Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Bits and Bones Breathe Life Into Art Deco Apartment
A love of 1940s design and film pulled Jennifer Witcombe across the Yarra in search of a place for her antiques and curios to call home
Having spent years wedded to living in Melbourne’s north side, Jennifer Witcombe’s love for Art Deco architecture and the desire for a change of scenery began to lure her across the Yarra River to Melbourne’s beach-side suburb of St Kilda, with its preponderance of iconic Art Deco and Spanish mission apartments. For Witcombe, the character of these buildings harked back to a Los Angeles golden age of film noir, and so, like a private detective from a Raymond Chandler novel, she was quickly hot on the case for an apartment to rent out.
Houzz at a glance
Who lives here: Jennifer Witcombe
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 1 bedrooom, 1 bathroom
That’s interesting: Witcombe has worked for the last 10 years in the ‘death profession’ in varying roles as a funeral director, grief and trauma counsellor, and as a forensic mortician. She’s now studying for a Masters in Criminology.
Houzz at a glance
Who lives here: Jennifer Witcombe
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 1 bedrooom, 1 bathroom
That’s interesting: Witcombe has worked for the last 10 years in the ‘death profession’ in varying roles as a funeral director, grief and trauma counsellor, and as a forensic mortician. She’s now studying for a Masters in Criminology.
It wasn’t long before she bagged herself a ground-floor beauty; an Art Deco apartment complete with high ceilings, timber wainscoting, and other period features. Having made its mark on Witcombe, she in turn began making her mark on it, prompting a new evolution to Witcombe’s already eclectic and beautifully-curated decorating style. The building’s influence and her love of 1940s film saw her breathe new life into an old interior with her fabulous collection of antiques and curios; the perfect backdrop to her new St Kilda scene.
Witcombe’s interest in the darker elements of nature are reflected in her love of taxidermy, bones and the dark arts. “These things have been a constant throughout my life and in all of my previous homes. Some people aren’t comfortable with such open reminders of their mortality, but for me there is a certain comfort in being at peace with the natural cycle of life and death,” she says.
Witcombe has always loved wainscoting and was thrilled to find an apartment in which it was not only in its original state, but also hadn’t been painted white. “Unlike the current trend for bright and light, I prefer my interiors to be dark and cosy,” she says.
1930s Mongolian sideboard: Tombo
1930s Mongolian sideboard: Tombo
“I like the combination of dark wood, leather and velvets, traditionally quite masculine in feel, but then I lighten it up with the use of lots of indoor plants and oriental feature pieces, which give it a more playful feminine feel,” Witcombe says.
Dining table and chairs: Lost and Found Market
Dining table and chairs: Lost and Found Market
The Wunderkammer – or the ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ as Witcombe likes to call it – was purchased from Coco Republic in Richmond. “It’s definitely an investment piece. I like to use it as it was originally intended: to house my collection of bits and bones,” she says. “That, and a few other favourite things like my bone china, French kitchenwares and my ever-expanding collection of books on crime, design and cooking.”
A love for collecting vintage china started when Witcombe first inherited a tea set from her grandmother: “The collection has expanded and contracted (as various items have met their fate with the floor), and I’m always keeping my eye out for more treasures to add.”
‘Chubby Chops’ is situated by the front door to greet Witcombe’s visitors as they arrive. “He was purchased from the Tyabb Packing House from a lady who was selling everything off and closing down,” she says. “She explained that Chubby had been with her for over 30 years and that she suspected he originated from the Orient sometime around the 1930s. She would only agree to selling him if I promised to always call him by his given name – Mr Chubby Chops.”
There’s a surprise at every twist and turn in this home, and the toilet is as good a place as any to display interesting finds. A picture of a bearded girl sits on the loo: “I can only say that it always elicits responses; the ladies seem to like it, while the men folk are a little perplexed!” says Witcombe.
Artwork by Melbourne artist, Sarah Gully
Artwork by Melbourne artist, Sarah Gully
“All of the taxidermy in my collection is named as if it were a member of my family, no different to my living felines,” says Witcombe. This fox, for example, is called Basil. “I am careful to only buy pieces that I know come from an ethical source or are true vintage. I abhor animal cruelty and hunting for sport, but conversely if a poor dear creature has met that fate and found its way into a antique store, then I am happy to be able to honour its life and death by giving it a home and admiring its beauty for evermore.”
Perched up high on his pedestal is ‘Gorgeous George’. “He was actually purchased from a very quirky guy in the US who rears peacocks for the shear love of them. When they eventually die from natural causes, he then preserves them in all their glory, gives them their names and betroths them with a character and back story to accompany them. Apparently George was quite the ladies man!” says Witcombe.
“I tend to buy vintage or antique pieces on a whim, based on an emotional response. I don’t really shop with intent, it just evolves naturally,” she says.
One of the advantages of living alone meant that Witcombe could turn one of the two living areas into a dressing room. It’s here where, apart from the obvious daily ritual of dressing, Witcombe likes to also ‘swan’ around. She says it “basically involves putting on my favourite 1940s silk pyjamas, a turban (a la Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard) and generally getting about and lounging around.”
Witcombe’s bedroom adjoins the dressing room via french doors. “I like to keep it relatively simple as I do tend to treat it for what it is, a place to relax and sleep,” she adds.
As far as sticking to a budget when it comes to decorating her home, Witcombe admits she constantly blows it! “There’s a certain level of expense associated with buying one-off antique/vintage pieces, but I know once I have them they’ll most likely stay with me for the long-term and some are definitely investments.”
From the street, it’s easy to see the Spanish influence of the building. This is the view looking into her ground-floor apartment. Steps lead up to an enclosed porch.
Limited outdoor space means that Witcombe has to make good use of her front porch; she fills it with plants to satisfy her green thumb.
Witcombe outside her apartment amid the hanging plants.
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.