My Houzz: Queensland Newlyweds Put Their Festive Feet Forward
An Australian couple’s mountain home reflects their contrasting styles and special occasions
Tamara Armstrong
December 22, 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Lifestyle Photographer and Visual Artist based in the beautiful surrounds of the Gold Coast hinterland in sunny Queensland.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Lifestyle Photographer and Visual Artist based in the... More
They say opposites attract, and this was certainly the case for technologically minded minimalist Andrew Blyth and his creative, spontaneous wife, Mel, who prefers “organized clutter.” While their personal tastes differ, they’re on the same page when it comes to making their mark on their 1930s Queenslander. “We like what we like, and we are not trying to replicate anything,” Mel says. “We are okay with mixing styles and eras that traditionally don’t go together.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mel and Andrew Blyth and their dog, Jato
Location: Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, Australia
Size: 2,045 square feet (190 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
They found the house in 2012. After a few months of house hunting in Brisbane, Australia, Andrew and Mel fell in love with photos of the renovated 1930s Queenslander before realizing that the home was actually on Tamborine Mountain, nearly an hour south of Brisbane.
The couple decided it was too far away from work and friends, and carried on with the hunt. Months of fruitless searching in Brisbane passed, and they kept coming back to this house. In the end, they became convinced it was the right fit despite the location, and they haven’t looked back.
Who lives here: Mel and Andrew Blyth and their dog, Jato
Location: Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, Australia
Size: 2,045 square feet (190 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
They found the house in 2012. After a few months of house hunting in Brisbane, Australia, Andrew and Mel fell in love with photos of the renovated 1930s Queenslander before realizing that the home was actually on Tamborine Mountain, nearly an hour south of Brisbane.
The couple decided it was too far away from work and friends, and carried on with the hunt. Months of fruitless searching in Brisbane passed, and they kept coming back to this house. In the end, they became convinced it was the right fit despite the location, and they haven’t looked back.
Mel and Andrew mix their styles when decorating for an especially personal look. Having celebrated three Christmases in their current abode, they feel at ease decking these particular halls for the festive period. They try out different styles each time, and this year, Mel has gone for traditional Northern Hemisphere style with an Australian twist.
Her collection of Christmas ornaments adds layers of cheer. Santa nesting dolls sit next to reindeer she made from wine bottle corks. Red flowers and holly complete this sideboard.
Her collection of Christmas ornaments adds layers of cheer. Santa nesting dolls sit next to reindeer she made from wine bottle corks. Red flowers and holly complete this sideboard.
The pink cupboard in the entryway was the couple’s cake table at their wedding. “We bought it at an antiques store on the mountain,” Mel says. “The wedding cake looked great sitting on top.”
Pantone Has Spoken: Pink and Baby Blue Are In for 2016
Pantone Has Spoken: Pink and Baby Blue Are In for 2016
The pair love hosting parties. Andrew says, “Mel’s in her element after pouring a glass of wine, putting on some good music” and putting together vignettes inspired by her collections. “Christmas is always a favorite, but Halloween is quickly becoming a close second, and she has become somewhat of a baby shower expert among family and friends.”
Party guests tend to congregate in the living room, so the space is decorated for specific themes. “The living room was once transformed into a beer hall for Oktoberfest, where we moved all the furniture out and had a long table running the length of the room for 30 friends,” Andrew says.
Their most recent party here was a rockabilly-themed 30th for Mel, where half the living room was set up as a dance floor with black-and-white check linoleum, and the front room acting as a bar.
Coffee table made by Mel’s dad
Party guests tend to congregate in the living room, so the space is decorated for specific themes. “The living room was once transformed into a beer hall for Oktoberfest, where we moved all the furniture out and had a long table running the length of the room for 30 friends,” Andrew says.
Their most recent party here was a rockabilly-themed 30th for Mel, where half the living room was set up as a dance floor with black-and-white check linoleum, and the front room acting as a bar.
Coffee table made by Mel’s dad
In the living room sits a ’60s-style Danish cabinet, which an antiques shop owner told the couple would never suit a Queenslander. “Recapping in the car later, we realized that we were both on the same page,” Mel says. “We like what we like. We are not trying to replicate anything. We are okay with mixing styles and eras that traditionally don’t go together.”
