Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Cool Inner-City Pad Decorated With Light, Love and Art
A compact apartment in Melbourne serves this creative couple as their relaxation and design hub
Meet talented stylist and co-founder of Nathan + Jac, Rebecca Astrinakis, and her husband, artist Adoni Astrinakis. Their modern rental apartment in Balaclava boasts natural light, first-floor living with rooftop views and an open-plan layout. With Rebecca’s background in interior styling, it’s not surprising to see that she has used her eye for detail and decorated the apartment with some beautiful pieces stocked at Nathan + Jac. Adoni’s bold artwork adorns the walls and he often uses the main living room as his personal art studio. Together, they have customised the compact two-bedroom space, turning it into a dream home for two.
The apartment is small but definitely not restrictive. It boasts a bright and united living space. In the afternoon, light floods through the west-facing kitchen windows, and later the couple can enjoy evening sunsets from this window.
Mister Moss side table, cushions and sheepskin: Nathan + Jac; Smith leather armchairs: Barnaby Lane
Mister Moss side table, cushions and sheepskin: Nathan + Jac; Smith leather armchairs: Barnaby Lane
Working in his home, as many artists do, Adoni has an easel set up in the far corner of the living room. ‘Dylan’, an artwork which now hangs as the centrepiece of the room, was his first painting completed in 2013. It launched his entire career, and is now displayed as a memento.
Camerich Lazytime sofa: Meizai;
Kiss Cuddle American Oak coffee table: Mr & Mrs White; cushions, antique brass nesting side tables: Nathan + Jac; Ethnicraft entertainment unit: Globe West; Sierra wool rug: Armadillo & Co
Camerich Lazytime sofa: Meizai;
Kiss Cuddle American Oak coffee table: Mr & Mrs White; cushions, antique brass nesting side tables: Nathan + Jac; Ethnicraft entertainment unit: Globe West; Sierra wool rug: Armadillo & Co
For this couple, the importance of having the flexibility to work from home is really important.
“[Adoni] will often move his easel and canvas around the place when he works,” says Rebecca. “He will probably outgrow the space soon enough but at the moment, it’s great for us to both work from home – and the natural light that floods in makes it a very happy place to work from.”
“[Adoni] will often move his easel and canvas around the place when he works,” says Rebecca. “He will probably outgrow the space soon enough but at the moment, it’s great for us to both work from home – and the natural light that floods in makes it a very happy place to work from.”
Utilising the space to its fullest is an important design consideration in apartment living. These sliding doors create a sense of connecting spaces when they are open, but have the flexibility of being closed off to create separate spaces. “Our apartment is small, but so cleverly designed that it actually fits in a lot!” Rebecca says.
One of Rebecca and Adoni’s favourite pieces in the home is a marble dining table from Globe West. “I’m yet to find the perfect dining chairs for this table and had placed these Ikea stools around it as a temporary option, but after living with them for a little while, I actually like how the stools create an openness,” says Rebecca.
Above the drinks trolley from IndustriaX is another prized possession – a ‘Wild Horses‘ limited edition photographic print by Kara Rosenlund, which Rebecca won in an Instagram competition. “I have had an uncanny knack at winning things on Insta over the years – a polaroid camera, a beauty hamper, homewares, cards, etc. Unfortunately the luck doesn’t extend to the lottery!” she says.
The drinks cart is decorated with a glass terrarium from Nathan + Jac, and scented candles, which Rebecca says are an important aspect of home decor. “I always have scented candles burning in our home. When it comes to decorating, scent is just as important a sense as any other.”
The vintage decanter and glasses were gifts from Adoni’s mother, who has an impressive collection of tableware and glassware, passed down from her own mother. “I have to put a ban on her giving us too much as we don’t have the space,” says Rebecca. The Alessi citrus squeezer was an engagement present.
The drinks cart is decorated with a glass terrarium from Nathan + Jac, and scented candles, which Rebecca says are an important aspect of home decor. “I always have scented candles burning in our home. When it comes to decorating, scent is just as important a sense as any other.”
The vintage decanter and glasses were gifts from Adoni’s mother, who has an impressive collection of tableware and glassware, passed down from her own mother. “I have to put a ban on her giving us too much as we don’t have the space,” says Rebecca. The Alessi citrus squeezer was an engagement present.
Rebecca also loves to keep plants around the home. “Plants are important in decorating our home, and an integral part of my design projects,” she says. “Earlier in the year, I did a photoshoot for a yoga studio and used all my plants for the shoot. The client loved them so much she asked if she could buy them off me. Adoni wasn’t too happy about it – I’m always using our stuff for shoots! The house didn’t feel quite right until I’d brought new plants back into the space.”
