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Described by tenants Wally Maloney and Leah Hudson-Smith as a ‘workshop for living’, this converted warehouse is an unconventional home, consisting of two different self-contained ‘mini houses’ within an open plan warehouse. Offering ultimate versatility for living, working, music-making and more, this unique set-up is the perfect pad for two prolific creatives.
Wally and Leah’s home was designed to optimise the open space of the existing warehouse, creating nooks for different activities. The charcoal coloured house (‘Dark House’) is an internalised space, concealed by a bookcase. This creative den serves as Wally’s music studio and can be closed down and the sound contained, to minimise its impact on the rest of the warehouse.
In contrast, the light coloured ‘Maple House’ is designed to open up to the living space, with a large sliding door, louvre windows for cross-ventilation and a skylight. With a raised insulated floor and pitched roof, this is a cosy place to fall asleep in – or as Leah describes ‘our own adult size cubby house!’
Beyond the clever and resourceful fit-out, Wally and Leah’s home is filled with beautiful furniture and objects by local makers – including kitchen joinery by Cenzo, bedding by The Vallentine Project, Plant Pots by Pop + Scott, a custom terrazzo fireplace by Den Holm, and of course, a number of items made by Leah through her label By Pono (including a timber plant stand, bedside tables, dining table, and wall hanging). These handcrafted pieces are paired with an eclectic edit of vintage furniture and textiles, as well as artwork and treasures collected on overseas travels.
The pair overcame many obstacles to turn this former mechanic workshop into a comfortable, versatile home – and have been rewarded for their epic efforts! ‘We had a very small window of time to build the two ‘houses’ and make it habitable, we were both working full time and were building everything by hand late into the night, every night for a couple of weeks’ recalls Leah. ‘It was really tiring and stressful, but with the help of some friends, we got it all done without involving any trades and for a ridiculously low budget. I think we could build anything now!’ We tend to agree – so impressed!
