timber ledge and two blocks.
• Choose your battles. Tables and couches are relatively easily cobbled together – but there’s no substitute for a great bed!