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Back in 2019, Holly Thompson and Stephanie Lane were in a rush to find their next rental property.
The house they’d been renting with their respective daughters Lola (5) and Frida (6) was being sold in a hurry, so they decided to inspect a two-bedroom place in nearby Kew East.
‘From a practical sense, it actually wasn’t suited for our family at all,’ says Steph. ‘We needed four bedrooms and it was two bedrooms and a study. But we just knew we had to have it, so did what we needed to do to make it work for us.’
The mothers are the co-owners of Goodspace (which Holly founded and Steph joined shortly after) that predominantly sells mid-century furniture pieces, so they understood the circa 1960 property’s significance, and its potential.
‘The home itself is a wonderful example of suburban mid-century architecture, with lots of natural light and exceptional exposed beams and timber panelling,’ says Steph.
Holly and Steph were excited by the challenge of updating the home without making structural changes. Firstly, they partitioned the dining room using sheer curtains to create Steph’s room, while arranging the study to create a ‘super special kids room’ for Lola.
Styling wise, Steph and Holly were inspired by the home’s mid-century features, including the green carpet installed in every room. ‘What could have been a styling obstacle we turned into something that has really worked for us,’ says Holly.
The pair actually have quite different tastes – Holly’s being more neutral and Steph’s dominated by colour and pattern – but they both love to experiment with current trends.
‘This is really reflected in each of our bedrooms, and really comes together in our shared spaces,’ says Holly. ‘As you walk through our home, we feel it tells a colour story that reflects each member of the family.’
This home is an example of what can be achieved in a rental property. ‘Renting and budget restrictions doesn’t mean that you can’t make your space your own,’ says Steph. ‘We have sourced nearly everything in our home secondhand on a really tight budget, and then had small splash out moments on pieces of art from local artists.’
We’re sorry to say that this home was recently sold, and is very sadly due to be demolished. While we’re devastated to see the house go, there’s no doubt Holly and Steph will fill their next property with the same wonderful array of mid-century design, and plenty of love. Watch this space!
