My Houzz: A Vibrant Makeover for a Melbourne Apartment
http://www.decor-ideas.org 06/26/2015 02:13 Decor Ideas
Creating beautiful spaces for other people is Petrina Turner’s business and passion. She’s a designer, and her skills include interior design, styling and producing colorful textiles. She brought her vivid decorating style to the design of her once-slightly-shabby 1960s-style rental in the St. Kilda suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Now it’s a happy and eclectic space where she feels inspired.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Petrina Turner
Location: St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Six years ago, when looking for a home to rent, Turner, seen here, found an apartment that fit perfectly with her love of midcentury design. Its abundance of light and original features, including a retro kitchen, suited her eclectic style and even made it easy for her to see past the apartment’s shortcomings.
Not a fan of TV screens being the focal point in a living room, Turner placed this large vintage print in the room to create an appealing feature. “The ‘Favor’ print was a classic case of seeing something that spoke to me and going for it,” she says. “It’s very large and very bright, and although I went looking for a small vintage poster, I just had to have it. So it works.”
Turner’s home is adorned with little gems she has collected throughout the years. This Frida Kahlo vase from Lovestar takes pride of place in the living room and is regularly changed with fresh flowers.
When consulting clients, Turner recommends they allocate a generous portion of their budget to items that get the most wear, particularly sofas and floor rugs. Turner’s floor rug is 17 years old and still looks good. “My furniture and furnishings have been acquired over many years, and I have a mix of high- and low-budget items. You don’t have to go hard all at once if you can’t afford it,” she says.
Errol sofa: Jardan; hand-tufted rug: custom designed by Turner when she was a senior designer at Designer Rugs in Sydney
For all the decorative pieces that give the home character and heart, Turner still likes to add to the collection and regularly goes treasure hunting in vintage stores and online. She restored this vintage Rosando sideboard herself. “The joy is in the hunting and then finding a bargain,” she says.
Neon knot macramé light: Petrina Turner Design
“I’ve always loved rabbits,” Turner says, referring to her coffee table display. “I once dressed up as the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland at my primary school’s book week. Anything bunny related makes me happy.”
One of the first things on Turner’s to-do list when she moved in was to install these sheer white curtains from Ikea to mask pink vertical blinds. During the day she pulls the blinds aside and enjoys the lovely ethereal light the sheer curtains let through.
A former Sydney resident, Turner says this pillow from My Bearded Pigeon featuring a map of the city provides her with a little reminder of home.
The antique ballet slipper is a memento brought back from a visit to Norway years ago. It is a nod to Turner’s love of dance. “I was never a ballet dancer, but I was a gymnast and tumbler when I was younger, and now I tap-dance,” she says.
Turner loves to get some fresh air and check out the rooftop view from her balcony.
When she moved in, Turner found the balcony neglected. She bought some artificial grass to lay down and then disguised the air conditioner by surrounding it with a white picket fence. By adding a few plants and bunny rabbits, she created her own little Alice in Wonderland garden.
Ceramic hanging pots: Ikea
Turner says the apartment was tired but had some excellent features when she moved in, such as its original polished floorboards.
Turner is not able to paint the walls in her rental. This didn’t stop her from adding her own color, though. To complement the existing wall color in the bedroom, she chose shades of gray for her bed linens and added pops of color through cushions and accessories.
“My favorite thing to do in the bedroom is to mix and match my bed linen, clashing colors and patterns,” she says.
“Wild Horses” photograph: Kara Rosenlund; reading lamp: Artemide; turquoise floral pillowcase: Rosebank, Lazybones; turquoise geometric pillow: Pacific Tile, Bonnie and Neil; pink floral pillow: Pale Peony, Petrina Turner Design; pillow in front: Mini My Caravan, Pony Rider
This bedside vintage lamp was a gift from Turner’s cousin.
Red painted walls are also featured in a second bedroom that Turner has made her home office. The Ikea desk and drawers provide ideal storage for all of Turner’s files, drawings, books and tools of the trade.
A corkboard on the desk is full of sweet notes from friends that Turner has received over the years. “It’s a reminder of how very lucky I am to have so many wonderful, inspiring and supportive people in my life,” she says.
Turner keeps this mannequin in her office as a reminder of her mother’s lifelong work as a professional dressmaker. Turner uses it to make some of her own clothes as well as to display some of her favorite vintage collections.
“When I was very young and while my mum was working from home, she used to give me a needle, some thread and buttons to sew on fabric,” Turner says. “It gave me a love of making and sewing and creating. She also taught me to be brave, strong and loving, too.”
When her office is being used as a guest room for visiting family and friends, Turner takes advantage of the light and space in the dining area to get some designing done. The dining table, from Freedom, is also extendable, making it not just a good desk but perfect for those extra guests at dinner parties.
Turner bought this “Home Sweet Home” chair a few years ago from talented modern crafter Tamara Maynes. “She was selling it because she was moving and couldn’t take everything with her,” Turner says. “It literally made me go weak at the knees when I saw it — and I knew I had to have it.”
It was originally Maynes’ desk chair, and she painstakingly embroidered the back, which took her more than 100 hours to complete. “Tamara went on to be a wonderful mentor to me and is now a friend. She’s allowed to visit me and the chair anytime she likes,” Turner says.
The apartment’s kitchen is off the living room and is small but functional. “I love the kitchen because it’s at the heart of the apartment, where I can make and create a delicious spread to share with family and friends to show them I love them,” Turner says.
Despite the limited space in the kitchen, Turner still wanted a space where she could sit and enjoy her morning cuppa. To make the most of this room, she uses an Ikea cart; she painted the legs and made gingham drapes for the sides. “It’s a perfect breakfast spot, but also a great sunny spot for photography,” she says.
This vintage Uncle Toby’s poster was a housewarming gift from Turner’s sister and brother-in-law.
Turner’s love of midcentury design extends to glassware. “This beauty I bought many years ago. I love its form — it reminded me of a genie bottle — beautiful colors and surface texture,” Turner says.
Renters know that any major design changes are usually restricted, but a quirky, decorative touch, such as this golden framed sign, can make a dated bathroom more enjoyable.
Turner says a house is not a home without personal treasures in it. “I’m not afraid to be bold with color and design. I always choose things because I love them,” she says. “It’s the people and the personal items that make a home, not necessarily the four walls, so even in a rental you can truly make it your own.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
Related Articles Recommended
Related Images Recommend
