Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Vibrant Makeover for an Inner-City Apartment
Seeing past its flaws, an interior designer transforms a tired 1960s inner-city rental into a festive funhouse
Creating beautiful spaces for other people is Petrina Turner’s business and passion. She’s a designer, and a multi-talented one at that. Her wide range of skills include interior design, styling and producing colourful textiles. This makes her ideally suited to bringing her vivid decorating style to the scheme of her slightly shabby 1960s-style St Kilda rental in Melbourne. Now, it’s a happy and eclectic space where Petrina feels inspired.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Petrina Turner
Location: St Kilda, Melbourne
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Petrina Turner
Location: St Kilda, Melbourne
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Not a fan of TV screens being the focal point in a living room, Turner placed this large vintage print in the lounge room to create an appealing feature for the space. “The ‘Favor’ print was a classic case of seeing something that spoke to me and going for it,” she says. “It’s very large and very bright and although I went looking for a small vintage poster, I just had to have it. So it works.”
Turner’s home is adorned with little gems she has collected throughout the years. This Frida Kahlo vase from Lovestar takes pride of place in the living room and is regularly changed with fresh flowers.
When consulting clients, Turner recommends they allocate a generous portion of their budget to items that get the most wear, particularly sofas and floor rugs. Turner’s own floor rug is 17 years old and still looks as good as the day she bought it. “My furniture and furnishings have been acquired over many years, and I have a mix of high- and low-budget items. You don’t have to go hard all at once if you can’t afford it,” she advises.
Errol sofa: Jardan; custom hand-tufted rug: designed by Turner when she worked as a senior designer at Designer Rugs in Sydney
Errol sofa: Jardan; custom hand-tufted rug: designed by Turner when she worked as a senior designer at Designer Rugs in Sydney
For all the decorative pieces that give the home character and heart, Turner still likes to add to the collection and regularly goes treasure hunting in vintage stores and online. She restored this vintage Rosando sideboard herself. “The joy is in the hunting, and then finding a bargain!” she says.
Neon knot macramé light: Petrina Turner Design
Neon knot macramé light: Petrina Turner Design
“I’ve always loved rabbits,” Turner says, referring to her coffee table display. “I once dressed up as the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland at my primary school’s book week. Anything bunny-related makes me happy.”
One of the first things on Turner’s to-do list when she moved in was to install these sheer white curtains from Ikea to mask pink vertical blinds. During the day, she pulls the blinds right back to the wall to disguise them and enjoys the lovely ethereal light the sheer curtain lets through.
As an ex-Sydney-sider, Turner says this cushion from My Bearded Pigeon, featuring a map of the city, provides her with a little reminder of home.
The antique ballet slipper is a memento brought back from Norway years ago during a holiday. It is a nod to Turner’s love of dance. “I was never a ballet dancer, but I was a gymnast and tumbler when I was younger, and now I tap dance,” she says.
Turner loves to get some fresh air and check out the rooftop view from her balcony.
As her only outdoor space, it was important to give the balcony just as much design attention as the interior. Prior to her moving in, the balcony had been neglected. Turner took herself off to the hardware store, bought some artificial grass to lay down and then disguised the air conditioner by surrounding it with a white picket fence. By adding a few plants and bunny rabbits, she has created her very own little Alice in Wonderland garden.
Ceramic hanging pots: Ikea
Turner notes that while a little tired, the apartment had some excellent features to work with when she moved in, including original polished floorboards.
Because the apartment is a rental, Turner was not able to paint the walls. This didn’t stop her from adding her own colour, though. To complement the pre-existing wall colour in the bedroom, she chose shades of grey for her bedlinen, then added pops of colour through cushions and accessories.
“My favourite thing to do in the bedroom is to mix and match my bedlinen, clashing colours and patterns,” she says.
