My Houzz: Turning an Industrial Shell Into a Stylish Home
A couple in the art industry transformed an old warehouse building into comfortable living quarters to call their own
Louise Lakier
21 August 2016
Houzz Australian Contributor: I am a content creator with a background in architecture and construction management, passionate about design, sustainable lifestyles, and storytelling. I am fascinated with how personalities inform the creation of space and make a place feel like 'home'.
Houzz Australian Contributor: I am a content creator with a background in architecture... More
Starting with the bare bones of a large warehouse space in Victoria, complete with steel portal frames, a tin roof and a roll-up door, artist Louise Blyton and paint manufacturer David Cole shaped an empty shell into a home that now perfectly suits their busy work and social lives. Subdividing the property, so that their home would share a dividing wall with another couple’s, helped them to reduce their spending. This meant they were able to use their budget in other areas, including creating at the back of the property a light-filled home studio for Blyton to work from.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Louise Blyton, David Cole, and their two cats, Collin and Vanessa
Location: Alphington, Victoria
Size: Approximately 350 square metres; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
From the main open-plan living area on the lower floor of the converted warehouse you can see almost every part of the newly-renovated home, catching glimpses high and low of the areas that lead off this central hub. The strong lines of the kitchen joinery lead the eye out to the living area, the covered outdoor dining room, and the lush, green garden that lies beyond, through which you enter the home.
Looking up from this central position, you can also sneak a peek of the upper floor, where an extensive book collection is housed in built-in shelving. A portrait of Blyton looks down over the space, keeping a close eye on all proceedings.
Who lives here: Louise Blyton, David Cole, and their two cats, Collin and Vanessa
Location: Alphington, Victoria
Size: Approximately 350 square metres; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
From the main open-plan living area on the lower floor of the converted warehouse you can see almost every part of the newly-renovated home, catching glimpses high and low of the areas that lead off this central hub. The strong lines of the kitchen joinery lead the eye out to the living area, the covered outdoor dining room, and the lush, green garden that lies beyond, through which you enter the home.
Looking up from this central position, you can also sneak a peek of the upper floor, where an extensive book collection is housed in built-in shelving. A portrait of Blyton looks down over the space, keeping a close eye on all proceedings.
Both Blyton and Cole are in the art industry. Cole makes his own brand of traditional artists’ mediums and oil paints, under the name Langridge Artist Colours, at his paint factory in Yarraville. He then sells them at the couple’s art supply store, St Luke Artist Colourmen, in Collingwood. Blyton spends two days a week at the shop and works full-time as an artist herself in her home studio.
Together the couple offer support, advice and inspiration to artists in the community and overseas on paint mixing techniques, applications, and product selections. They travel often, most recently to Paris where Blyton undertook an artist’s residency and held an exhibition, and to New York, where Cole gave demonstrations of their paints in SoHo.
Together the couple offer support, advice and inspiration to artists in the community and overseas on paint mixing techniques, applications, and product selections. They travel often, most recently to Paris where Blyton undertook an artist’s residency and held an exhibition, and to New York, where Cole gave demonstrations of their paints in SoHo.
Blyton and Cole both love to garden, and were enamoured of the idea of building a home that looked out onto vibrant greenery. It’s hard to believe that just four years ago, they started with a concrete slab, but it was gradually transformed into a sub-tropical moorish perfume garden, as pictured here.
A crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia), a gift from Cole’s father, is the centrepiece of the garden and provides an umbrella canopy. Much of the garden can be viewed from inside: 100 bulbs sprout in the spring, jasmine flowers bloom in summer and lemons, limes, nectarines, mandarins, red chillies and herbs provide bounty for the kitchen throughout the year,
A crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia), a gift from Cole’s father, is the centrepiece of the garden and provides an umbrella canopy. Much of the garden can be viewed from inside: 100 bulbs sprout in the spring, jasmine flowers bloom in summer and lemons, limes, nectarines, mandarins, red chillies and herbs provide bounty for the kitchen throughout the year,
When Blyton and Cole first opened the roller door to look at the interior space of this property, they knew right away they wanted to push the entry back and create an indoor-outdoor living and dining room. They retained the original opening of the door to frame their outside view, and built a merbau platform over the existing concrete floor, creating a covered deck. A narrow fish pond/water feature was added along the length of the dividing wall, which backs on to the second property on the subdivided land.
