My Houzz: A Bright and Cheerful Home by the Sea
Neutral surfaces with splashes of color, and a mix of budget and quality decor, help make this new townhouse easy on the eyes and wallet
Kate Hansen
November 14, 2015
Houzz Contributer based in Melbourne, Victoria. Photographer, blogger and perpetual sticky beaker on the blog, The Room Illuminated.
Houzz Contributer based in Melbourne, Victoria. Photographer, blogger and perpetual... More
After completing a home renovation, most of us would sit back, reflect on all the challenges and vow never to do it again. For a while, anyway. But for Melissa Lunardon and her husband, Tom Duggan, completing their home renovation meant moving straight on to a new build. The duo bought their first home in 2010 and enjoyed the process of renovating it for three years. But they soon realized that the best way to make the most out of their piece of land was to knock down their existing home and build two townhouses there instead — one to live in and the other to rent out.
“The renovations were enough to keep us comfortable, so we didn’t lose too much money when knocking it all down,” Lunardon says. “I actually sold our new picket fence, deck, pergola and kitchen on eBay to recoup what we could.” The couple moved into their newly built home in March of this year, and since then Lunardon has used her skills as an interior designer to create a space that reflects their modern taste. The road to creating a dream home can certainly take its twists and turns, and for Lunardon this journey has resulted in a bright and spacious clapboard home, perfectly placed in its surroundings.
“The renovations were enough to keep us comfortable, so we didn’t lose too much money when knocking it all down,” Lunardon says. “I actually sold our new picket fence, deck, pergola and kitchen on eBay to recoup what we could.” The couple moved into their newly built home in March of this year, and since then Lunardon has used her skills as an interior designer to create a space that reflects their modern taste. The road to creating a dream home can certainly take its twists and turns, and for Lunardon this journey has resulted in a bright and spacious clapboard home, perfectly placed in its surroundings.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Melissa Lunardon, her husband, Tom Duggan, and their Labrador, Cooney
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms
As they placed a high priority on the quality and aesthetic of their home’s facade, Lunardon and Duggan always knew this would take up a fair chunk of their budget. “I have always wanted a [clapboard] home, and being in a beachside suburb, I felt it was the only option that we were going to be happy with,” Lunardon says.
Who lives here: Interior designer Melissa Lunardon, her husband, Tom Duggan, and their Labrador, Cooney
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms
As they placed a high priority on the quality and aesthetic of their home’s facade, Lunardon and Duggan always knew this would take up a fair chunk of their budget. “I have always wanted a [clapboard] home, and being in a beachside suburb, I felt it was the only option that we were going to be happy with,” Lunardon says.
Inside, the large scale of the home naturally resulted in some generous white walls to decorate. Instead of risking one artwork’s looking lost on the wall, Lunardon chose to use these two pieces, tying them together by using the same light oak frame. “I wanted an abstract piece that packed a punch, and the navy artwork from United Artworks really does that. I wanted to mix it up with a photographic piece, and The Alps from Middle of Nowhere was a perfect match,” she says.
The entrance is at the side of the house, and Lunardon made it pop with color. “I wanted to take advantage of the fact that our front door was at the side of the house and really have fun with color. Yellow is just so happy and welcoming,” she says.
Lunardon’s love of upcycling and mixing styles is displayed in the dining area. The bentwood chairs were a roadside find. After a coat of white paint, they were combined with a selection of transparent chairs.
Dining table: MRD Home
Dining table: MRD Home
Pendant light: Fat Shack Vintage
“As an interior designer, I am constantly exposed to new trends and always on the lookout for unique pieces,” Lunardon says. “I have mixed secondhand finds with timeless pieces like our Carrara coffee table and large oak dining table.”
Couch: Oz Design; side table: Matt Blatt; floor lamp: Beacon Lighting
Couch: Oz Design; side table: Matt Blatt; floor lamp: Beacon Lighting
Artwork on plywood: Printspace
The couple love to entertain, and regularly have friends and family over to show off their finished design. “The large island [counter] is great for prepping and also for talking to guests, either sitting opposite or at the dining table,” Lunardon says.
Removable polka dots on the pantry door add an unexpected touch of fun.
There is a wonderful blend of beauty and practicality in all the design elements around the home — the kitchen being no exception. “I wanted a [backsplash] that added texture and interest to the kitchen, so when I found the geometric tiles, I fell in love,” Lunardon says. “They are not too bold, and by using a darker gray grout, it’s easy to keep clean and define the shape of each tile.”
Tiles: HynesTiles
Tiles: HynesTiles
Although Lunardon had to be mindful about sticking to their budget, she feels she put money into the home where it really counted. “We paid attention to the kitchen by including a Smeg cooker, gloss-vinyl-wrap cabinetry and a large island bench with stone waterfall ends,” she says. “We saved in other areas by using a good-quality timber laminate floor, which wears very well and is quite realistic.”
The abundance of natural light that flows into the master bedroom makes the room feel more spacious and friendly.
For those of us who struggle to decide what headboard to put in the bedroom, Lunardon has the solution — paint one on the wall. “I couldn’t decide on what style of [headboard] I wanted for our room, and the highlight window above our bed restricts us from having artwork on the wall,” she says. “I thought that by painting the half-height feature wall, it would act as not only a [headboard], but also as a feature for the entire wall.”
Doona comforter and matching pillowcases: Rebecca Judd Loves for Adairs; heart vase: Lovestar; round cushion: Freedom
Doona comforter and matching pillowcases: Rebecca Judd Loves for Adairs; heart vase: Lovestar; round cushion: Freedom
Lamp: Freedom; bedside table: GlobeWest
“In our old house, we had the tiniest bath, so our main priority for this house was to ensure we had a decent-sized one,” Lunardon says. “This bathroom is mostly used by guests that stay over, as it’s right near the guest bedroom.”
The guest bedroom is used regularly by friends and family. “We are very excited to be hosting our overseas friend this year over Christmas, so it’s important that the room feels homey,” Lunardon says.
Doona comforter: Kmart; headboard: custom-made by Papillion; lamp: Beacon Lighting; white pillow with tree design: Designers Choice
Lunardon’s office is at the front of the home, at the opposite end from the living area — away from any distractions. The couple had made the desk as a dining table for their previous home. It now serves as a special memento, as well as a generously sized workspace for Lunardon.
Stendig calendar: Simple Form
Stendig calendar: Simple Form
Desk lamp: Kmart
Even though Lunardon and her husband tend to favor their upstairs en suite as the main bathroom, the downstairs bathroom has its advantages too, as it’s right next to Lunardon’s office. No trekking up the stairs required.
Builder: Urbanedge Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Builder: Urbanedge Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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I'm glad to read that the non mainstream yet constructive comments are not censored as they would be on the french web site. That tells me a lot about the real freedom of speech in Houzz France ...
Would love to see more of this house.