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Interior Architect Edwina Glenn and her architect husband Edward Glenn purchased their South Melbourne home in 2011, and inherited a property infested with wasps, possums and asbestos! They adapted to life with an outdoor bathroom for a few years, before rebuilding from the ground-up in 2014.
The design for the new home was created by the creative pair, largely informed by a hand-drawn floor plan sketched by Edward. Edwina explains ‘we revisited the floorplans a numbers of times to ensure we made the most of the street frontage and orientation, but essentially came back to that preliminary sketch of Ed’s. I then focused on the internal joinery and finishes.’
The pair worked easily together, and Edwina explains ‘I understood the intent of his floorplans very quickly’ (the perks of working with your partner!). The new plans saw all but the front wall of the house knocked down, with a design that reoriented the home to capture the northerly aspects, and enjoy the walled garden.
First and foremost, though, the new design was all about capturing light. Edwina explains ‘we now wake up to easterly light streaming into our bedroom, but it is more important than just morning light. It is at every stage of the day, and then by night, our passion for lighting adds layers of theatre to everyday living.’
This theatricality is enhanced by the assemblage of furniture and artworks, and of course light fittings! Edwina swoons over the Italian brass pendant by Afran and Tobia Scarpa from Castorina & Co explains ‘frankly, I’d rather buy lighting than shoes.’ Other beloved items include the Artflex T-Line chair, and Kangaroo Study artwork by Joseph McGlennon.
While filled with stunning pieces, the house is no show room. Edwina describes their contemporary garden house as a ‘study in light and landscape, filled with things we love.’ The warm grey and white palette is enhanced with hints of marble, terrazzo and timber. She explains ‘by having a neutral colour scheme, I feel I can move objects freely’.
Edwina is a keen proponent of South Melbourne living, which combines a working class heritage with modern renewal. She highlights ‘there were certainly no lap pools here in the 1950s!’ It is very difficult to believe the family inherited the home in a derelict state, and transformed it into such a glowing gem!
