This Fun Shared Australian Rental House Is Filled With Colorful Art and Crafts

Written by

Natalie Jeffcott
Natalie Jeffcott
Freelance photographer, lover of all things vintage and travel.
published Dec 9, 2022

This Fun Shared Australian Rental House Is Filled With Colorful Art and Crafts

Written by

Natalie Jeffcott
Natalie Jeffcott
Freelance photographer, lover of all things vintage and travel.
published Dec 9, 2022
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Bedrooms
Square feet

1500

Sq ft

1500

Name: Phebe and Michael
Location: Brunswick West, Victoria, Australia
Size: 1,500 square feet
Type of Home: House
Years lived in: 6 years renting for Phebe, 1 year for Michael

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“According to the current lease agreement, it’s been an on-going sharehouse since 2012, with people obviously coming and going throughout the years,” begins crafter, photographer, and all-over creative person, Phebe Rendulić. “I was excited when I was accepted to move in because of the size of it and the location. I find Brunswick West sounds ‘cool’ because of the Brunswick part, but the West part is actually pretty suburban and boring and quiet and I love it.” What’s NOT boring is the interior of the home that Phebe has rented for six years, and roommate, artist Michael Gromm, for one. They created a cohesive home full of color, art, and craft supplies.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Phebe – Colour forward eclectic maximalism or ‘is this a craft store or a bedroom?’

Michael – A natural accumulation of found objects, DIY, and repurposed/recycled materials — my desktop is made up of unused off-cuts of Vic ash from my day job. And I believe its legs came from an old staircase.

Inspiration: Phebe – Interior artists Memphis Group, Patricia Bustos, Danielle Brustman and fabric designers Melody Miller, Alison Glass, and Tula Pink

Michael – Function and form. Having as much quality/interesting artworks/artifacts as possible. And I do love a good ready-made.

Favorite Element: The size! The tall ceilings, the wooden floorboards, the weird concrete backyard, and the stained glass in the windows of the two front rooms.

Biggest Challenge:  Phebe – DUST!!! The house is on a main road, and due to the age of it, there are a lot of cracks in the walls so dust gets in and just parties non-stop here.

Michael – I’d have to agree with Phebe on this one. The dust does come to party here.

Proudest DIY: Phebe – The ‘blob patch’ ottoman I’d mended after spilling a drink on it and it ended up featured in frankie magazine! [Phebe has had many DIY projects in frankie magazine.]

Michael – My towel rack is literally a dowel wedged between the wall and the bookcase. Also, special mention must go to my hand-pieced fabric stool cover. Which was a collaboration between Phebe and myself — I did approximately two percent of the work.

Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Phebe – My bedroom was originally designed to be the living room as it has French doors along the wall where my clothes racks are but I believe it’s been used as a bedroom since it’s been a sharehouse. This then makes it a four-bedroom house but the spare room is now used as a work from home office space.

Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: Phebe – My bed has a gas lift base, which a lot of my yarn collection is hidden in as well as my suitcase and bed linens and quilts. I highly recommend a bed base with storage for anyone needing space. Also, because I have a rather large fabric stash, I wanted to make a feature of it so I got a glass cabinet from IKEA that provides both a display and storage function.

Michael – Buy art, not things that need to be stored and then there is no need for storage. Store things on your walls, it’s better for you. You’ll thank me later.

Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Phebe – I used to work for an online furniture company and would help customers with designing and decorating their spaces and one thing that always bugged me was how afraid people were of doing anything ‘different’ like choosing velvet over linen or a green sofa over a beige one even though it was clear they wanted to. It’s your space! Don’t be put off by what other people might think because they’re not the ones who live there. Do what makes you happy and if it means you put big googly eyes on your desk lamp to make you chuckle because you have to look at it all day, then so be it.

Michael – I’m not a massive fan of “new” things. I like a bit of wear and tear,  so I guess mine would be to recycle as much as possible.

Resources

ENTRY

  • 3 + 8 = 11 circle painting — Made by Michael for Phebe
  • Plant stand — Found on the side of the road by a previous housemate and given a fresh coat of paint by Phebe
  • Planter — Tea towel Michael wrapped around the pot
  • Scandi Flower mirrors — Fox and the Rox
  • Seagull painting — Turbo Brown
  • Python painting — Josh Simpson

LIVING & DINING ROOM

PHEBE’S BEDROOM

PHEBE’S SEWING DESK

PHEBE’S WORK DESK

MICHAEL’S BEDROOM

Thanks Phebe and Michael!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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