A Calming + Clever Forever Home For A Creative Family
Homes
The kitchen cabinets and benchtop were bought on Facebook Marketplace and customised to suit the space, saving thousands. Sink by Phoenix. Tap by Gessi. Blackbutt timber shelf.
Recycled solid hardwood timber benchtop, upstand, and shelf. Stained plywood cabinets. Custom-designed rangehood. Nagoya Mosaic-Tile Co Hida tiles from Academy.
Lampe De Marseille Mini by Nemo. Ceramic jug handmade by Leah’s late grandmother Adelphe King. Painting by Maimie Nginytja Butler via Papulankutja Artists.
Leah Hudson-Smith in her Northcote family home. Cork floors finished with hardwood timber skirting. Handmade timber bench made by Leah from recycled timbers. Framed lino print from Block Shop Textiles in L.A. Framed Indigenous block print by unknown artist from Fremantle Arts Centre.
Lampe De Marseille Mini by Nemo. Ceramic jug handmade by Leah’s late grandmother Adelphe King. Painting by Maimie Nginytja Butler via Papulankutja Artists. Woven bird masks from Panama. Ceramic from Mexico.
‘I wanted to explore the idea of an “in-between” space,’ says Leah. ‘The covered back porch offers shelter while still being outdoors. The built-in bench provides a space for outdoor cooking and the seat is a place to perch, enjoy the garden and watch the kids play. I cant believe how much we use this small part of the home!’
Vintage dining chairs. Handmade recycled timber table by Leah. Paper lampshade by HAY. Lampe De Marseille Mini by Nemo.
‘Instead of building a glazed wall spanning the width of the property to the yard, we wanted to occupy the threshold between indoors and out,’ says Leah. ‘The lounge feels cosy and held by the timber frame, while the sheltered porch extends the usability of the backyard through uncertain weather.’
Vintage dining chairs surround a handmade recycled timber table by Leah. Hoshi Butter Armchair by SKEEHAN Studio, courtesy of Tom Skeehan. Cushion by Clothing The Gaps. Paper lampshade by HAY. Framed Indigenous block print by unknown artist from Fremantle Arts Centre.
Paper mache bull from Myanmar. Handmade wool rug from Malaysia. Coffee table made out of recycled timbers many moons ago by Leah.
Built-in record storage for music listening. Painting of Narrow Neck beach in Auckland near where Leah grew up, painted by her aunty Clare Dargaville, featuring dusk colours that inspired the furnishings in the room. Photo by Daniel Luxford. Old accordion from Wally’s grandparents.
The living room is modern take on a classic sunroom featuring blackbutt timber to delineate the space from the dining area. Coffee table built by Leah from recycled timber. Setago lamp by &Tradition. Handmade glass wall sconce by Thomas Maxam Studio. Clothing The Gaps. Custom-made, built in sofa with concealed storage drawers and generous futon couches (designed as two single beds so the kids can sleep under the tree at Christmas!)
Champagne Brass tapware by Astra Walker.Custom vanity, joinery, mirror designed by Leah and made by Softer Studio. Nagoya Mosaic-Tile Co Hida tiles from Academy.
Champagne Brass tapware by Astra Walker. Custom vanity, joinery, mirror designed by Leah and made by Softer Studio. Terrazzo basin by Fleur Studios. Hammered iron handles made in India. Nelly Wall Light by Jardan. Nagoya Mosaic-Tile Co Hida tiles from Academy.
When interior designer Leah Hudson-Smith and musician Wally Maloney bought their Northcote home, it was a charming albeit simple cottage devoid of much ornate detailing.
It was only 65 square metres internally (smaller than many two-bedroom apartments), but the couple bought the home for its potential and location, having already rented in the area for several years and loving the lifestyle on offer.
“It has everything we need: great food, good people, and beautiful nature surrounds,’ says Leah of Northcote. ‘Whether it’s a weekend kayak from the boathouse on the river, a bike ride, stroll to the cafe, or dinner on High Street, it’s close to everything and we love it!’
It was always the plan to eventually renovate the neglected cottage (a rental property of 30 years) to take better advantage of the north-facing and site proportions. ‘A “renovators’ delight” I think they call them. It was just what we were looking for!’ says Leah.
After several years and two children (Sonny and Luca, now 7 and 3), they engaged Oscar Sainsbury Architects and builders Best Street Projects to make it happen.
An interior designer, Leah was excited to tackle the interiors herself as part of a ‘dream team’ of collaborators. ‘Being both client and designer meant it was an opportunity for testing ideas and taking risks you wouldn’t necessarily do on someone else’s home’ she says.
‘The added benefit was that I got to choose my team. I worked hard to ensure that we had the right builder and architect to work with – people that shared our values who we would enjoy working intensely with for the duration of the project’.
The renovation saw a lean-to kitchen, outdoor toilet, and backyard sheds demolished to make way for a larger and more thoughtful addition. There’s now three bedrooms in the original house, before the extension that includes a new bathroom/laundry, and the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area designed to sit ‘in’ the garden.
Leah explains, ‘Rather than the typical approach of creating a glazed wall to look through to the yard, we wanted to occupy it – thus the split rear elevation of built-in furniture and sheltered back porch space.
The extension has made the house a generous but still relatively compact 130 square metres. ‘We wanted a small, single-level built footprint for cost efficiency and maximum backyard on the small block,’ says Leah.
Conscious not to reference any particular design style, Leah chose materials that celebrate natural beauty, hence the liberal use of blackbutt timber in the extension.
‘When designed with a considered eye and built with care, the results aren’t just visually beautiful, but you “feel” the space,’ she says. ‘The cork floors are brilliant, sustainable and soft underfoot, and I think every new home should use them!’
It took many years of ‘marinating’ and research but the entire build was completed in seven months, in time for the family of four to celebrate Christmas in the home. Some DIY work helped speed up the process and keep costs down including painting, landscaping, and supplying all the fixtures and fittings. ‘We used a lot of recycled materials and hunted for things on Marketplace – like our kitchen!’
The renovation has improved every element of the home, down to its energy and cost efficiency, achieved through passive solar design principles, recycled materials, and all-electric appliances.
The family appreciate the home most at dusk, when sitting in the big built-in sofa window and watching the flying foxes migrate overhead from Yarra Bend.