Aidan Glasby and Lexie Keneally are remote area nurses. They love the both the outback lifestyle and sleeping in a swag under the stars. They made the choice to settle for a while in the Adelaide Hills when they were expecting their first child. The house they bought was affectionately nicknamed Baghdad No one had lived there for a few years and some local kids had been using it as a hangout. It had been advertised by the real estate agent as “previously loved but beyond repair.”

The house was built in the 1940s on strip footings and clay soil. The walls and the roof are still moving now. What most people would see as daunting, Glasby saw as a challenge and he was inspired to create a warm and cozy space out of the rubble. He is qualified as a boat builder and has a good understanding of structures that are constantly moving. He also saw the house as an opportunity to create a home that wouldn’t leave them with a big mortgage over their heads. Glasby and Keneally had four months to get the place livable for when their baby came. The ceilings had to go, but Glasby had vision. He put his former boat building training to work and designed curved ceilings that would eliminate the need to remove the original cracked plaster ceiling panels. The end result is a cozy and atmospheric space that is reminiscent of a boat. To Glasby, boats are symbolic of being nurtured in the elements and of freedom. He says, “As a child my dad passed on his love of boats. We sailed from Cairns to Indonesia as a family when I was ten. I started building my first boat with my uncle in year 12 at school.” The couple made their deadline and their son Isayah was born at home four months later in a beautiful home that celebrates a love of life lived outside of the square.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Aidan Glasby, Lexie Keneally and their son Isayah
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia