118 Australian House & GardenA
renovator’s delight was never on the cards for
Lori and Sanjay Dhupelia. They wanted a home
that was finished and ready to move into with
their young children Finn, now five, and
Claudia, two. “We had just come back to Brisbane from
Canada and had been looking for about six months for
something close to Sanjay’s work,” says Lori.
The layout of this 1930s Queenslander caught their eye;
in particular, the way the backyard flowed off the living
space. “We had lived in a typical Queenslander with the
living upstairs and lawn downstairs and found it
impractical for children,” says Lori. “This place was newly
renovated and the set-up – with an extra bedroom and
bathroom for guests downstairs and a living/study space
that could one day become a family room – suited us.”
Having sold most of their pre-marriage, shared-house
furniture when they moved to Canada for a year, Lori and
Sanjay moved into their home before Christmas 2011 with
a clean slate. They sought the guidance of interior designer
Megan Brown, herself a parent of young children, to make
considered purchases that would see them through the
years ahead. “We started with one room, which
snowballed to the next. Once you start to play with all
those beautiful fabrics and colours, it’s hard to stop!” says
Lori with a laugh. “Megan would say, ‘Do you think you
might need this beautiful bespoke valance on your bed?’
and I would say, ‘Why yes, I think we do need that!’ ”
“We undertook the project at a relaxed pace, taking our
time to ensure the selections made had longevity,
meaning and purpose,” says Megan. “Lori and Sanjay
wanted a beautiful, practical home and it was important
that their family’s history and personality to be evident in
the result.” Megan describes the design as “beautiful
chaos”; the approach she takes to creating homes for
young families living in open-plan spaces. “Our design
decisions remained focused on minimising the need for
constant order while supporting the daily living of happy,busy children and relaxed parents,” she says. (^) >
KITCHEN The only things added to the newly renovated kitchen
were stools and an artwork by Toby Scott.
Smart buy: Ottava aluminium pendant lamps, $79/each, Ikea.
DINING Lori and Sanjay have owned the table and chairs for
years. Custom-made pendant light in Sonia Rykiel Rue Visconti
fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. Cushions, Canvas.
LIVING This room makes for a cosy retreat. Coee table and
metal drum, Boyd Blue. Wooden stool, Jardan. Rug, Loom Rugs.
Sideboard, Cromwell (Australia). Artwork, Julian Meagher.
For Where to Buy, see page 196.