My Houzz: South Australian Circus Family's Home Is a Class Act

Instead of wanting to run away with the circus, this family of performers are more than happy to enjoy their fabulous new home

Jeni Lee 24 June 2014

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Many people would like high ceilings in their home. But Australian couple Nigel Martin and Louise Clarke required the extra headroom. Circus performers with Bamboozled Productions, the couple updated their 1890 bluestone cottage with an extension to allow plenty of space for juggling, practising show routines and accommodating a constant stream of travelling performers.

The home is within, ahem, unicycling distance of the Adelaide CBD, and the couple collaborated closely with designer-builder Philip Monaghan to tailor it to their needs. But unlike the couple’s carefully orchestrated and practised circus routines, the design process was more organic. “Home design is instinctual for me,” Clarke says. “I don’t have any set formula; I just go with what I think will work and hope for the best.”

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Louise Clarke and Nigel Martin with their children, Jai (16) and Onni (2)
Location: Norwood, South Australia
Size: 140 square metres (4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a home office)
Cost: Extension: $354,000; garden: $61,000

Jeni Lee

The aim was to create a home that would be warm and cosy in the winter, yet cool in the summer – and, of course, would have room for Martin (shown here) to juggle. “I think we could have been even more experimental. I threw in the rammed-earth walls last minute, but I knew they would work, and I love them,” says Clarke.

Sofa: Jardan; Persian rug: Kavir Rug Gallery; chairs: Flourish Gift and Home; side table: handmade, Council of Objects; credenza: Danish, Hans J. Wegner; Roman blinds: Rainfords

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A connected layout helps the family members keep an eye on one another’s routines. Clarke, in the bathroom here, says: “I can stand at the kitchen bench and watch Onni in the bath while chatting to Jai in the living room and others in the kitchen, and see outside all at the same time.” That’s Onni on the bench and Jai in the doorway.

Sink: Oliveria; sink fixture: Methven; sofa: Jardan; tiles: Eco Tile Factory

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The benchtops are custom made using recycled jarrah wood, known as a very sustainable and durable Western Australian hardwood. High windows help bring northern light in despite a close neighbour on that side.

Benchtops: Complete Joinery

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Philip Monaghan built the 10-seat dining table, windows and door frames out of recycled jarrah.

Artwork: David Bromley, Flourish Gift and Home; kimono storage: Church Studios; pendant light: David Trubridge

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Block-mounted circus posters are clustered onto one main art wall in Jai’s room with a large painting by Martin’s grandfather, Western Australian artist John Lunghi. The painting was based on a drawing by Martin as a young boy.

Plantation shutters: Rainfords; jute rug: IKEA

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This teenager’s retreat has a loft bed, creating extra space for music and circus practice.

Pendant light: IKEA

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The music room features built-in storage for circus equipment and a foldout bed for guests.

Rug: hand-tufted Persian, Kavir Rug Gallery

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The master bedroom has original hardwood floors, a traditional Victorian fireplace and ceiling roses, an Indian bedspread and a Chinese brush painting.

Nighstands: Like Butter; table lamps: IKEA

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The contemporary bathroom features Moroccan-style wall tiles in a striking shade of turquoise and a handcrafted silver-plated light shade. The floor tiles are rough-cut slate.

Tiles: Eco Tile Factory; fixtures: Methven; basin: Villeroy & Boch

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The home office is a transitional room between the old cottage and the new extension at the back. It was the original lounge room and has a combustion woodstove.

The sofa and trestle table are second-hand finds, and the storage cabinet is an old painted Tibetan cupboard. The artwork is by John Lunghi.

Rug: Birds of Passage; wall stencil: Scandinavian Design Center; chairs: Hans Wegner replicas, Church Studios

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As frequent travellers living in a drought-prone area, Martin and Clarke needed a self-sufficient garden with drought-tolerant plants. The couple worked with designer Caroline Dawes and Stuart McHaffie of Garden Partner to create a low-maintenance landscape fed by rainwater tanks.

The couple wanted the layout of the backyard to reflect the house, so the decks and gathering areas are all set at different angles and use many different materials.

When Clarke isn’t on the road, her favourite place to be is on the patio, sitting on a beanbag with the fire lit and looking back at the house. “I always think: I live here; that’s amazing; it’s beautiful,” she says.

Jeni Lee

A small courtyard connects the main house with a fourth bedroom, currently set up as a music room. The main bathroom also overlooks this private courtyard.

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Corrugated iron, a classic Aussie building material, partially clads the new extension. Hebel was also used as cladding for its insulating qualities. The window frames were all made by Philip Monaghan by hand from recycled jarrah wood.

Jeni Lee

The symmetrical bluestone exterior is heritage listed and the garden entry features an original California bungalow gate. Wisteria trails over the classic verandah.

See more photos of this home

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.