Home front: natural selection

Your first home?
A double-fronted weatherboard Victorian in Kensington. It was in a rough state and needed renovating. I put in one of my first kitchens, which I made in my parents’ shed. The benchtops were recycled ironbark – it was the ’90s – and I set up a nice Japanese bonsai garden in the back.

Describe your home style
I would say relaxed. We now live in a ’60s brick veneer, which we have slowly renovated over the years. Our home has been the testing ground for many of our ideas; culminating in an eclectic mix, my furniture prototypes and my wife’s abundance of plants and sentimental objects.

Best design tip?
Gardens takes time. The garden is a good place to start and let it grow while you’re waiting for the interiors to catch up. Seeing young trees come up is really satisfying. Consider your motivations. Your design decisions will be directed by what you care about, whether it’s sustainability, efficiency, budget or craftsmanship. If you can explain your motivations to a designer, they can work with you to achieve them.

The suburb you love?
I am inspired by architecture and nature so I love suburbs such as East Ivanhoe where the Yarra is flanked by native corridors and there are plenty of great examples of ’60s architecture. Sixties architecture was designed to consider how the spaces interact with the outside environment by using big windows, expansive viewing spaces and the consideration of outdoor landscaping. I particularly like the Featherston House by Robin Boyd in Ivanhoe.

Best homewares shop?
Cult has great examples of well-known international design brands and they stock contemporary and historical design classics, including some of my favourites: Ronan + Erwan Bouroullec Design and Jasper Morrison. We are mutual fans of the PK22 chair by Poul Kjaerholm, a piece I’ve always admired and wanted.

Your favourite room?
Definitely the main bedroom. It’s at the back of the house and has large windows that overlook the garden, which has been turned from a concrete slab to a native and productive garden. It’s a relaxing place.

Most treasured possession?
I have a set of fire tools that I designed years ago, which I’m still pretty happy with. Along with my collection of architecture, art and design books, these are important to me.

Travis Dean is a director of Cantilever Interiors, cantileverinteriors.com