The home also reflects Mel’s love of tattoo culture, with fun graphics of tropical fruits, cactuses, flamingos and sugar skulls. Above the cabinet she also shows off her interest in Frida Kahlo, which started in high school and culminated in a recent trip to Mexico, where she visited the Blue House; Mel says she was in “fan-girl heaven.”
The home also reflects Mel’s love of tattoo culture, with fun graphics of tropical fruits, cactuses, flamingos and sugar skulls. Above the cabinet she also shows off her interest in Frida Kahlo, which started in high school and culminated in a recent trip to Mexico, where she visited the Blue House; Mel says she was in “fan-girl heaven.”
With a few twigs collected from the garden, Mel has made a couple of mini trees and decorated them with small jewels. “You would be surprised what you can make into Christmas decorations,” she says. “Adding a few beads and some florist wire to the ivy makes it suddenly seem Christmasy.”
Mel has been using every available spot in the house to decorate with Christmas cheer; even the cart in the living room has a collection of stockings hanging from it. The plastic vines throughout the house were Mel’s eBay finds.
The home was renovated 13 years ago, so the couple felt that a great deal of updating wasn’t necessary. However, they do say they’re crossing off a constant list of projects with the help of Andrew’s dad, a tradesman.
One of the first additions they made to the house was the fireplace in the living room. “Winters on Tamborine Mountain can be surprisingly chilly for southeast Queensland,” Mel says, “and there is nothing nicer on a crisp evening than the warm glow of the fireplace.”
Although it won’t be used until Australia’s winter, the fireplace still serves a festive purpose, with some snowflake cutouts and sweet ornaments set out on top.
One of the first additions they made to the house was the fireplace in the living room. “Winters on Tamborine Mountain can be surprisingly chilly for southeast Queensland,” Mel says, “and there is nothing nicer on a crisp evening than the warm glow of the fireplace.”
Although it won’t be used until Australia’s winter, the fireplace still serves a festive purpose, with some snowflake cutouts and sweet ornaments set out on top.
Mel’s father made the firewood box.
This fake tree is the perfect size for the couple, and they have started placing presents underneath for their family and friends. “Christmas for us is always a family affair, which sees our extended family getting together,” Mel says.
As collectors, many of their decorations have sentimental value. “We lost a decoration of sentimental value this year — when we pulled out the Christmas decorations, it was broken,” Mel says. “It was an ugly decoration that we usually put at the back of the tree, but when we pulled it out and it was broken, we were both upset. We thought we were always going to have to find a spot for the ugly decoration.”
As collectors, many of their decorations have sentimental value. “We lost a decoration of sentimental value this year — when we pulled out the Christmas decorations, it was broken,” Mel says. “It was an ugly decoration that we usually put at the back of the tree, but when we pulled it out and it was broken, we were both upset. We thought we were always going to have to find a spot for the ugly decoration.”
The kitchen was in good condition when the couple moved in, so they decided not to change anything. As part of the open-plan living space, this is another area that’s often used by guests during parties.
True Queenslanders, Mel and Andrew’s favorite spot is out on the veranda. “Sitting on the outside veranda on a Sunday afternoon is one of our favorite times,” Mel says. “It’s very tranquil with the view of Stradbroke Island and listening to the day slip past.”
The master bedroom at the front of the house receives generous sunlight.
A bay window in the room is also a great spot to kick back with a book, and it’s one of Jato’s favorite places to watch other dogs go by.
The master bathroom, a short walk down the hallway, has retained its 1930s charm, thanks to its claw-foot bathtub and parquetry floors.
Downstairs is where the two guest bedrooms are located, along with Andrew’s office.
Andrew works from home, and Jato will sit on the couch all day to keep him company.
Before the couple moved in, the downstairs bedrooms featured bright red carpet that had to go. Andrew replaced it with wood-look linoleum more in keeping with their style.
Linoleum, the All-Purpose Flooring Wonder
Linoleum, the All-Purpose Flooring Wonder
The downstairs bedrooms have been fitted with two windows each, great for catching cross breezes, but Mel notes that the windows can make furniture arrangement tricky.
Double French doors in this bedroom open onto a small balcony, which makes it a lovely room to wake up.
For a couple who thought they were compromising when they found their home, Andrew and Mel have happily discovered that there’s no better place for them.
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 | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation 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 | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Always love seeing a vizsla :)
Thanks for sharing,Great home - you have made it very comfortable. Beautiful house.Happy Christmas 2016 vision blinds