Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Turning Lemons Into Lemonade in a Townhouse Lacking Fizz
With a solid sense of personal style and a willing attitude, this Victorian family turned their rental home from bland to billiant
A low-maintenance home, complete with all the conveniences of a new-build, including central heating and air-conditioning, can be a wonderful thing to experience. But for the Howard family, an all-beige newly built rental property that became their new home was far from being their first choice. However, once it was decorated by mum, Eleesa Howard, the home became an eclectic mix of vintage and crafty pieces that perfectly suits the busy and creatively minded family.
After reluctantly agreeing to move in, Eleesa quickly saw the benefits of living in the newly-built home, as it is easy to clean and is well heated and cooled. But as it was a rental, Eleesa wasn’t able to get rid of the dominant beige colour palette by merely painting over it. Rather, she relied on the beige backdrop as a way to counterpoint the colourful decorative elements that represented her own personality and vibrant style.
“As a long-time renter I can make any house my home,” says Eleesa. “I pop up my prints and add in my little collections, and five years later, we are still there!”
“As a long-time renter I can make any house my home,” says Eleesa. “I pop up my prints and add in my little collections, and five years later, we are still there!”
One of the personal touches Eleesa added is this recycled wood bench that Laurie made. It was intended for sale at the Howard’s new shop, Dorothybills, but when it was done, they couldn’t part with it.
Dorothybills is named after Eleesa’s grandparents (Dorothy and Bill), who instilled in her a love of vintage wares. Despite being a tiny space, the new shop will be full of locally-sourced handmade vintage homewares, artwork, jewellery, books, cards and gifts.
Artwork found from op-shops mixed with new prints by Inaluxe, Studio Cockatoo and In My Backyard
Dorothybills is named after Eleesa’s grandparents (Dorothy and Bill), who instilled in her a love of vintage wares. Despite being a tiny space, the new shop will be full of locally-sourced handmade vintage homewares, artwork, jewellery, books, cards and gifts.
Artwork found from op-shops mixed with new prints by Inaluxe, Studio Cockatoo and In My Backyard
On top of opening up her own store, Eleesa also once did the buying and managing of a shop on Main Street, Mornington, called Page 8. It was from there that she accumulated her collection of coffee table books and magazines, which she uses as decor around the house.
When it comes to her decorating style, Eleesa says it’s “defiantly eclectic!” She also says that the key to her decorating is finding items that she loves and making them work within her space. She says she follows the same rules when buying for her store. “I don’t really plan on designing my home, it just seems to evolve,” she says. “I find items I love, mostly at op-shops, and mix them together. I find if you love something, you’ll find – or make – a space for it. I am constantly moving things around in the house … I drive the family mad.”
Like in many family homes, the Howard’s kitchen is where all the action takes places. Blonde timber cabinets are brought to life with a vibrant blue bench – another piece originally intended for Dorothybills. The bowl sitting on top of the bench was bought during Eleesa’s high school years and, along with an orange jug found on the side of the road, and a beautiful gifted brown vase that is treasured, it helps to enliven the space.
Even the fridge acts as a display spot for more ceramics. Eleesa’s grandfather Bill was bathed as a baby in the big white and blue bowl picture here.
“Laurie says he really would love a minimalist house,” says Eleesa. “I just laugh, but I knew that he had the collector in him when he spotted a silver lamp around 16 years ago at a market. It is one of our favourite items that we bought together. It looks 1930s perhaps and it always reminds me of the joy on his face when he spotted it.”
One of Eleesa’s favourite spots in the house is the dining area. She says it is where she enjoys family time and is also a nice retreat for a quiet cup of tea. This is the most light-filled space in the house and a great place to soak up the sun while flipping through a magazine or coffee table book.
The outdoor space is a tiny courtyard off the dining area. Here, Eleesa has added a low-maintenance selection of plants to bring some life to the space, and to give her family a view of greenery through the sliding glass doors.
Also downstairs, the master bedroom is a combination of old and new, with gorgeous velvet Kip & Co pillows mixed with vintage quilts, and cushions that Eleesa made. Mismatched wall decorations bring the bedroom’s style together, including a ceramic wall plaque that Eleesa’s grandmother Dorothy gave her when she was a teenager. This remains one of her most treasured possessions.
“I do love a story behind an item and can probably tell you where and how I came by everything in my home,” says Eleesa of her quirky collection.
As if she doesn’t have enough on her plate with a family to care for and a new retail store on the way, Eleesa is also studying her Diploma of Interior Design by correspondence. She has managed to tuck her study desk near the staircase.
The landing space to the kids’ upstairs area is set up as a cute reading nook, with shelves lined with books to cater for all ages.
Solomon’s bedroom has everything a nine-year-old boy dreams of, including Star Wars decor, pizza-clad bedlinen, a guitar and sporting memorabilia.
Yoda print: Studio Cockatoo
A signed and framed Richmond Tigers 1973 collectable is Solomon’s most-loved possession. ‘The Wild Thing’ print was found at a market in Adelaide by his aunt, and the vintage car belonged to Laurie.
Twenty-year-old Bonnie enjoys a more sophisticated style in her bedroom. She has decorated her room herself with favourite pieces including an artwork by A Mile in the Woods from Paper Empire, and a woollen wall-hanging by Under and Over Design, which she found in Scout’s Honour, a store in nearby Dromana.
Bedlinen: Pony Rider
Bedlinen: Pony Rider
Outside, the townhouse’s garage has been divided down the middle to become half workshop, for Laurie to make his creations for the new store, and half living space, for 18-year old Finn who enjoys the semi-independence of having his bedroom out of the main home.
The garage space is also great for Finn to practise his music in –without too much disruption to the rest of the family.
Laurie describes Finn as “the bushman of the family” as evidenced by the swag rolled up at the end of the bed.
The knight-in-armour statue in Finn’s pad is named George and was given to him by his grandparents. George’s belly hosts two glasses and a bottle of whisky!
TELL US
What is your favourite aspect of this family home in Victoria? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What is your favourite aspect of this family home in Victoria? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here: Eleesa and Laurie Howard, with their three children, Bonnie, age 20, Finn, age 18, Solomon, age 9, and their fox-terrier cross, Alfie
Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Size: 4 bedrooms (including one in a converted garage), 2 bathrooms
The first thing that struck Eleesa when she saw this house – one of the few available on the market at the time they were on the lookout for a home to rent – was how beige everything was. “Beige curtains, beige carpets, beige cabinetry, beige floor tiles,” is how she describes the home.