Houzz Tours
At Home With ... Rani Engineer From La Maison Jolie
Tell us what you think about this family home in Melbourne for your chance to win a $50 gift voucher
Rani Engineer launched her blog, La Masion Jolie, as a creative outlet in 2011. On it, she shares interior design and styling tips along with some clever DIY projects. She posts from the comfort of her family home in Melbourne and, while the red brick townhouse may look deceptively small from the front, on the inside it’s the perfect size for a family of three. Rani has personalised her home with DIY creations, unique secondhand finds and sentimental touches. Read the full interview below.
COMMENT TO WIN
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Rani’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Provincial Home Living – has been announced. Well done Liliana Lees!
COMMENT TO WIN
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Rani’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Provincial Home Living – has been announced. Well done Liliana Lees!
How long have you lived in this house and how did you and your house meet?
We’ve lived in this house since 2011 (when I began my blog) and it happened quite by chance. My husband and I were looking to buy at the time and were on our way to inspect another property when we saw an ‘open for inspection’ board and pulled over. The minute I stepped into the house I felt like I’d come home; it just felt right! We put in an offer and a month later we were ready to move in.
STÄLL shoe cabinet: IKEA; upcycled chairs: op-shop
We’ve lived in this house since 2011 (when I began my blog) and it happened quite by chance. My husband and I were looking to buy at the time and were on our way to inspect another property when we saw an ‘open for inspection’ board and pulled over. The minute I stepped into the house I felt like I’d come home; it just felt right! We put in an offer and a month later we were ready to move in.
STÄLL shoe cabinet: IKEA; upcycled chairs: op-shop
Describe your home in five words
Inviting, eclectic, lived-in, collected, creative.
Antique mirror: Mailing Road Antique Market; Provincial harp vase: Maison Living
Inviting, eclectic, lived-in, collected, creative.
Antique mirror: Mailing Road Antique Market; Provincial harp vase: Maison Living
How would you describe your decorating style?
My style is constantly evolving and currently I’m focused on exploring designs involving urban living meets provincial country. I love decorating on a budget – recycling and upcycling furniture. I love the idea of taking something old and breathing new life into it to make it unique and useful again.
To me, great design is?
Like the classic little black dress – timeless!
Sofa: Harvey Norman; Noguchi Coffee Table: Replica Furniture
‘DESERT SNOW’ Royal DARI Jute rug: Anthology Home|Garden; provincial lamp: Early Settler; white knitted throw: DIY project; framed artwork: DIY project
My style is constantly evolving and currently I’m focused on exploring designs involving urban living meets provincial country. I love decorating on a budget – recycling and upcycling furniture. I love the idea of taking something old and breathing new life into it to make it unique and useful again.
To me, great design is?
Like the classic little black dress – timeless!
Sofa: Harvey Norman; Noguchi Coffee Table: Replica Furniture
‘DESERT SNOW’ Royal DARI Jute rug: Anthology Home|Garden; provincial lamp: Early Settler; white knitted throw: DIY project; framed artwork: DIY project
What are your favourite rooms in the house and why?
Every room in our home has been a labour of love and tells a story, however, our dining room and Elisha’s nursery would have to be my two favourite rooms.
What’s your next big project?
Currently the downstairs bedroom has been turned into an ‘everything/storage’ room. My plan is to re-do the room and turn it into a playroom/study.
Trestle dining table and Provincial Oak Cross Back chairs: Early Settler; ‘RIVER’ Flat weave natural jute rug: Anthology Home|Garden; chandelier: bought from India
Every room in our home has been a labour of love and tells a story, however, our dining room and Elisha’s nursery would have to be my two favourite rooms.
What’s your next big project?
Currently the downstairs bedroom has been turned into an ‘everything/storage’ room. My plan is to re-do the room and turn it into a playroom/study.
Trestle dining table and Provincial Oak Cross Back chairs: Early Settler; ‘RIVER’ Flat weave natural jute rug: Anthology Home|Garden; chandelier: bought from India
Can you share your biggest decorating fail with us?
When we bought our home, we were super excited and there was a lot of impulse buying! In hindsight that was probably a decorating fail. And truth be told I’ve sold all our impulse buys over a period of time. I learnt my lesson. The trick is to collect special pieces over a period of time and not buy everything on impulse.
Wine rack was formerly a vintage library card drawer from an antique store. Rani upcycled it to hold their wine bottles; antique sideboard: Gumtree
When we bought our home, we were super excited and there was a lot of impulse buying! In hindsight that was probably a decorating fail. And truth be told I’ve sold all our impulse buys over a period of time. I learnt my lesson. The trick is to collect special pieces over a period of time and not buy everything on impulse.
Wine rack was formerly a vintage library card drawer from an antique store. Rani upcycled it to hold their wine bottles; antique sideboard: Gumtree
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
I love spending time with my daughter and husband, entertaining friends at our home. If there is nothing planned then on a quiet Sunday afternoon I like to rearrange or upcycle furniture or work on a quick DIY project.
Ceramic owl: The Reject Shop
I love spending time with my daughter and husband, entertaining friends at our home. If there is nothing planned then on a quiet Sunday afternoon I like to rearrange or upcycle furniture or work on a quick DIY project.
Ceramic owl: The Reject Shop
What’s your signature dish?
Oh so many … but roast duck with a balsamic wine glaze is a crowd pleaser.
Where do you love to write and what could you not write without?
I usually write at my kitchen benchtop/breakfast bar – this is something that makes me happiest at home. You’ll find me there with my MacBook Pro, a pen and my notepad, along with a strong cup of tea and a couple of gingernut biscuits while keeping an eye on my daughter in her playpen.
Oh so many … but roast duck with a balsamic wine glaze is a crowd pleaser.
