Home Front

Your first home?
We bought our first home in Carlton about two years ago. Our David Street house was architecturally designed in the early `90s so it harbours intriguing features including a corrugated iron internal feature wall and internal tree trunk. It is not the most beautiful house (I have been known to call it fugly), but we saw value in its location and its Tokyo-style vertical living. We are about to undertake a renovation by DesignOffice that will sensitively transform it.

Your most memorable apartment?
When I first moved back to Melbourne after working in Sydney for five years, I rented a fantastic brick bunker of a warehouse in Fitzroy. It was at least 80 square metres and had a mezzanine bedroom nestled in a pitched roof. I had hardly any furniture so it was sparse apart from some expensive audio equipment (that I still have). I cycled by it a few weeks ago and was surprised it hadn’t been developed into townhouses.

Describe your home style?
I have been joking that we are “glamping” in our house as we prepare for our renovation. My home style revolves around books, art, music and food … and good lighting. We love to entertain and we also love to bunker down so our home will eventually reflect this. Provenance is important – all of our pieces are authentic. I prefer to spend money on a piece that will last a lifetime than fill the house with pieces that are not well made or replicas.

The most iconic house?
I can’t go past the modernist Heide II by McGlashan Everist (1964). The way the landscape is fundamental to the experience of the house is my idea of perfection. I also love that the brief to the architects included mystery, romance and the need for the house to weather over time.

The suburb you love?
I love living in Carlton. It is pretty diverse and vibrant; it’s connected to the city yet there are beautiful parks and civic spaces. I also love the cycling infrastructure and public transport.

Best homewares/furniture?
There are some great Australian brands producing quality pieces. Finally, it feels like Australian design is valued. Coco Flip produces beautiful lighting; JamFactory in Adelaide has launched a range with designers including Jon Goulder, Daniel Emma and Adam Goodrum; Trent Jansen is creating terrific outdoor furniture with Tait; there is a push towards limited-edition design with Broached Commissions and 1-OK CLUB; and some people are doing great work with timber including Dessein’s Tasmanian reclaimed Hydrowood range.

The architect you most admire?
Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of the most influential architects in my life. The Glasgow School of Art really captured my imagination as a culturally hungry teenager living in small-town New Zealand in the `80s.

Emma Telfer is the creative director of Open House Melbourne. Open House weekend is July 30-31, openhousemelbourne.org.