Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Queensland Newlyweds Put Their Festive Feet Forward
A mountain property captured the hearts and minds of young newlyweds, allowing them to build their own uniquely suited home
They say opposites attract and this was certainly the case for technologically-minded minimalist Andrew Blyth and his creative, spontaneous wife Mel, who prefers ‘organised clutter’. While they have realised their personal tastes differ, they are actually on the same page when it comes to making their mark on their 1930s Queenslander, which they moved into in 2012. “We like what we like and we are not trying to replicate anything,” says Mel. “We are okay with mixing styles and eras that traditionally don’t go together.” Gearing up for Christmas, the duo have added some cute festive decor to their home, and were happy to show us how their little family celebrate the holiday season.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mel and Andrew Blyth and their dog Jato
Location: Tamborine Mountain, Queensland
Size: 190 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mel and Andrew Blyth and their dog Jato
Location: Tamborine Mountain, Queensland
Size: 190 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The couple mix their styles when decorating, which they say makes their home unique. Having celebrated three Christmases in their current abode, they feel at ease decking these particular halls for the festive period. They try out different styles each time, and this year, Mel has gone for traditional Northern Hemisphere style with an Australian twist.
Mel uses her collection of cute Christmas-themed ornaments to add layers of cheer to the house. These adorable Santa babushka dolls sit next to reindeer she made from old wine bottle corks. Adding some red flowers and holly completes this sideboard.
Mel uses her collection of cute Christmas-themed ornaments to add layers of cheer to the house. These adorable Santa babushka dolls sit next to reindeer she made from old wine bottle corks. Adding some red flowers and holly completes this sideboard.
The pink cupboard that sits in the entryway was actually the couple’s cake table at their wedding. “We bought it at an antique store on the mountain… the wedding cake looked great sitting on top!” says Mel.
Mel and Andrew love hosting parties in their home and there is sure to be a Christmas event held this year. “Mel’s in her element after pouring a glass of wine, putting on some good music and slowly setting up months of hard work spent collecting and putting together different themes,” says Andrew. “Christmas is always a favourite, but Halloween is quickly becoming a close second, and she has become somewhat of a baby shower expert among family and friends.”
The couple say that their guests tend to congregate in the living room during parties, so the space is decorated for specific themes. “The living room was once transformed into in beer hall for Oktoberfest, where we moved all the furniture out and had a long table running the length of the room for 30 friends,” says Andrew.
Their most recent party here was a rockabilly-themed 30th for Mel, where half the living room was set up as a dance floor with black-and-white check lino, and the front room acting as a bar.
Coffee table made by Mel’s Dad
The couple say that their guests tend to congregate in the living room during parties, so the space is decorated for specific themes. “The living room was once transformed into in beer hall for Oktoberfest, where we moved all the furniture out and had a long table running the length of the room for 30 friends,” says Andrew.
Their most recent party here was a rockabilly-themed 30th for Mel, where half the living room was set up as a dance floor with black-and-white check lino, and the front room acting as a bar.
Coffee table made by Mel’s Dad
In the living room sits a ’60s-style Danish cabinet, which an antique shop owner told the couple would never suit a Queenslander. “Recapping in the car later, we realised that we were both on the same page,” says Mel. “We like what we like, we are not trying to replicate anything, we are okay with mixing styles and eras that traditionally don’t go together.”
Mel’s love of tattoo culture is also reflected throughout the home, with fun graphics of tropical fruits, cacti, flamingoes and sugar skulls. Above the cabinet she also shows-off her love of Frida Kahlo, which started in high school and culminated in a recent trip to Mexico when she visited The Blue House, where Mel says she was in “fan-girl heaven”.
Mel’s love of tattoo culture is also reflected throughout the home, with fun graphics of tropical fruits, cacti, flamingoes and sugar skulls. Above the cabinet she also shows-off her love of Frida Kahlo, which started in high school and culminated in a recent trip to Mexico when she visited The Blue House, where Mel says she was in “fan-girl heaven”.
