A Serene Inner-City Melbourne Home With LA Influences
Homes
The ‘snug’ in Lee Farrell and Will Murray Brown’s home. ‘The original house had a peach plaster fireplace in the room, which inspired us to drench the entire room in a peach tones including the walls, ceiling, fireplace, wall lights and architraves,’ says Lee. Paint colour Dulux Manila. Vintage mirror. Vase on mantle by Maison Balzac. Coffee table by P&R Styling. Custom sofa. Custom stool made by Mood Objects. TH Brown Trend Module Lounge purchased from Grandfather’s Axe and upholstered in Warwick Ovis Umber fabric. Thin Stripe Chocolate Cushion by Bonnie and Neil. Round cushion by The Creative Muster. Vintage chandelier by Murano. sourced from Italy. Custom record station shelves by Mugu. JWDA Table Lamp by Audo Copenhagen. Shag rug from Etsy.
TH Brown Trend Module Lounge purchased from Grandfather’s Axe and upholstered in Warwick Ovis Umber fabric. Pleated lamp by Lumier. Wooden artworks by OskHenDesign. Writing bureau passed down from Lee’s parents. ‘They purchased it in the UK over 40 years ago in a secondhand store. I’ve always loved the intricate carvings in the piece, especially the palm trees around the drawer handles,’ says Lee. Paint colour Dulux Manila.
Lee Farrell, Will Murray Brown, and their Pomeranian Luna in front of their Abbotsford house. The minimal cactus garden front garden, designed by Kate Patterson Landscape Design, was inspired by one of Lee’s favourite stores, Isabel Marant on Melrose Place.
Vintage fish dish purchased from Smith Street Bazaar. Coffee table by P&R Styling. Custom sofa. Shag rug from Etsy.
Paint colour Dulux Manila. Coffee table by P&R Styling. Custom sofa. Custom stool made by Mood Objects. Thin Stripe Chocolate Cushion by Bonnie and Neil. Round cushion by The Creative Muster. Vintage chandelier by Murano. sourced from Italy. Custom record station shelves by Mugu. Shag rug from Etsy.
The snug opens to a peaceful terrace designed by Kate Patterson Landscape Design, maintained by Established Horticulture. Outside: Custom-sized checkerboard tiles custom size, designed by Kate Patterson Landscape Design, from Better Exteriors. Outdoor sofa by MCM House. Pedestal Side Table Almond by Bonnie and Neil. Secondhand pot. Inside: Paint colour Dulux Manila. Coffee table by P&R Styling. Custom sofa. Custom stool made by Mood Objects. Thin Stripe Chocolate Cushion by Bonnie and Neil. Round cushion by The Creative Muster. Vintage chandelier by Murano. sourced from Italy. Shag rug from Etsy.
Ficus and grapevines stretch across the walls of the terrace, dotted with potted cacti and herbs. Outdoor sofa by MCM House. Pedestal Side Table Almond by Bonnie and Neil. Double Waves Green Outdoor Bolster by Bonnie and Neil. Secondhand pots. Fredericks & Mae Iron Arm Candle Holder. Custom-sized checkerboard tiles custom size, designed by Kate Patterson Landscape Design, from Better Exteriors.
Kitchen cabinetry in Dulux Vintage Beige. Dining table by ELLISON STUDIOS. 9602 Floor Lamp in Bamboo by Gubi. 1970s vintage chairs sourced from Facebook Marketplace, then restored and reupholstered. Carmen pendant designed by Pauline PlusLuis for Hartô. Kitchen ceiling lights by About Space. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter.
Calacatta stone by Signorino. Drawer pulls by Yester Home. Bestlite wall light by Gubi. Scallop rug from Esty. Kitchen cabinetry in Dulux Vintage Beige. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter.
Kitchen cabinetry in Dulux Vintage Beige. Dining table by ELLISON STUDIOS. 9602 Floor Lamp in Bamboo by Gubi. 1970s vintage chairs sourced from Facebook Marketplace, then restored and reupholstered. Carmen pendant designed by Pauline PlusLuis for Hartô. Kitchen ceiling lights by About Space. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter.
