Monique & Stu’s Bright Happy Family Home in Melbourne
Name:Monique, Stu, and their daughters, Lulu and Petula
Location:Eltham; Melbourne, Victoria
Size:200 square metres (2,153 square feet)
Years lived in:6.5 years; Owned
Monique and Stu’s home is cute, colorful, and inviting. Located in a leafy outer suburb of Melbourne, it is a perfect place to bring up their two young daughters. Having spent much of their twenties and thirties renting in the inner city – both being involved in the local Melbourne music scene- they now own a spacious home that reflects their love of music, design, Mexico, and vintage style.
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Stu works as a graphic designer and plays guitar in numerousbands, while Monique cares for the girls, works as a freelance florist, and sings and plays guitar inThe Mockingbird. Before having children, the couple travelled to the USA and Mexico and fell in love with Mexican color and folk art, and they filled their bags with as many mementos as they could carry. Over the years, Monique and Stu have collected vintage pieces and artwork which now decorate their home, especially the nursery.
They are slowly renovating their home, having recently added the back deck, yellow entry wall, extra bedroom, and laundry off the kitchen. Also, a good friend just finished landscaping their yard. The bathroom is next on their agenda.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style:Eclectic with its heart in vintage, bright colors, and rock’n’roll.
Inspiration:The 3 Ms: Music, Mid-century, and Mexico.
Favorite Element:Letting seemingly mis-matched items hang together.
Biggest Challenge:Finding room for the multitude of things we’ve collected and artwork we need to hang.
What Friends Say:Our house is warm, inviting, and fun, also there are certain things that only we could get away with.
Biggest Embarrassment:The bathroom, the only space not yet touched in 6 years and the one that needs the most attention.
Proudest DIY:New back entrance floor – expensive green and white ’50s style vinyl tiles found super cheap on Gumtree (similar to Craigslist).
Biggest Indulgence:Gary Taxali print in the entrance hall (Stu’s 40th birthday present).
Best Advice:If you find stuff you like, fill every nook you have with it.
Dream Sources:We find stuff everywhere, from Gumtree to Guadalajara.
Resources
PAINT & COLORS
- Exterior : Dulux Gold Rush
- Interior : Dulux Natural White
FRONT ENTRY
- Large framed artwork: byGary Taxali
- Vintage sideboard:Atomic House Vintage
- Graphic stacking blocks: byFred
- Vintage lamp and ornaments: collected over time from op-shops, eBay, and Gumtree
- Souvenir pennants: bought at a friend’s garage sale
- Mexican folk art, ceramics, and trinkets: from Mexico
BACK ENTRY
- Cockatoo print: byPeter Cromer
- Red Fangtour print: designed byMark Van De Beek
- Retro kitchen cabinet: a gift from friends
- 乙烯地砖:Gumtree上找到,找到类似的byAmtico
- Black Acapulco chair: fromAmor y Locura
LIVING ROOM
- The Chinese Ladyprint: by Vladimir Tretchikoff
- Rug: from eBay
- Hello Sailor cushion: fromTarget
- Cushions on couch: made by Monique
- World globe cushion: fromThird Drawer Down
- Gus McLarensculptures: fromOutre Gallery
- Wire basket: fromDown to the Woods
KITCHEN AND DINING
- Vintage kitchen cabinet: restored by Monique and Stu
- Donkey cookie jar: vintage
- Owl cookie jar:Made590
- APE fez-wearing monkey cookie jar: fromOutre Gallery
- Neonphotograph print: byNatalie Jeffcott
- Art Deco table: family heirloom
- Eames Eiffel chairs:Herman Miller
BEDROOM
- Cockatoo lamp: by Heico found atThe Woods Folk
- Bedside table: vintage
- Vintage headboard: made from a door from Monique’s grandmother’s home
NURSERY
- Colorful mobile: made by Monique
- Bird artwork: byAnke Weckmann
- Faceted head print:Friends with You
- FramedSanta Wormprint:Mark Ryden
- Toy shelf gocco print:Lab Partners
- Vintage yellow Planet Lamp
- Wild West Sweethearts guitar: byGretsch
- Mexican folk art and tin heart decorations: bought on travels
- Vintage deers and ornaments: collected over time from vintage markets, garage sales, and eBay.
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