Susie’s Fun Australian Home

Name: Susie Jones, housemates Bindy and Kerry, and Ruby the dog
Location: Collingwood — Victoria, Australia
Size: 94 square meters (1,012 square feet)
Years lived in: 2 years; Owned by Susie

Susie Jones bought her home in the inner north of Melbourne in Collingwood a few years ago, and it definitely reflects her personality and that of her housemates. While it showcases her love of vintage and nostalgia, Susie’s home is sprinkled with a little bit of fun and humor, too.

Susie is a television producer and has a great eye for quirky vintage finds plus a love of photographic artwork, as seen throughout the home with framed prints by local Australian photographers Lisa Sorgini, Peter Tarasiuk, and Leila Jeffries, as well as renown photographers Slim Aarons and Martin Parr. The home itself is an older, single-fronted, two-level Victorian terrace house.

It had previously been renovated, but Susie updated the kitchen by adding a new sink, bench top and additional storage, and she updated the bathroom with the help of West Wood Furniture, a local company that makes custom and architectural furniture and cabinetry. She shares her lovely home with her housemates/friends Bindy and Kerry and Bindy’s rescue dog, Ruby.

Our Style: Mid-century meets Australiana. The word eclectic is overused, but you could certainly call it that.

Inspiration: Other people’s homes. I love looking at other people’s style, either in person or via websites such as Apartment Therapy, The Design Files, Spaces, or any interiors magazine. Travel, art, and nostalgia play a role also.

Favorite Element: The natural light. Terrace houses can be quite dark, but previous owners have renovated to get the most sunshine in.

Biggest Challenge: Like a lot of old houses it’s a little wonky, so it’s sometimes a bit tricky leveling furniture. My builder was a very good sport about it.

What Friends Say: It has a lovely feel. A friend’s 4-year-old daughter was quite taken with it recently and asked if her family could live there (despite them having a much fancier home themselves).

Biggest Embarrassment: I accidentally bought a laundry sink for the kitchen, which you wouldn’t think would be an issue, but it never drains properly. Not a good look.

Proudest DIY: I know myself well enough not to attempt much DIY. I’m not sure if this counts as DIY, but managing to keep all the plants alive and thriving (both indoors and out) is a new skill for me.

Biggest Indulgence: Apart from the house itself, probably the Hans Wegner Plank Couch. I don’t like modern couches, but old ones tend to be style over comfort. This one manages to be both nice to look at and comfortable.

Best Advice: My brother teaching me to de-clutter. If left to my own devices I can be a bit hoard-y.

Dream Sources: Any kind of large flea market is always fun. Especially overseas. I had a great day wandering around the Paris Flea Market and would have bought a lot had I been a local. Closer to home, my neighborhood of Collingwood and surrounds have such great housewares and secondhand shops it can be dangerous to leave the house. Favorites include Third Drawer Down, Pop & Scott, Smith Street Bazaar, Grandfathers Axe, Modern Times, and for plants, Loose Leaf Store. If I had a bigger house (and more money), I would buy a lot at Modern History—they have gorgeous large pieces.

• Exterior: Dulux Domino

• Wall-mounted letterpress tray: found on the street, a gift from a friend
• Contents of letterpress tray: little curiosities including toys from childhood, some from Paris Flea Market, and others gifted
• Hale lights: Space Furniture
• Glass soda bottles: San Telmo Markets in Buenos Aries, lugged back in hand luggage
• Neon sign: Reclaimed Melbourne
• Paintings in stairwell: thrift shops
• New South Wales mammal print: thrift shop

• Sofa: Hans Wegner Plank in Avocado: Modern Times
• Coffee table: Retrorehab
• Plant boxes (one in kitchen on in lounge room): Retrorehab
• Rug: Sierra in Chalk by Armadillo via Curious Grace
• Copper plant holder: Lightly
• Plain white pot: Pop & Scott
• Most plants: Loose Leaf
• Teak sideboard: Smith Street Bazaar
• Rockhampton cushion: Instagram
• Oscar De Le Renta crab bowl: Peter’s of Kensington
• Bronze and copper candles: Tom Dixon via Third Drawer Down
• Bindy’s dog Ruby: the Gympie RSPCA pet rescue nine years ago
• Floral armchair: thrift shop
• Penthouse pool print: Slim Aarons via Jonathan Adler
• New York City sculpture: MoMA
• Dinosaur print: Lisa Sorgini

• Runner: Armadillo via Southwood Home
• Round extendable kitchen table: eBay
• Dining chairs: Mitchell Road auction house
• Glasses cabinet: eBay
• Horse print, ship in a bottle, John Wayne plate, and picnic basket on glass cabinet: thrift shops, gifts
• Taxidermy bird print: Peter Tarasiuk

• American Oak bench top: West Wood Furniture
• Cupboards: West Wood Furniture
• Wine racks: West Wood Furniture
• White pots on stove: Cibi
• White plant holder: Angus & Celeste
• Palm Springs mini city: McKean Studios
• Martin Parr proof print: Magnum Photos

• Vintage bed: Grandfathers Axe
• Bedding: Temple and Webster
• Banana leaf lamp: Retroprint Revival
• Cane chair: Smith Street Bazaar
• Skull cushion: gift from a friend
• Teak wardrobe: Retroactive
• Tallboy drawers: 20th Century Scandinavia
• Large teak framed mirror: Smith St Bazaar
• Vending machine toy package: secondhand shop
• White jute rug: Temple & Webster
• Planter and drawers: Smith Street Bazaar
• Vintage matchbox collage: made by Susie with her aunt’s matchbox collection, framed by United Measures
• Snow globes: from various travels
• Bedside table: Smith Street Bazaar
• Couches on balcony: thrift shop
• Cushions: Temple & Webster
• Ladder: found on the street
• Plant holder: thrift shop
• NYC cut-out: Guggenheim gift shop
• Palm frond print: Chris Turnham via Outre Gallery
• Cloud face sculpture: Victoria Mason
• Paint-by-numbers prints: Holy Kitsch
• Everything is Good tea towel: David Shrigley via Third Drawer Down

• Blue glass jar: Temple & Webster
• Mirror: eBay
• Drawers: eBay
• Cupboard: family hand-me-down
• Bedside table: family hand-me-down
• Trunk: family hand-me-down
• Taxidermy butterfly: Deyrolle
• Black-and-white photo: J Forsyth via Melbourne Arts Club
• Pete (Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo) print: Leila Jeffries
• Flotsam prints: Lisa Sorgini
• Blue fish painting: Brett Lethbridge

• Mirror cabinet: West Wood Furniture
• Shower recess: West Wood Furniture
• Vanity: West Wood Furniture
• Laundry: West Wood Furniture
• Pachinko machine: thrift shop
• White plant holder: Loose Leaf
• Gold-and-white pot: Pop & Scott
• Blue vase: Fitzroy Markets
• White laundry baskets: Supply & Demand
• White jelly mold plant holder: Angus & Celeste
• Plants: Loose Leaf

• Bench table and chairs: Izzi & Poppo
• Blue-and-white pot: Pop & Scott
• Gold-and-white pot: Pop & Scott
• Pink sink: gift from neighbors
• Donut and hamburger stools: Third Drawer Down
• Deck chair: Smith Street Bazaar
• Lights: Fat Shack Vintage

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