real homes 68 Hip home An empty rental is given a thoroughly modern makeover with cool n contemporary results

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1 real homes put your feet up and take a peek at these clever homes 68 Hip home An empty rental is given a thoroughly modern makeover with cool n contemporary results 78 Artist in residence An old weatherboarder becomes the perfect palette for a beautifully elegant interior 88 Creative cottage Bright colour, floral features and pretty pieces come together to create a cottage with character Bold statement Bright orange replica Jean Pauchard Tolix chairs and a white outdoor Tolix table, from Matt Blatt, really pop against the charcoal-grey concrete block walls of Natasha Skunca s home. Cushions, from Natasha s homewares company, Make Me Iconic, add a cool, urban edge. Turn the page to see more. Inside out Homeowner Darren fools around with son Ben in thejhgj children s garden, an extension of the open-plan kitchen, dining and family area. Turn the page for more. ljhklj real living 67

2 stamped A blank-canvas rental is injected with colour and character to become a stylish family home with style 68

3 real homes long, linear window = splashback with a view writer & styling clair wayman photography james geer Sleek style Natasha loves the spacious and contemporary kitchen, with its red splashbacks and abundance of storage. The bright colour makes the kitchen less clinical, she says. The sleek cupboards are handlefree, which creates a streamlined look. Natasha has added touches of red, white and timber tones through accessories such as kitchen crockery and utensils from Country Road. An old London street sign takes pride of place on the benchtop and reminds Natasha of her time in the UK. real living 69

4 who lives here? Natasha Skunca, founder of Make Me Iconic, with husband Karl and their two sons, Kasper, 6, and Kristof, 4. Makemeiconic.com 1 Dream home It s refreshing to be able to live in such an open, light-filled space, Natasha says. It s a far cry from our previous homes in London, which were smaller, traditional houses with little light or storage. 2 Make Me Iconic was set up in 2009 after Natasha realised there was a lack of cool products on the market that represented Australia s unsung landmarks and icons. We had great souvenirs from London, but nothing to represent Melbourne, she says. I found local artists to help me design a series of artworks, mugs, cushions, tea towels, and a wooden toy tram. Access all areas The house is designed around a series of outdoor spaces. This main decked courtyard connects to every area on the ground floor and is a real sun trap. The Boracay outdoor chair and Teca stool are from Globe West. The Iconic Plastic cushion (on chair) is from Make Me Iconic. fter 10 years of living a fastpaced life in London, the lure of a more laidback beach lifestyle brought Australian-born Natasha Skunca and her family Canadian husband Karl and their two young boys, Kasper and Kristof back to her home city of Melbourne. Rather than buying a property straight away, the couple decided to rent for a while. After a quick search they were lucky to find this spacious, open-plan house in a familyfriendly suburb of Melbourne. Natasha, who owns homewares and accessories label Make Me Iconic, fell in love with the clean, modern lines; flowing, light-filled spaces; and oodles of storage in the rental property. I like easy-to-clean surfaces and space, she says. I don t like too much clutter. A combination of openplan living, a large modern kitchen, built-in cabinets and huge glass doors spilling out onto sunny courtyards creates a homely, practical environment for the young family. The house, designed by Bower Architecture (Bowerarchitecture.com.au), has neutral charcoal floor tiles running throughout the ground floor; spotted-gum timber cladding and cabinetry provide a warm contrast to 70

5 real homes Open pleasure Huge glass doors open onto the central courtyard, letting cool breezes flow through the house in the summer, which makes the sofa the perfect spot to chill out and relax. Natasha brought the red and white theme into the living area with colourful cushions and vases. A cowhide rug, from Tractor Home, adds warmth and texture to the cool, grey-tiled floor. real living 71

6 timber cabinetry adds a warm contrast to the fresh white walls comfy seating & clever storage Book nook Natasha s favourite spot is the built-in reading nook, which looks out onto the main courtyard and becomes part of the outdoors when the large glass doors are fully extended. The blue tones of the cushions contrast with the warm, rich tones of the spotted-gum timber panelling. 72

7 real homes Retro dining Original chrome 1960s chairs paired with a sleek glass dining table imbue a retro feel in the dining room, while the black pendants add a real sense of drama to the space. Natasha loves this area because of the soaring high ceilings, which, along with the large glass doors to the courtyard, make the room feel expansive and light. A vintage poster of the Monaco Grand Prix adds a burst of bold colour to the neutral palette. real living 73

