HGDECORATING
T
he owners of this Melbourne home wanted
a playful yet practical home for their family
of four. They engaged interior designer
Fiona Parry-Jones to create interiors that
would withstand busy day-to-day living
with two young boys, while injecting layers of fun
and sophistication in this four-bedroom Victorian-era
house. Initially brought on board to design the
kitchen and bathrooms in an architect-designed
extension, Fiona was then engaged to decorate the rest
of the space as well.
While the house displays a carefree, irreverent spirit,
a great deal of thought and careful planning have gone
into the interiors. For example, Fiona designed an overall
colour scheme and then pinpointed specific shades for
different spaces. “Each room has to have its own
personality,” she says. “I don’t like every room to be too
similar to the next one, and it has to tell a story.”
Colour and pattern are two strong elements artfully
woven throughout the house. But when it came to
individual spaces, Fiona used art and lighting as the
starting point for the decor. “Mix and match patterns
and colours to create interest and layer rooms with soft
furnishings for a homely feel,” she advises. Follow the
rest of Fiona’s tips on these pages and learn how to create
a balance between playfulness and practicality.
VonHausDesignStudio,Mornington Peninsula,
Victoria; o410 191 054 or http://www.von-haus.com.au.2
BE BOLDKitchens don’t have to be
white, says Fiona. You can
create a statement – and
maximum impact – through
clever application of colour
and texture. “Kitchens are the
centre of activity in the home
for family and friends, and it’s
important to think carefully
about how you use the
space,” she says, “as well and
the overall maintenance of
the materials selected.”