The most popular room in the house is undeniably this front deck. A cool microclimate has been created by the lush garden, enhanced by either dappled sunlight, or the fairy lights and candles at night. Together, these elements make this the most versatile and comfortable space, as does the ample room for lounging, writing, or conversation. Blyton and Cole plan to add a freestanding fireplace to extend its use into the cooler months.
Full-width sliding glass doors: Majestic Windows
Full-width sliding glass doors: Majestic Windows
Both Blyton and Cole describe their style as restrained and casual. In keeping with this style, the ceiling plane was painted the same colour inside as out, to create a sense of flow. The appearance of the colour chosen, ‘Molasses’ by Murobond, is constantly changing with the light.
Cole spent a week sandblasting the original concrete floor and filling in areas that had deteriorated. Wanting to maintain the natural texture of the material, he mixed an oil stain to subdue the tone and a varnish to lock it in and protect the floor.
Two custom-floating linear shelves on opposite walls were built by the couple’s handyman and stained by Blyton.
Cole spent a week sandblasting the original concrete floor and filling in areas that had deteriorated. Wanting to maintain the natural texture of the material, he mixed an oil stain to subdue the tone and a varnish to lock it in and protect the floor.
Two custom-floating linear shelves on opposite walls were built by the couple’s handyman and stained by Blyton.
They originally wanted to dig down and create a sunken conversation pit for the living room area, however, they settled on a custom-designed sofa unit by Leather Interiors, which provides a similar effect. It is positioned in the heart of the room, and the three separate sofas offer flexibility for future arrangements. In front of the sofa, the coffee table is always stacked with books the couple intend to read, before they are migrated to the library.
The prints on the wall are by various print-making artist friends, with a few by Cole mixed in as well. “It is lovely to live with your friends by looking at their artwork every day,” he says.
The prints on the wall are by various print-making artist friends, with a few by Cole mixed in as well. “It is lovely to live with your friends by looking at their artwork every day,” he says.
The couple once loved to sit and watch the light from the skylights move around the blank walls of their warehouse. Since then, they have filled the walls with art; the top row in the image above includes two paintings by Cole, and three by Blyton.
The couple investigated the most efficient heating solution for their space. Choosing central heating on timers, double-paned skylights and windows, and relying on the thermal mass of the concrete to store and release heat has yielded comfortable and even interior temperatures.
These lighting fixtures, hanging above the dining table, were originally Melbourne tram shades, bought 24 years ago for $5 each. Green, the colour they came in, was deemed too ‘heavy’ a hue for the house, so they custom powder-coated them in baby blue. “It is lovely to bring something from … the past and give it new life,” says Blyton.
The couple investigated the most efficient heating solution for their space. Choosing central heating on timers, double-paned skylights and windows, and relying on the thermal mass of the concrete to store and release heat has yielded comfortable and even interior temperatures.
These lighting fixtures, hanging above the dining table, were originally Melbourne tram shades, bought 24 years ago for $5 each. Green, the colour they came in, was deemed too ‘heavy’ a hue for the house, so they custom powder-coated them in baby blue. “It is lovely to bring something from … the past and give it new life,” says Blyton.
Further into the living space, just beside the dining area, is the kitchen. This was envisioned as a cave-like space tucked underneath the upper floor, a look that was achieved when Blyton talked Cole into making the whole space black to give some relief to the white that dominates the rest of the home. Once this was agreed upon, they both loved the idea.
Both benchtops and kitchen island are custom built. The couple prefer the access and efficiency of doorless cabinets for the kitchen island, which can be seen on the left. Here, a large collection of small appliances and crockery is stored, making them readily available come dinnertime, and whenever the couple entertain. A large oven makes cooking for a crowd easy.