With a few twigs collected from the garden, Mel has made a couple of mini trees decorated with small jewels. “You would be surprised what you can make into Christmas decorations,” she says. “Adding a few beads and some florist wire to the ivy makes it suddenly seem ‘Christmasy’.”
Mel has been using every available spot in the house to decorate with more Christmas cheer; even the trolley in the living room has a collection of special stockings hung from it. The plastic vines, which can be seen throughout the house, were Mel’s eBay finds.
The home was renovated 13 years ago, so the couple felt there wasn’t a great deal of updating necessary. However, they do say there is a constant list of projects they are ticking off, with the help of Andrew’s dad who is a tradesman.
One of the first additions they made to the house was the fireplace in the living room, because as Mel says, “winters on Tamborine Mountain can be surprisingly chilly for south east Queensland, and there is nothing nicer on a crisp evening than the warm glow of the fireplace.”
Although it won’t be used now until next year, the fireplace still serves a festive purpose, with some snowflake cutouts and sweet ornaments set out on top.
One of the first additions they made to the house was the fireplace in the living room, because as Mel says, “winters on Tamborine Mountain can be surprisingly chilly for south east Queensland, and there is nothing nicer on a crisp evening than the warm glow of the fireplace.”
Although it won’t be used now until next year, the fireplace still serves a festive purpose, with some snowflake cutouts and sweet ornaments set out on top.
To hold the fuel for the fire, this box was made by Mel’s dad and adds another personal element to the decor.
This fake tree is the perfect size for the couple, and they have already started placing presents underneath for their family and friends. “Christmas for us is always a family affair, which sees our extended family getting together,” says Mel.
As collectors, many of their decorations have sentimental value. “We lost a decoration of sentimental value this year, when we pulled out the Christmas decorations it was broken,” Mel explains. “It was an ugly decoration that we usually put at the back of the tree, but when we pulled it out and it was broken we were both upset – we thought we were always going to have to find a spot for the ugly decoration.”
As collectors, many of their decorations have sentimental value. “We lost a decoration of sentimental value this year, when we pulled out the Christmas decorations it was broken,” Mel explains. “It was an ugly decoration that we usually put at the back of the tree, but when we pulled it out and it was broken we were both upset – we thought we were always going to have to find a spot for the ugly decoration.”
The kitchen was in good condition when the couple moved in, so they decided not to change anything. As part of the open-plan living space, this is another area that is often used by guests during parties.
True Queenslanders that they are, Mel and Andrew’s favourite spot is out on the verandah. “Sitting on the outside verandah on a Sunday afternoon is one of our favourite times,” says Mel. “It’s very tranquil with the view of Stradbroke Island and listening to day slip past.”
The master bedroom is at the front of the house and receives generous sunlight.
A bay window in the room is also a great spot to kick back with a book, and is one of Jato’s favourite places to sit and watch other dogs go by.
Just a short walk down the hallway is the master bathroom, which has retained its original 1930s charm with a claw-foot bathtub and parquetry floors.
Downstairs is where the two guest bedrooms are located, along with Andrew’s home office. This extra space is perfect for when the couple have holiday guests come to stay.
Andrew works from home and Jato will sit on the couch all day to keep him company.
Before moving in, the bedrooms downstairs featured bright red carpet that the couple said had to go. Andrew replaced it with wood-look lino, which was much more in keeping with their style.
One of Mel and Andrew’s favourite aspects of the house is how open and airy it is. Even the downstairs bedrooms have been fitted with two windows each. This is great for catching cross breezes, but Mel notes that it can make furniture arrangement tricky.
The other bedroom is also bright and airy, with double French doors opening onto a small balcony, which makes it a lovely room to wake up in.
For a couple who thought they were compromising when they found their home, Andrew and Mel have happily discovered that there is no better place for them.
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.
The couple decided that it was too far away from work and friends, and so carried on with the hunt. Months of fruitless searching in Brisbane passed, and through it all they kept coming back to this house. In the end they became convinced it was the right fit despite the location, and so far they haven’t looked back.