Who needs walls: Inside Ellen Porteus and Ryan Klewer's creative warehouse conversion

When Melbourne artist and illustrator Ellen Porteus and partner Ryan Klewer, an interior plant stylist, found a solid brick warehouse in Collingwood in 2019, their vision was to turn its factory past into a liveable open space they could work from as well. 

“We’ve tried conventional homes before, but it wasn’t working for our lifestyles as a creative couple,” Porteus says. 

“We wanted to be able to make a mess, be creative and found a large blank canvas we could have fun with.”

The warehouse is filled with one-of-a-kind treasures; vintage furniture delights, illustrated art and plenty of plant life and ceramics by Made by Bowie, Leaf and Thread and Buzzby and Fang. 

The high ceilings and six skylights allow plenty of natural light to fill the space – making it the perfect menagerie for their indoor plants to thrive in. It’s where you’ll find Klewer on a ladder checking on his plants that weave around the building’s beams.  

“We have a mix of fern leaf cactus, jungle cactus, devil’s ivy, philodendron hope and large trees in the home,” Klewer says. 

“Plants definitely add to a space in terms of making it feel more homely. It’s about having little touches that can be completely transforming. It’s dynamic and something you can nurture every day.”

Instead of partitioning the warehouse with walls, the couple opted for colour schemes to differentiate the rooms. 

“It’s all about contrasting colours to separate the zones within the home,” Porteus says.

 There’s pink in the dining area, red for the living room and green for the private reading nook and chill out space.  The bedroom is a calming shade of charcoal blue. 

The open-plan warehouse means the couple has had to sync their body clocks to allow for a harmonious home setting.

“In a previous life, I was a night owl, and Ryan was the early bird; now I sync up to his routine, and we have to be mindful of what the other person is doing to make it work here,” Porteus says.

“I found this has been a positive thing for our home life and relationship. It means we spend quality time together. We have dinner at the same time and go to bed at the same time. The space is so bright it’s easy to get up in the morning too,” Porteus says.

On the walls, you’ll find a large mural that spans the length of the room titled You and Me. It’s an ode to their love for one another. “It’s gonna sound cheesy, but this is a portrait of Ryan and my feet walking through a field of flowers,” Porteus says. “It’s about us moving towards a positive future and enjoying the things around us in lockstep together.”

The couple don’t have long to call the warehouse home, though, with the site pegged for development in less than a year. 

Klewer says the most precious items here are Ellen’s works. “Yes, we’ve bought some nice furniture over the years, but at the end of it all, we might donate it or give it away. Ellen’s work will always be with us and kept in the family. That’s what really makes the place cherishable to me,” he says.

Porteus’ studio is at the front of the building. Using this warehouse home as an experiment to finding her ideal creative and residential balance. It’s where she had the idea for her latest art commission, Emotional Baggage, housed at Pretzel’s South Yarra store – a giant 3D sculpture loaded with humour and bright metaphors. 

“At the moment, my studio is attached to where we live, but we’ve separated it entirely. To have a space that feels my own where you don’t see the kitchen or living area from is great, says Porteus, who works with her dog Maggie by her side.

“The openness and fun you can have with a big space work nicely for us. I never thought I’d enjoy big, breathy spaces, but when it comes filled with the things we love, it certainly feels like home.”

A large five-seater red velvet modular couch purchased from CCSS brings a retro feel to the home, while a large artwork by Stephen Baker hangs proudly too. There are plenty of Persian rugs throughout, brightly coloured ceramics found beside their bed and in the kitchen and lounge areas, while a new range of larger planters from Beautiful Calo – a side hustle for Klewer and his friend Joey – also add personality.  

When it comes to disconnecting, Porteus says they love to tuck into the reading nook. “There are beanbags, lots of books, cushions and space to chill out,” she says. “We have a shelving unit to help box the space in, and it’s a little separated from the living area. It really is a nice spot to sit and relax.”

This is the quintessential artist’s home – where the couple’s DIY aesthetic, a fusion of mid-century furniture and second-hand finds and brightly coloured art fuels their fire. 

 “Art is a great way to bring character and positivity in your home,” Porteus says. “I’ve noticed my own work has become much more positive since the pandemic started. And clients want positive phrases, bright colours and more joy in their lives too. Our home is all about DIY inspiration. We’ve all become a bit more obsessed with that during these times.”