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Jade Roberts of PR-led digital agency raraPR and her family moved into their home in Dandenong in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2017 that the team began their renovations. Jade explains that the 1960s home had undergone some previous upgrades, and had touches of the ‘60s, 70s, 80s and 90s throughout!’ Keen to avoid this pick-your-own-decade-adventure-aesthetic, the family updated the home to ‘harmonise everything aesthetically, while creating an open plan living area where we could all be together’.
Aesthetic changes included repainting the interiors from their original green and yellow (!) to a fresh Dulux Natural White, and swapping blue carpet to a neutral tone. Structural renovations involved relocating the kitchen to create an extra bedroom, and an open plan living space. Jade explains ‘the kitchen moved to an outdated dining area at the back of the house. We were able to open up that dining area, remove some nibs and connect it to a rumpus/bar, which is now our living and dining.’ Sadly, the aging 70s bar had to go, but the family kept much of the original joinery to create a new dining area and nook.
Jade explains that her background in fashion and retail PR has provided her with a ‘life-long passion for thoughtfully designed and made things.’ She highlights how this interest has matured into a love of interior design, art and architecture – which has been shaped by her friendship with Rhiannon Orr from Design Orr Build who ‘unofficially guided me from the sidelines.’ Incredibly helpful, as Jade reveals that the renovations were completed while parenting a one year old, pregnant with their second child and running a business with a team from home. Phew!
When we asked Jade for her favourite pieces in the home… we received quite a long list! Highlights include the Anchor Ceramics pots, Kara Rosenlund Landscape Mountain print (a daily reminder of making time for outdoors goodness) and the retro radio wireless. Jade highlights ‘with a restricted furniture budget over the years, we’ve had stages of too much retro furniture all at once…. at the risk of ‘grandma kitsch’ we’ve kept this piece.’
Jade describes her much loved home as ‘mid-century… with a curation of handcrafted objects.’ Imbued with warmth, and decorated with an elegant collection of favourite collected objects, this family home perfectly balances a sense of nostalgia with contemporary design and sleek minimalism.
