Open for Inspection with Inside Out
Sometimes I find an incredible home in the pages of an interiors magazine and I find myself wanting more. I want to run my hands along the concrete benchtop, have a good poke around in the garden, and marvel at other's people's Really Good Ideas.
I recently got to do just that when the editor of Inside Out magazine, Claire Bradley, along with the lovely folk from Bugaboo, invited me along to their Open for Inspection tour at the Geelong home of Lauren and Matt Wilson. Lucky me! As a long-time subscriber of Inside Out magazine, I was excited to meet the super-talented team and spend the morning in what was really an incredibly inspirational family home.
Photography by Nikole Ramsay, courtesy of Inside Out.
Kitchen
Lauren in her beautifully appointed - and spacious - kitchen. Photography by Nikole Ramsay, courtesy of Inside Out.
Baby's got style: Bugaboo Bee 3 + Van Gogh collection stroller. Photography by Nikole Ramsay, courtesy of Inside Out.
Dining room
The proportions of the elongated dining table, designed and made by Matt, combined with the Ubabub Sundae framed print, sets a colour-filled scene for expansive family living in the dining area. The curved-back ‘170’ timber chair by Takahashi Asako from Feelgood Designs are a great choice of dining chair, and it’s in this space that Lauren and Matt’s Australian spin on the Scandi theme really shines.
Claire noted that Scandinavian style works so well in Australia because it suits are environment so well - despite completely different climates. Our light-filled homes work in harmony with Scandinavian design and furniture, and this house captures that relationship perfectly.
Living room
There are three hero pieces in this room: the pale pink curved-back ‘RO’ feature reading chair by Jamie Hayon; the beautiful choice of art print by Michael Muir; and the custom-made floor-to-ceiling timber cabinet, which Matt designed himself. It features a glass door which slides across to close off adjoining play room, providing a clever and practical way to display treasured objects while protecting them from curious kids.
This was a talking point for Joseph, who said that “a lot of people would have shelving and then feel the need to fill it, and it would become incredibly distracting and visually heavy. But Lauren’s created this really gorgeous selection of smaller vignettes.”
Play room
You can see the play area just beyond the glass cabinet, which also opens up into the back yard. The clever use of Bolon carpet tiles from The Andrews Group are the hero feature of this room, which create a gorgeous geometric pattern while ticking the practicality-with-kids box. They're made from vinyl so messes can be easily and quickly mopped up. Combined with the ‘Babanees’ table setting from Green Cathedral and Elroyink prints, the play room is a bright and cheerful space that both adults and kids can enjoy together.
Kids' room
I love any space that features a brave use of colour, and you can’t get any braver than the boys’ orange bunk bed from Domayne. It’s a great choice for two boys, with the bottom bunk at floor level so the two-year-old can just roll out of bed in the morning. Colour and pattern is also introduced into the room with the Cotton On bedding, which has great price points and can be changed around easily.
Master bedroom
Master bedroom. Photography by Nikole Ramsay, courtesy of Inside Out.
Spare bedroom
Inside Out editor Claire Bradley, Rebecca Judd, and me - checking out the spare room. Photography by Nikole Ramsay, courtesy of Inside Out.
Bathroom
Clean lines and beautiful details in the Matt and Lauren's bathroom. Photography by Nikole Ramsay, courtesy of Inside Out.
