Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Melbourne Home - James and Victoria's North Carlton apartment

Bright and cheery kitchen in the North Carlton home of architects James and Victoria, and baby Louis!


James and Victoria's have such a beautiful collection of original artwork. Top image - Prints by Charles Blackman on the left, George Baldessin on the right. Bottom image - Framed artwork - collage by Joanna Ruchel, painting on the right by Walankura Napanangka, Bird sculpture in the centre by John.V.Babui (Ngaruwana Jirri Inc. Nguiu, Bathurst Island).

Prints, as credited above, by Charles Blackman and George Baldessin. Victoria's treasured basket with woven feathers, made by Tjanpi desert weavers, artist unknown.

Oooh I am super excited about today's Melbourne Home! How effortlessly lovely is it? This is the apartment of my dear friends James and Victoria - young architects with a brand new little bub in their lives! Little Louis is only a few months old, but this young family already seem so relaxed and at ease in their gorgeous little 2-bedroom apartment in leafy North Carlton. When I visited recently Louis gurgled so happily on his back in the loungeroom, flashing me endless gummy smiles whilst I chatted to Vic and dashed about with my camera! It seems Victoria and James have slipped so comfortably into their new roles... and Louis is such an enviably smiley and gorgeous baby! I hope I get one that cute!

James and Victoria's place is light-filled and faces North, with views across North Carlton's beautiful Victorian rooftops. The pair designed and managed the recent interior renovation themselves, and seem to have done something quite magical with the limited space... I guess you would have to say this is a 'small' home - but truthfully, once inside, there is just something very clever going on that really makes this compact little apartment feel generous and roomy! I think it may have something to do with that brilliant fixed table / bench which links the kitchen and living areas. It is a really clever, slick layout which has a kind of Japanese-ness about it... I could just imagine a family in Tokyo living in these minimal surrounds, perfectly finished with sleek, warm timber cabinetry and clever storage tucked into every nook!

Thankyou so much to James and Victoria for letting me share these shots of their beautiful home... And thanks also Victoria for the delectable cake you made me when I visited! Man... If I keep getting homemade cake every time I visit a new home... I think my health may seriously suffer this year! (But it was soooooo tasty!).

Top image - painting on left by Tatali Napurrula, print on right by Mary Anne Purlta.

Brazilian sculpture of the favelas by an unknown artist (this one belongs to Victoria's friend Alice . but seems to have found a happy home in Victoria's study nook!)

LOVE this study nook... Such an elegant use of space. Where is the clutter in this home? Seriously. Where!?

Oooh the obligatory extreme wide angle real-estate agent shot... just to give you a proper idea of the layout!

Clever storage and lovely details

Love the red butterfly chair... and of course that fabulous view across North Carlton! It's so pretty - even on a rainy day...

Main bedroom - painting by Adam Lee.

Custom cabinetry follows through in the bathroom... love how it floats off the floor like that. Nothing like a shadow-line to get me excited :)

10 comments:

  1. what a beauty, it's lovely and lived in. i love the image of the living area where you can see a bit of the kitchen shelves in the background. and that wall sculpture seriously needs to come and live with me for a while. thanks to james and victoria, keep enjoying little louis!

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  2. Any hints as to the designer of the pendant light overhanging the dining table?

    Thanks!

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  3. what a lovely, happy, warm & welcoming home.. oh yeah & well designed too :) nothing like open kitchen shelves to make things feel easy & i love the artwork everywhere.

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  4. I've got basil in vases at the moment, but think I'll have to see whether the tansy is still in flower at the moment and bring some indoors. And those baskets. Love baskets.

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  5. Swoon! So lovely to see inside the lovely houses of locals (thanks for sharing :) and have dreams of custom cabinetry!

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  6. Oh gosh... that Brazilian sculpture is beautiful.

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  7. I love it! The Melbourne homes section is by far my favourite part of your website. If you ever need ideas, I would LOVE to see the homes of Beci Orpin or Lisa Gorman & Dean Angelucci featured!

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  8. Oh I love this home, thanks for sharing! Do you know where I can get a lamp like that one above the dining table? I'm looking for something like that for our place.

    Anonymous - Beci Orpin's place was featured on Design Sponge a while ago if I remember correctly.

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  9. SO SORRY for the delay... Victoria has just gotten back to me re: her beautiful pendant light above the dining table...

    She thinks De De Ce used to stock them in Australia, but don't any longer so Victoria ordered it directly from this Italian company
    Oltrefrontiera (a bit tricky - perhaps enlist the help of an italian friend!).

    http://www.oltrefrontiera.it

    Hope that helps!

    Thanks Vic!

    Lucy x

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