The en suite. Estremoz stone by Signorino. Riad tiles by Signorino. Brass tapware by Yabby.
The main living room. Custom sofa by Mood Objects, in James Dunlop Textiles fabric. Coffee table sourced from Mooky Vintage. Custom tassel cushions. Fiore Burgundy Cushion by Bonnie and Neil. Cork Square Side Table Stripe Orange by Bonnie and Neil. Vintage shell basket purchased from Ma Supply Store. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter. ‘Moonside Series – RoadKnight 3’ artwork by Tikada for MCM House.
The main bathroom. Brass tapware by Yabby. Vintage chair. Wall lights by Lighterior. Riad tiles by Signorino. Bath by Early Settler. Towel by Tekla. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter.
Silver travertine vanity. Mirror by Gubi. Vase from Lou Lou. Brass tapware by Yabby. Towel by Tekla. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half.
Custom bedhead in Warwick Fabrics fabric. Artwork ‘Bruised’ by Gbemi. Vintage side table and lamps. Floral Appliqué Pink Bedspread by Bonnie and Neil. Thin Stripe Chocolate Bolster by Bonnie and Neil. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter.
The guest bedroom. Wall mirror by Jones & Co. Cushions by Bonnie and Neil. Rice Paper Shade by HAY. Vintage bedside tables. Bed cover and curtains from Etsy. Wall paint colour Dulux Beige Royal Half. Ceiling paint colour Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter.
Lee Farrell and Will Murray Brown were looking for a Melbourne property they could renovate and make their own — but not a huge scale renovation.
It took three viewings over several months to convince them this heritage home in Abbotsford was worth the challenge.
‘We first saw the house at the start of 2020. We loved the feel but it was so rundown, we said no way — this is way too big a job to take on as a renovation,’ says Lee.
‘We noticed it stayed on the market and had a second viewing… then Covid hit, and we were still looking. Living in a small apartment, we craved space and had a third look.
‘I’m not sure if it was being in lockdown and envisioning a larger house and garden, but we finally took the plunge and bought the house.’
Lee and Will dove into a major renovation alongside building designer Design by AD, and interior designer Tyler Aspen Edmonds.
Heritage protections meant the facade needed to be retained, but Lee and Will went also above and beyond to keep all original rooms in the house.
‘We tried to keep or replace all the old features of the house,’ explains Lee. ‘We really wanted to bring this house back to life and celebrate all its history where we could.’
The barely functioning kitchen and bathroom — located in the former ‘tacked on’ rooms — however, needed a complete do over. ‘The vision for the home was to create a place we love to live. Somewhere to relax, entertain, and make memories with friends and family,’ says Lee.
A double-storey extension is now the heart of the house, referencing the look of the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, with interiors by Kelly Wearstler.
Lee also looked to colours she’s drawn to in fashion, inspiring a light, textural palette for a cosy and serene atmosphere. The overall feeling is inviting and joyful, with warm whites (Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter), creamy beiges (Dulux Beige Royal Half and Quarter) and peach (Dulux Manila) on the walls, paired with handmade tiles and natural stone.
The new ‘snug’ room opens to a peaceful terrace designed by Kate Patterson Landscape Design, where the couple can entertain among established greenery climbing up the walls maintained by Established Horticulture.
A minimal cactus garden at the front of the house continues the Los Angeles theme, adopting a similar look to the garden outside one of Lee’s favourite stores, Isabel Marant on Melrose Place.
The home now reflects the way Lee and Will live in inner-city Melbourne with their dog, Luna.
It was a mighty process over three years to achieve — one Lee and Will considered abandoning midway through — but the house today looks exactly as they hoped.
‘We went into this very naively, with no former knowledge of building, apart from a love of design.
‘We faced many challenges, from not being able to find a builder, to building cost increases, to mortgage hikes, we had many lessons, learnings and happy accidents,’ recalls Lee.
‘We’re so happy we kept going.’