Present plant varieties in their home include fiddle-leaf fig, Boston fern, devil’s ivy, rubber plant, cacti, succulents, Zanzibar gem, passionfruit vines, string-of-pearls trailing plants, bird-of-paradise palms and herbs.
Present plant varieties in their home include fiddle-leaf fig, Boston fern, devil’s ivy, rubber plant, cacti, succulents, Zanzibar gem, passionfruit vines, string-of-pearls trailing plants, bird-of-paradise palms and herbs.
The bathroom off the main living area is well lit, with high windows and black and white tiles keeping the design simple. Plants also decorate this room.
Zanzibar gem: Looseleaf; mirror/jewellery stand: Ikea
Zanzibar gem: Looseleaf; mirror/jewellery stand: Ikea
The couple’s bedroom is a calm space decorated with more sentimental pieces, including the ‘Corn Kid’ artwork by Adoni, which hangs above the bed. Rebecca commissioned him to complete this piece to celebrate her love of corn.
Bedlinen: Major Minor; Sibella leather cushion and Kara cushion: Nathan + Jac; Fred woven leather cushion: Barnaby Lane; mirror: Mark Tuckey; lamp: Ikea; mini mossarium: Botanica Boutique; Marble Basics marble tray: Nathan + Jac
On a chest of drawers are more of the couple’s mementos. The confetti photo is from their wedding day in Bali in 2014, candidly captured by their friend and talented photographer Cherrie Eisemann.
The photos featuring the fat black and white cat are of Adoni’s childhood pet, Magnus. Rebecca also keeps a childhood token on the drawers with an amethyst crystal given to her as a gift from her parents when she was three.
A framed photo of Tennessee is a tribute to Rebecca’s love affair with the place, after a recent trip to Nashville. “I must have been a cowgirl in a past life!” she says.
Handmade vases: Sophie Moran; ‘Eye Eye’ artwork: Marta Fromme; ‘Mountain Peaks’ print: Ask Alice
The photos featuring the fat black and white cat are of Adoni’s childhood pet, Magnus. Rebecca also keeps a childhood token on the drawers with an amethyst crystal given to her as a gift from her parents when she was three.
A framed photo of Tennessee is a tribute to Rebecca’s love affair with the place, after a recent trip to Nashville. “I must have been a cowgirl in a past life!” she says.
Handmade vases: Sophie Moran; ‘Eye Eye’ artwork: Marta Fromme; ‘Mountain Peaks’ print: Ask Alice
When the couple originally moved in, there were big, heavy curtains covering a high window in the bedroom. They took them down as they wanted to let in as much natural light as possible. Now there is ample sunlight coming through this window, plus it also provides interesting rooftop views of the surrounding suburb.
Icelandic sheepskin: Nathan + Jac; cork stool: Ikea collection by Isle Crawford
Icelandic sheepskin: Nathan + Jac; cork stool: Ikea collection by Isle Crawford
The second bedroom is used as a home office and decorated with more items from Nathan + Jac, as well as Adoni’s artwork. Rebecca runs her styling business Rebecca Ellie Studio from here, along with Nathan + Jac. With natural light coming through sliding doors that open onto a private balcony, Rebecca says it’s a joy to work in this office.
The room looks across to the bedroom and is adjacent to the living room, so all the areas of this apartment are visually connected and flooded in natural light.
‘Newman’, ‘Mona Lisa’ doodle: Adoni Astrinakis; ‘Pink Cloud’: This Minty Moment; ‘Cacao Eyes’: Olle Eksell; black tanner chairs: Barnaby Lane
The room looks across to the bedroom and is adjacent to the living room, so all the areas of this apartment are visually connected and flooded in natural light.
‘Newman’, ‘Mona Lisa’ doodle: Adoni Astrinakis; ‘Pink Cloud’: This Minty Moment; ‘Cacao Eyes’: Olle Eksell; black tanner chairs: Barnaby Lane
A mirrored storage cupboard is neatly concealed in the room to keep clutter at bay. Next to it hangs a tiger illustration, which was by a friend – Scottish artist, Susie Wright. It was given to Rebecca and Adoni as a housewarming present, coincidentally by another friend.
Adjoining the office is a north-facing balcony. It’s also Rebecca’s favourite space: “I love how each room has been built around the central balcony, which gives an airy, happy feel to the whole space,” she says.
TELL US
What do you like most about this light-filled creative apartment? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What do you like most about this light-filled creative apartment? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here: Rebecca and Adoni Astrinakis
Location: Balaclava, Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Upon first inspection of this Justin Architecture-designed apartment, Rebecca and Adoni knew it would suit their creative lifestyle and needs. “We love the area – you can walk to the beach, cafes and Chapel Street; and both our sisters live just around the corner,” says Rebecca.