Homes

A Warrandyte Delight, With Sage And Clare’s Phoebe Bell

This stunning Warrandyte property is the home of husband and wife duo Phoebe Bell and Chris Monahan of Sage and Clare, who share the space with son Jude (2) and Billy the spoodle. Perhaps unconventionally, the family also share their stunning house with Phoebe’s sister Jemma, husband Paul and their ‘cute bub’ Nelly (5 months).

Being home to two young families, you could be mistaken for anticipating a crowded or haphazard aesthetic – not so! This much loved house clearly demonstrates that shared living can be calm, considered and super beautiful!

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

The sprawling Warrandyte home of sisters Phoebe and Jemma Bell, plus their respective partners and children. The living room. Cushions, blankets, and wall hanging by Sage x Clare. Lighting from Lights Lights Lights. Planter and artwork from Leonard Joel. Chairs from Gumtree and vintage bazaar. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Papasan chair from Gumtree. Cushion by Sage x Clare. Indigenous art from Leonard Joel. Palmtree art by Natalie Jade via Greenhouse Interiors. Black and white pot from Iggy & Lou Lou. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The kitchen. Lighting from Lights Lights Lights. Tile splashback from Artedomus. Ceramic bowl on counter by Kaz Morton. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The dining room looking out over that beautiful Warrandyte view! Wall hanging, cushion and ottoman by Sage x Clare. Leather chaise, dining table, wooden hand and shell chandelier all found at vintage bazaars. Dining chairs from Instagram account @ccss_tm. Jardan rug found on Gumtree. Lighting by Lights Lights Lights. Swing by Jesse Cleay.  DiningPhoto – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Master bedroom balcony. Moroccan wedding blanket and cushions to Marrakech and Fez. Artwork by Leah Bartholomew via Greenhouse Interiors. Hand-carved wooden ‘X’ block from Phoebe’s first trip to India when she started Sage x Clare! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Master bedroom. Bed linen by Sage x Clare. Lighting from Lights Lights Lights. Wreath by Braer Studio. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

TV room details. Cushions by Sage x Clare. Mirrors from vintage bazaars. Sofa from Instagram account @ccss_tm. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Jem, Paul and Nelly’s room. Bedlinen by Sage x Clare. Lighting from Lights Lights Lights. Rattan side table from Castlemaine Bazaar. Ceramic vase from Goose Store. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Jem, Paul, Nelly’s room (featuring little cutie baby Nelly!). Mobiles, cot sheet and blanket from Sage x Clare. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Details in the master bedroom. Wire love heart sculpture was a wedding gift from a good friend. Artwork by Leah Bartholomew via Greenhouse Interiors. Crystals from a recent trip to Byron Bay. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The guest bedroom. Bedlinen, cushions, rug and ottoman by Sage x Clare. Side table from The Family Love Tree. Tessa chair, light and shell chandelier from vintage bazaars. Art by Tess Guinery. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Downstairs living room details. Cushions by Sage x Clare. Lighting by Lights Lights Lights. Velvet sofa from Instagram account @ccss_tm. ‘Robin Hood’ wall colour paint by Dulux. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The view out from the balcony out to the Dandenongs. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Downstairs living room. Cushions by Sage x Clare. Lighting by Lights Lights Lights. Velvet sofa from Instagram account @ccss_tm. Side table from vintage bazaar. ‘Robin Hood’ wall colour paint by Dulux. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Family photo! From left to right: Chris, Phoebe, Jude, Nelly, Paul, and Jemma, plus Billy the Spoodle! Cushions by Sage x Clare. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The amazing outdoor area. Dining chairs from Ikea. Table from Gumtree. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
11th of June 2019

When husband and wife duo Phoebe Bell and Chris Monahan of Sage and Clare were living in Warrandyte last year, they drove past an ‘open for inspection sign’ and (like many of us) popped in for a ‘sticky beak.’ This impromptu visit resulted in a new home (!) – as Phoebe explains, ‘it felt immediately perfect so we went for it!’

Since moving in, Phoebe and Chris, along with housemates Jemma (Phoebe’s sister) and her husband Paul, have ripped up the dated carpet and introduced warm oak flooring downstairs. The splash back in the kitchen was also replaced, along with new modern lighting.

While the family team only undertook minor renovations, the home is brought to life by the colourful textiles and homewares scattered throughout the home – many of course, from Phoebe’s business, Sage and Clare. The duo also applied their keen eye for colour by updating many of the internal walls with Dulux wall colours (hello to that ‘Robin Hood’ green wall and chocolate velvet couch combo!) and plenty of soft furnishings flourishes. Phoebe explains ‘we’ve kept the palette of the home fairly neutral and earthy, so we can experiment with colour across our textiles and art.’

Favourite objects in the home include the De Sede 76 leather sofa, and Phoebe’s latest art purchased by Kayi Kayi Nampitjinpa. She describes her general aesthetic as ‘homely, eclectic, colourful and full of vintage finds we have picked up from our travels.’ A love of mid-century design is also evident, and Phoebe highlights that this ‘theme runs throughout the home.’

For this family and business team, home is a ‘retreat in every sense of the word.’ The Warrandyte location offers easy accessibility to Melbourne, but ‘we get to live surrounded by trees as if we are in the middle of nowhere.’ Phoebe enthuses, ‘arriving home to this sanctuary after the busy-ness of our days is magical.’ We can imagine!

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