Americana Meets Australian Bush Modernism In This Melbourne Home
Homes
Coffee table and side table purchased from The Artz Collection. ‘I loved these designs as they reminded of something you would find in a Frank Lloyd Wright House,’ says Samantha. Paper lantern pendant from Pop and Scott. Print on mantle by Stephen Baker. Chairs purchased from Facebook Marketplace.
Samantha Lombardi and Simon Torcasio of The Smith & Western Jury in their Wattle Glen house.
Tessa chairs purchased from Facebook marketplace. Vintage cane side table and lamp purchased from Amazing Mill Markets.
Chairs purchased from Facebook Marketplace. ‘These are some of our favourite chairs in the house… We call them “guitar chairs” because it’s really hard to find a nice vintage chair without arms!’ says Samantha. They are from the ’70s and in incredible condition for their age, with their original upholstery. They had just been sitting in someone’s storage for years.’
Custom built cabinet by Kithe. ‘This was a tricky space to furnish when we first moved in. The balustrade on the left you see, was always there, but then there was just this big gap underneath it, so we decided to have a custom shelf built into the space,’ says Samantha. Couch and paper lantern pendant light by Pop and Scott.
Coffee table and side table purchased from The Artz Collection. Paper lantern pendant from Pop and Scott. Print on mantle by Stephen Baker. Chairs purchased from Facebook Marketplace.
Custom built cabinet by Kithe. ‘This dried out pumpkin belonged to my grandparents. It sat on their fireplace mantle for years and I love that we now have it on display… So many people ask about, as it looks like it’s not real, but I can assure you that when you shake it, you can hear the pumpkin seeds still in there!’ says Samantha. ‘That telephone on the shelf was my mum’s.’
The upstairs living area. 1970s Playpen Sofa by Simmons, coffee table, and chair all purchased from Facebook Marketplace. Paper lantern pendant light by Pop and Scott. Poster of C.W. Stoneking. Rocket lamp bu Retro Print Revival.
Restored vintage Kriesler record player. ‘Down The Wash’ print by Mark Maggiori. Guitar found in hard rubbish in Hurstbridge! ‘I believe it’s an Australian made, vintage Packard archtop guitar from the 50/60s. Such a cool find!’ says Samantha.
Succulent poster purchased from the Nashville Flea Market. Vintage lamp purchased from Waverley Antique Bazaar. Chairs from a vintage store.
One of many arched doorways in the home. Teak bookshelf purchased from The Vintage Eye.
Samantha and Simon’s knick knacks display is always changing.
The vintage dining table was gifted to Samantha by her best friend Cait and family. ‘They got it from a neighbour, who had it for years… All we had to do was reupholster the chairs and it was perfect.’ ‘Ode To An Egg’ print by Stephanie Stamatis.
New green carpet in the main bedroom.
Tallboy from The Vintage Eye. ‘The Weavings’ print by Emma Stenhouse. Bedside table lamps by Milk & Sugar.
The main bedroom in the 1960s part of the house is now Simon and Samantha’s rehearsal space. ‘We had my uncle (of Maple Constructions) frame up a wall in front of the window here. We filled the cavity with sound proofing insulation, and covered the wall in wood panelling.’
Hank Williams print is from the Hatch Show Print shop.
‘It’s hard to believe that when we moved in, none of these plants were there (other than the big gum trees of course) — it was just a huge empty space with some very patchy grass in it. Sam Cox did a beautiful job in layering natives in this area and creating some privacy from the street,’ says Samantha.
The most significant update Samantha and Simon have made to their property has been the garden, designed and installed over two stages by Sam Cox Landscape.
Acacia pycnantha (golden wattle)
The outdoor dining area.
‘This section used to be a big paved area with a retaining wall and it was much more suburban looking. We were fans of Sam Cox’s work already and knew he was also a Wattle Glen resident, so we got in contact and he helped us transform this area into this beautiful native courtyard. It’s full of beautiful Australian natives and the pond brings in all sorts of beautiful birds,’ says Samantha.
‘Sam Cox is a master at making rocks look like they were always there. We love the way these floor coverings waterfall over the rocks,’ says Samantha.
The courtyard area and pond.
‘We often have fairywrens darting around the yard, and it’s always so sweet when we see them bathing themselves in the top of the fountain,’ says Samantha.
Gastrolobium celsianum (Swan River pea).
The couple essentially gave Sam free rein over the landscape design. ‘All we said was, we wanted to be surrounded by natives, bring in the birds and we wanted to have a little pond in there too.’
The front of the house. ‘This was all paved when we moved in and it felt very suburban,’ says Samantha. ‘When we had Sam Cox landscape the garden, he did a beautiful job of softening up this area and introducing many more plants.’
Musicians Samantha Lombardi and Simon Torcasio were renting a unit in Melbourne’s northern middle ring when they first visited this Wattle Glen property for sale.
’As soon as we drove up the dirt road, saw kangaroos grazing on the side of the road, and walked into this house we were pretty sold already,’ says Samantha.
Not much is known about the house’s history, but it was likely built in the 1960s, and extended in the 1970s with an Alistair Knox-inspired addition. Features including brick walls, exposed beams, timber panelling, and slate floor are all keeping with ‘bush modernism’ homes across the wider north-eastern Melbourne fringe.
‘Walking in, there was just something charming and super cosy about the house. We loved all of the natural textures,’ says Samantha.
Simon and Samantha have made relatively small but impactful changes to the home internally — mostly returning the interiors to their near original state.
They worked with Maple Constructions to remove a wall in the upstairs living area (‘Having the wall there just made the room feel much smaller and darker, as it blocked a whole other angle of light coming in through the window,’ explains Samantha) and removed a leaking gas heater from the downstairs brick chimney to reinstate a double-sided fireplace.
Samantha and Simon are members of alt-country band The Smith & Western Jury, which has, in many ways, inspired the styling of their home. Items including a restored Kriesler record player, wall-mounted guitars, cowboy hats and American memorabilia set the scene for the couple’s music, which is often written and recorded in the house.
‘The high ceilings just make it sound beautiful,’ says Samantha. ‘We actually even recorded our first few songs as a band in our home a few years back and recorded the drums in that room, for that very reason.’
The place is furnished with mostly secondhand mid-century pieces, which lend their own distinct character to the space.
‘We aren’t super precious about our furniture being in mint condition’ says Samantha, ‘we like that most pieces have had a life before us.’
The most significant update Samantha and Simon have made to their property has been the garden, designed and installed over two stages by Sam Cox Landscape.
‘When we moved in the front yard was full of big gum trees, but bare as far as any other plants. And the backyard was very suburban looking, all paved with a big retaining wall,’ says Samantha.
‘We just felt we needed a more natural looking backyard and garden — something we could sit in and enjoy, bringing nature and wildlife closer.’
The couple essentially gave Sam free rein over the landscape design. ‘All we said was, we wanted to be surrounded by natives, bring in the birds and we wanted to have a little pond in there too.’
The garden surrounding the home is now an enchanting maze of native plantings that feels worlds away from the home’s semi-suburban context. A pond with cascading rocks and plants along the boundary add to this tranquil setting.
‘The main objective for the backyard was to soften it and make it feel like a much more relaxed and natural environment, which he absolutely nailed. As the garden grows, we are seeing new colours pop every season.’
Samantha and Simon adore the home they’ve created, which is large enough for making music solo, or with the band, and remains within easy reach of central Melbourne.
‘I love that I can go for a walk and see an echidna, kangaroo and kookaburra just roaming around,’ says Samantha.
‘It’s far enough for some peace and quiet, but still close enough to be able to catch a show at Lulie Tavern on a Friday night!’