Both benchtops and kitchen island are custom built. The couple prefer the access and efficiency of doorless cabinets for the kitchen island, which can be seen on the left. Here, a large collection of small appliances and crockery is stored, making them readily available come dinnertime, and whenever the couple entertain. A large oven makes cooking for a crowd easy.
Cole loves to cook, and when friends come by, the mirror splashback creates a conversation between the chef in the kitchen and the guests at the table behind.
The German-made resin Schock sink with integral drainboard is one of the couple’s favourite finds.
Black tapware and cabinets: Ikea
The German-made resin Schock sink with integral drainboard is one of the couple’s favourite finds.
Black tapware and cabinets: Ikea
In the downstairs bathroom, a custom-built bamboo cabinet floats above the concrete floor. Two raised sinks sit on a benchtop finished in Venetian stucco, across from a built-in shower. “Because there was no natural light, we wanted a luxurious feel, relying on hand-applied plaster surfaces and dramatic lighting,” Cole says.
Basins and tapware: Schots
Basins and tapware: Schots
A 1.5-metre-wide corridor at the back of the lower level leads to Blyton’s studio and provides access to a storage shed and the laundry room. “Corridors are always too narrow, they always become transit spaces with no celebration of it,” says Cole. He prefers corridors to be considered rooms and be big enough to fit furniture.
Beautiful, even light fills Blyton’s double-height studio from windows set high in an original brick wall. The metal-frame and diffuse glass windows will eventually be replaced with double-glazing. The application room (seen to the right of the image) is where Blyton applies sealants to her finished pieces. It is completely sealable, and has an extraction fan for the removal of fumes, toxins and dust that result as part of Blyton’s work. The artist also plans to add a door into the spare room upstairs, providing easier access from the studio to the library.
Explore the rest of Blyton’s creative space
Explore the rest of Blyton’s creative space
Upstairs, skylights pour light into the first floor area and move parallelogram shapes around the gallery walls, spotlighting and intersecting with artworks from time to time. Blyton studied the shapes at different times of day, photographing them until they eventually inspired a body of work and an exhibition.
Cole and Blyton stand in front of their portraits upstairs. Cole’s is a self portrait and Blyton’s portrait was painted by Rick Amor. The bookshelf behind them was designed by Blyton to be minimal, and built by their handyman. Blyton stained all the built-in woodwork, including guardrail caps and shelving, herself.
Behind the bookshelf wall sits the master bedroom, simply decorated to provide a place of refuge for the busy couple. An ensuite master bathroom is accessed from the the hallway, and through the walk-in wardrobe.
Original steel beams are left exposed throughout the upper floor, enhancing the industrial style of the home.
Custom stain on Victorian ash timber floors: Langridge Artist Colours; ceiling fan: Home of Lights
Original steel beams are left exposed throughout the upper floor, enhancing the industrial style of the home.
Custom stain on Victorian ash timber floors: Langridge Artist Colours; ceiling fan: Home of Lights
Although from the busy street you can see little of the home’s facade, let alone the lofty spaces and the grand scale of what lies within its walls, the industrial style of this property is obvious. It is obscured and softened by the addition of eucalyptus trees but that doesn’t stop passersby sometimes peeking over the fence and complimenting the lush garden.
However, except for the occasional peep from a garden admirer, the home is largely imbued with a sense of privacy and seclusion created by Blyton and Cole to suit their creative lifestyles – the couple have truly made their home an artistic haven.
TELL US
What is your favourite part of this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
However, except for the occasional peep from a garden admirer, the home is largely imbued with a sense of privacy and seclusion created by Blyton and Cole to suit their creative lifestyles – the couple have truly made their home an artistic haven.
TELL US
What is your favourite part of this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Like the house, not keen on the way lots of pics,hanging in different ways makes wall space look very busy.Maybe more tight groupings with artwork and more negative walls space to draw the eye to certain focal points.
It's a very interesting residence, although I don't think the quality of the photography isn't up to the usual Houzz standards.