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Though most of us have romantic, wishful ideas of what our future ‘dream home’ might look like, the reality for many is a mix of long term renting, living with family, share house living and every other permutation of living arrangements! Truthfully, though, this often results in the most interesting, memorable interiors – and this is certainly true for Camille Moir of Carpenter’s Daughter , and housemates Layla and Phoebe.
Situated in the heart of Collingwood, the home is owned by Camille’s uncle Kim, a furniture maker, whose eclectic taste is deeply ingrained in the decor, furniture and artworks. The house itself is, in fact, a grand old Victorian shopfront, with unusually high ceilings, a huge living space, kitchen and courtyard garden downstairs, and three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.
In a previous life, this building was a chemist, and before that a butcher – but in recent years, this rambling property been a much loved family home. It’s been renovated in stages, by hand, resulting in a trend-eschewing, timeless feel. ‘It’s sort of a cross between Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and an antique store?’ Camille muses. ‘Every room has been designed separately, not as an entire cohesive home – yet somehow it works.’
For Camille, being surrounded by artwork and handcrafted details is a constant source of inspiration for her own creative output. ‘I love that everything here is considered’ she says. ‘Everything is either made by my uncle, passed down from grandparents, from an op shop or art made by friends – almost everything is sentimental and holds a story.’ Small details continue to delight the housemates – doorhandles are little hands (creepy or adorable?!), lacework shrouds the key heads, and long forgotten notes spill from the library of books.
Above all, Camille and her housemates value the sense of community that their home fosters. Their large dining table is constantly surrounded by friends and family, and the unexpected treasures and extensive library always prompts great conversation! ‘Living amongst so much art, thoughtfully designed furniture and objects opens up conversations about history, people and periods of time’ they say. ‘Wherever you look around, there is always something to question.’