Where do you love to write and what could you not write without?
I usually write at my kitchen benchtop/breakfast bar – this is something that makes me happiest at home. You’ll find me there with my MacBook Pro, a pen and my notepad, along with a strong cup of tea and a couple of gingernut biscuits while keeping an eye on my daughter in her playpen.
Vintage weighing scale: Mailing Road Antique Market
You will not see [blank] in any house of mine.
Too many blank walls. Almost every wall has something special and meaningful on it in our home. Be it artwork and prints, shelves holding sentimental objects, vintage vases, ceramics, books, framed canvases, black and white family photos. It’s almost like walking through an art gallery. There’s something interesting on every wall.
Hanging light pendants: Vintage LED; Cutwork Organza & Organic Cotton Bedspread: Anthology Home|Garden; coral knitted throw: Rani knitted herself; brass vase: an antique from Rani’s grandmother; floral painting above bed: op-shop
Too many blank walls. Almost every wall has something special and meaningful on it in our home. Be it artwork and prints, shelves holding sentimental objects, vintage vases, ceramics, books, framed canvases, black and white family photos. It’s almost like walking through an art gallery. There’s something interesting on every wall.
Hanging light pendants: Vintage LED; Cutwork Organza & Organic Cotton Bedspread: Anthology Home|Garden; coral knitted throw: Rani knitted herself; brass vase: an antique from Rani’s grandmother; floral painting above bed: op-shop
The next big decorating trend is….?
An eclectic and sentimental mix of vintage and modern furniture and fixtures with a bohemian twist and an eco-friendly bent.
Vintage chest of drawers: op-shop find
An eclectic and sentimental mix of vintage and modern furniture and fixtures with a bohemian twist and an eco-friendly bent.
Vintage chest of drawers: op-shop find
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
Every DIY project is special and unique and it’s tough to choose just one particular project that I feel proud about. I’ve undertaken and completed projects that I never in a million years would have thought that I could accomplish. I’ve painted walls, used various drill bits, refurbished huge pieces of furniture, put up wallpaper, upholstered bedheads, designed and made my own lamp shades, stitched cushions…
If I had to choose, a couple of proud moments would be painting a wall in our long corridor with chalkboard paint. I remember there being gripping fear, immense self-doubt and a lot of sweating and hand shaking before the first stroke of black chalkboard paint went onto a pristine white wall! The end result however was fantastic and we use the chalkboard wall daily! It’s so useful and it adds an unique touch to our house.
‘Ellen’ paint: Dulux; house shelves: Kmart; GONATT Cot: IKEA
Every DIY project is special and unique and it’s tough to choose just one particular project that I feel proud about. I’ve undertaken and completed projects that I never in a million years would have thought that I could accomplish. I’ve painted walls, used various drill bits, refurbished huge pieces of furniture, put up wallpaper, upholstered bedheads, designed and made my own lamp shades, stitched cushions…
If I had to choose, a couple of proud moments would be painting a wall in our long corridor with chalkboard paint. I remember there being gripping fear, immense self-doubt and a lot of sweating and hand shaking before the first stroke of black chalkboard paint went onto a pristine white wall! The end result however was fantastic and we use the chalkboard wall daily! It’s so useful and it adds an unique touch to our house.
‘Ellen’ paint: Dulux; house shelves: Kmart; GONATT Cot: IKEA
Another proud DIY project was making the Hot Air Balloon pendant lamp shade for my daughter’s nursery. I usually like IKEA fixtures and furniture, however I absolutely disliked the standard IKEA shade in the nursery so I decided to make something special. This DIY project started at 11 pm at night while watching a movie and since I used things that I already had in the house – a paper lantern I had bought for our backyard but never used, a wire pen holder, gold spray paint, felt and twine – I was done in a couple of hours! I’m so pleased with the effect. It’s unique, fun and wonderfully playful and the colours complement the feature wall and the dove-grey cot. At night time the paper lantern casts the most beautiful shadows, creating a warm and magical atmosphere in the nursery.
Visit Rani’s blog here.
COMMENT TO WIN
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Rani’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Provincial Home Living – has been announced. Well done Liliana Lees!
For full terms and conditions, click here.
MORE
At Home With … Stylist and Adventurer Kara Rosenlund
At Home With … Amanda O’Sullivan From RedAgape Blog
At Home With … Interior Design Blogger Lee Dewsnap
Visit Rani’s blog here.
COMMENT TO WIN
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Rani’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from Provincial Home Living – has been announced. Well done Liliana Lees!
For full terms and conditions, click here.
MORE
At Home With … Stylist and Adventurer Kara Rosenlund
At Home With … Amanda O’Sullivan From RedAgape Blog
At Home With … Interior Design Blogger Lee Dewsnap
Where: Melbourne, Australia
Who lives here: Rani Engineer with her husband, Shiraz, and their 6-month-old daughter, Elisha.
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
What do we need to know about your blog?
La Maison Jolie is an interior design and style blog with a good measure of DIY projects and must-have home decor product reviews that hopefully readers can draw inspiration from. I love sharing eclectic DIY design and craft projects and I’m constantly challenging my own design ideas. I like reviewing new decor and design products and accessories, styling and photographing them and have been very fortunate to work with some well-known brands.
What made you start blogging?
Interior design and styling has always been a passion of mine, ever since my grandfather bought me my first dolls house and I stayed up all night sticking craft paper onto the walls and rearranging all the tiny furniture. I must have been six years old at the time.
La Maison Jolie started in 2011 purely as a creative outlet, somewhere to document my day-to-day design and DIY successes and challenges. I didn’t have a plan in mind since I never thought that anyone was even going to read my blog! I just wanted a place to write about interior design and what inspired me.
Photos by Tim Naismith