8 deer head = quirky sculptural feature Bright & botanical Natasha has combined a fresh palette of aqua and coral in the bedroom through accessories such as luxurious velvet cushions and a throw. The light oak Verve lamp table, from Globe West, complements the wooden deer head sculpture. I love 3D sculpture, and the deer head is a modern twist on a stuffed animal head, Natasha says. 74

9 real homes Study of art Natasha works from home and spends a lot of time in her study. I like to be inspired by my favourite artworks while working, she says. Her own Iconic Plastic print hangs on the wall. A print of Battersea Power Station by Paul Catherall is perched on the desk, and a quirky screenprint Barely Legal Queen by James Cauty sits on the floor. Global goodnight (below) The map wall decal in Kristof s room, from The Wall Sticker Company, is a cool decoration and a fun learning tool. It s a great decorating idea for rental properties, too. the fresh white walls. This palette created the perfect blank canvas for Natasha to fill with her favourite artwork, furniture, and souvenirs that she d collected while living overseas. The combination of these pieces has injected the house with her own fun and colourful personal style. For simplicity, Natasha stuck to just a few main colours for the interior palette red, white, blue and coral with touches of timber. When it comes to choosing furniture and homewares Natasha says she has an eclectic, but practical eye. I like things to have a special meaning and not just part of a trend, she explains. I always keep the expensive, big pieces of furniture, such as the sofa and coffee table, simple a neutral colour that won t date then I add splashes of colour with accessories. An added bonus of having her own homewares brand and one of the reasons Natasha started the business is being able to fill the house with her own accessories. Natasha s cushions and artworks are dotted throughout her home; their designs add hits of colour and a strong Melbourne vibe. The family s move from one side of the world to the other has been a happy transition, mainly because they fell on their feet and found the perfect rental property. We now know what suits our new family lifestyle and we ll be looking for something similar when we re ready to buy, Natasha says. It s like we road-tested the Australian lifestyle first! i love to add strong hits of colour with cushions, rugs & artworks real living 75

10 76 Chill-out zone The family love to hang out in the courtyard on sunny afternoons. The sugar-gum timber deck is extremely durable, termite-resistant, sourced locally and ideal for scooting on! It s only the Japanese maple tree growing through the decking that reminds the family that this room is in fact outside.

11 Animal instinct A fun feature for the wall. Plywood deer head, $29.70 for small, Venucci. real homes Hide & style Built-in timber cabinetry in Natasha s living room houses the TV and a fireplace, as well as lots of hidden storage areas. The sculptural black and red vessels add a hit of bold colour to the space. Pendant power Hang low for added impact. Inside 3/4 Dome pendant in Black & White, $99.95, Beacon Lighting. The right rug Adds warmth to cool floors. Natural cowhide rug in Light Exotic (approx 3.5 sq m), $418, NSW Leather Co. writer amanda hemmings-barbezat still-life styling clair wayman photography james geer (interior shot) Statement seat Contemporary, cool and comfy. Perfect for indoors and out. Tulip Accent chair with brushed stainless-steel frame, $499, Domayne. About: rental renos Try these quick-fix solutions for stamping a blank-canvas rental with your own unique style 1 Dress the walls with removable wallpaper. Check out the cool range at Interiorinstyle.com.au. Or, make fabric panels and hang to disguise ugly walls. 2 Accessories Soft furnishings, ceramics, new curtains, artworks and rugs are all easy ways to add your own personality to a space without it costing a fortune. 3 Hardware Update handles on doors, drawers and cabinets for a new look. 4 Light fittings Rental homes often have very boring light fittings. Replace with feature pendants in your own style, like Natasha s cool retro black shades in the dining room. Remember to store all items you remove, then replace before leaving. get natasha s look Add bold and bright accessories to a modern, neutral palette to create a colourful & contemporary family home Aussie icons Homewares with history! These cool cushions are handmade in Melbourne. Cushions: Iconic Sydney Rail Network in Blue, and Iconic Plastic in Orange, $85 each, Make Me Iconic. Sleek, stylish & spacious A white sofa will add a little luxury to your living space. Kato Deluxe modular sofa, from $7967, King Furniture. For stockists, see page 219. real living 77