‘Wild Horses’ photographic print: Kara Rosenlund; reading lamp: Artemide; Rosebank floral pillowcase: Lazybones; Pacific Tile turquoise cushion: Bonnie and Neil; Pale Peony floral cushion: Petrina Turner Design; Mini My Caravan cushion: Pony Rider
“My favourite thing to do in the bedroom is to mix and match my bedlinen, clashing colours and patterns,” she says.
‘Wild Horses’ photographic print: Kara Rosenlund; reading lamp: Artemide; Rosebank floral pillowcase: Lazybones; Pacific Tile turquoise cushion: Bonnie and Neil; Pale Peony floral cushion: Petrina Turner Design; Mini My Caravan cushion: Pony Rider
A discerning eye for quality vintage pieces is a skill that runs in the family. This bedside lamp was a gift from Turner’s cousin, Renee.
The red painted walls are also featured in a room that Turner has made her home office. Running a business from home means she had to transform the second bedroom into her office. The Ikea desk and drawers provide ideal storage for all Turner’s files, drawings, books and tools of the trade.
A cork board that sits on Turner’s desk is full of sweet notes from friends she has kept over the years. “It’s a reminder of how very lucky I am to have so many wonderful, inspiring and supportive people in my life,” she says.
Turner keeps this mannequin in her office as a reminder of her mum’s lifelong profession as a dressmaker. Turner uses it to make some of her own clothes as well as to display some of her favourite vintage collections.
“When I was very young and while my mum was working from home, she used to give me a needle, some thread and buttons to sew on fabric,” says Turner. “It gave me a love of making, and sewing and creating. She also taught me to be brave, strong and loving, too.”
“When I was very young and while my mum was working from home, she used to give me a needle, some thread and buttons to sew on fabric,” says Turner. “It gave me a love of making, and sewing and creating. She also taught me to be brave, strong and loving, too.”
When her office isn’t being used as a guest room for visiting family and friends, Turner takes advantage of the light and space in the dining area to get some designing done. The dining table from Freedom is also extendable, making it not just a good desk, but perfect for those extra guests at dinner parties.
Turner bought this ‘Home Sweet Home’ chair a few years ago from the incredibly talented modern crafter Tamara Maynes. “She was selling it because she was moving and couldn’t take everything with her,” says Turner. “It literally made me go weak at the knees when I saw it – and I knew I had to have it.”
It was originally Maynes’s desk chair and she painstakingly embroidered the back, which took her over 100 hours to complete. “Tamara went on to be a wonderful mentor to me and is now a friend. She’s allowed to visit me and the chair any time she likes!” says Turner.
It was originally Maynes’s desk chair and she painstakingly embroidered the back, which took her over 100 hours to complete. “Tamara went on to be a wonderful mentor to me and is now a friend. She’s allowed to visit me and the chair any time she likes!” says Turner.
The apartment’s kitchen is located off the living room and is small, but functional. “I love the kitchen because it’s at the heart of the apartment, where I can make and create a delicious spread to share with family and friends; to show them I love them,” says Turner.
Despite the limited space in the kitchen, Turner still desired a space to sit and enjoy her morning cuppa. To make the most of this room, Turner re-purposed an Ikea trolley by painting the legs and making gingham drapes for the side. “It’s a perfect breakfast spot, but also a great sunny spot for photography.”
The vintage Uncle Toby’s poster was a housewarming gift from Turner’s sister and brother-in-law.
Turner’s love of mid-century design extends to glassware. “This beauty I bought many years ago. I love its form (it reminded me of a genie bottle), beautiful colours and surface texture,” says Turner.
Renters will know that any major design changes are restricted, but a quirky, decorative touch, such as this golden framed sign, can make a dated bathroom design more enjoyable.
Completing the Houzz interview with some words of designer wisdom, Turner says a house is not a home without your treasures in it. “I’m not afraid to be bold with colour and design. I always choose things because I love them,” she says. “It’s the people and the personal items that make a home, not necessarily the four walls, so even in a rental you can truly make it your own.”
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
Just outside the front door of the apartment sits Turner’s happy pot plant collection. Not having to share a landing with anyone else means she can use the space to add plenty of greenery to her home.