A Cozy Century-Old Coastal Cottage in Australia

Name: Kirsty Davey and Simon Taylor and their daughter, Mali
Location: Victoria, Australia
Size: 180 square meters (1,672 square feet)
Years lived in: 7 years; Rented

Kirsty and Simon moved to Victoria’s coast from Melbourne when they realized they were spending nearly every weekend there to feed Simon’s addiction to the Australian surf. It’s been a love affair ever since, with weekends spent cooking, surfing, gardening, and enjoying the relaxed coastal lifestyle. Their daughter, Mali, has only ever lived on the Great Ocean Road, and now they can’t imagine going back to the city. Their home is a tapestry of textures, fibers, and gathered natural and vintage ephemera and is a tribute to their dedication to sustainability.

So much of the furniture is reclaimed or restored, and the couple’s love of nature is evident at every turn. It’s also a gallery of sorts, full of works by local and overseas artists and makers. Kirsty’s gift of curation continues at her thoughtfully stocked online shop, Otis & Otto, that’s full of beautiful handmade items—some of which also feature in her home!

Kirsty tells me the house has some interesting history to it. Over 100 years old, the original cottage was trucked across the state from Ballarat in the 1950s to its current location in Jan Juc. It had a long-term owner who made some interesting (read: unconventional!) additions, put down statement carpet, and created the quirky space that Kirsty and Simon have lovingly embraced and styled for the last seven years.

Simon actually still sees the original owner around town, and they often talk about the house. The current landlord is located in another state and, happily for Kirsty and Simon, is very comfortable with them making big changes like painting walls, ripping up old carpet, and hanging art from walls and even a swing from the roof. Despite their home’s quirks, Kirsty and Simon love the place and are only ever tempted to move in the depths of winter, when its lack of insulation drives them a little insane. But then spring eventually returns, and the magic of this place casts its spell on them once more.

Our Style: Relaxed. Eclectic. Sentimental.

Inspiration: Natural light, fibers, and phenomena.

Favorite Element: The kitchen/living/dining area. It’s an open space for gathering, feasting, reading, listening to vinyl, drinking tea, and building cubby houses.

Biggest Challenge: Living economically. We have limited storage!

What Friends Say: What’s for dessert?

Biggest Embarrassment: Amassing dirty dishes!

Proudest DIY: Rescuing our lounge chairs from the sidewalk and restoring them.

Biggest Indulgence: Indoor Plants/Cookbooks/Fromage

Best Advice: Respond to the integrity of a dwelling by embracing and repurposing its original features, quirks, and flaws…

Dream Sources: Endlessly inspired by Donald Judd’s Las Casas in Marfa, Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, Claire Basler’s Château de Beauvoir in France, and University of Cambridge’s Kettle’s Yard

• Wellington boots: Hunter Boots
• Plant stand: vintage
• Acoustic guitar: Maton
• Balinese tapestry: antique
• Tambourine: antique
• Tree: Fiddle-Leaf Fig
• Wooden rocking horse: vintage
• Toy barn: handcrafted via Wild Earth in Torquay

• Armchairs: vintage
• Mini cane chair: vintage
• Dollhouse: Sevi, Italy
• Rosewood coffee table: Danish via Grandfathers Axe in Northcote
• Leather sofa: Danish via Angelucci 21st Century in Collingwood
• Rattan basket and tray: vintage via Coastal Trader in Portarlington
• Magazine rack: Jorge via Gauzak
• Stripe bench seat: vintage
• Amplifier: vintage Yamaha
• Turntable: vintage Rega
• Timber vessels: Andrea Shaw
• Paper vase: Nobitsutsu from Mr Kitly
• Ceramic vessel: Tara Shackell
• Carved boab tree, nut, and eel catcher: Australian Indigenous artifacts
• Artwork over the fireplace: Don Pwerle
• ONE / TWO / THREE Artwork: Emmelene Victoria

• NZ Kauri & Blackwood dining table: vintage via Restorers Barn
• Bentwood dining chairs: vintage via eBay and Gumtree
• Longboard: Thomas Bexon in Noosa
• Record stand: vintage via Mill Market in Daylesford
• Ceramic vessels: Tara Shackell
• Mason jar lamp: Greg Hatton
• Vintage print: Vladamir Tretchikoff
• Indoor swing: Pop & Scott in Northcote
• Raglan photographic print: Anita Beaney via Otis & Otto

• Smeg Fab 28 refrigerator: a wedding gift—thanks, Mom!
• Terracotta water filter: Stefani
• Hanging mini fig tree: High Swan Dive in Newcastle
• Wooden mortar and pestle: ICI Antiques in Midi-Pyrenees France
• Hanging ceramic bowl: Kat & Rodger via General Store in Venice
• Copper saucepans: vintage via French flea market
• Bar: vintage
• Fan: vintage Revelair
• Straw market tote: French flea market
• Ceramic vessels: Bridget Bodenham in Hepburn Springs
• Splatter mugs: Peter Shire via Third Drawer Down in Fitzroy
• Coffeemaker: Chemex via Intelligentsia in Los Angeles
• Japanese kettle: Hario Buono via Market Lane Coffee in Melbourne
• Espresso maker: Bialetti Moka via Queen Vic Market in Melbourne

• Danish tallboy: Angelucci 21st Century in Collingwood
• Wall hanging: Alchemy/Belinda Evans in Melbourne
• Bentwood chair: vintage via Craigslist
• Whiskey vase: Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn
• Brown ceramic vessel: Bridget Bodenham in Hepburn Springs
• White ceramic vessel: Tracy Wilkinson in Los Angeles
• Hats: Akubra, Brixton

• Daybed: custom-made by Duncan Russell-Smith in Torquay
• Linen bedspread: Muji
• Acapulco chair: Amor y Locura in Melbourne
• Felt Freckle rug: Down to the Woods
• Bookcase: vintage via Coastal Trader in Portarlington
• Berry picker’s basket: Ravens Creek Farm in Moriac
• Table and chairs: vintage via Mill Market in Geelong
• Crochet stool: Wood & Wool Stool in Sweden
• Danish tallboy: Angelucci 21st Century in Collingwood
• Dean & Sons classic novels: vintage via thrift stores
• Ride-on ladybug: Wheely Bug
• Jewelry hanger: Andrea Shaw of Stampel in Torquay
• Paper ephemera: vintage via Tombées du Camion in Paris
• Le Lapin giclee print: Ashley Moe in Minneapolis
• Little Man A5 artwork: Evie Barrow in Melbourne
• Seascape artwork: Luke Taaffe in Biarittz
• Hope painting: The Yok in Brooklyn

• Wall hanging: vintage Tapa via Restorers Barn in Newport
• Ficus Elastica: McGain’s Nursery in Anglesea
• Vintage sea grass flooring: a gift—thanks, Jason!

• Honey Bears artwork: Jae Copp in Melbourne

• Draftsman drawers: vintage via Coastal Trader in Portarlington

• Desk: DIY with plywood from Bunnings Warehouse and trestle legs from IKEA

• Vintage fly fishing basket: a gift—thanks, Dad!
• Skateboard: ALVA
• Surfboard: Chilli
• Outdoor table and chairs: vintage via eBay
• Little red wagon: Radio Flyer