This was published 1 year ago
‘Meant to be’: They fell in love with the house they were renting, so they bought it
A Victorian terrace makes a beautiful backdrop for the work of this creative couple.
By Heather Nette King
“Having lived in and fallen in love with the space, purchasing the home directly from the owners felt ‘meant to be’,” says Corey Ashford (right).Credit: Armelle Habib
The home
A single-fronted, two- bedroom Victorian terrace in Melbourne’s inner east.
Who lives here
Jason Penfold, a social worker, artist and owner of Violet Eyes Entomology, Corey Ashford, a homewares designer, and Atlas the blue whippet.
What we did
“We rented here for three years then bought the home directly from the owners,” says Ashford. Adds Penfold, “Apart from painting the front door black, we’re still in the planning stages. We want to create a backdrop to which the art-making will bring movement and vibrancy.”
Our favourite room
“I love my studio room as all of the creative projects come to life there,” says Penfold, “while Corey loves the open-plan living space as the skylight draws focus to different pieces in the room.”
The ’hood
“There is a walking track that allows us to get lost in nature while only being three kilometres from the city,” says Penfold.
Future plans
“I’m working on a series of doorknobs, handles and pulls,” says Ashford. “It’s exciting to explore ideas.”
Best advice
Penfold says: “Ask what you want your home to feel like and then when making decisions, use those feelings to point you in the right direction.”
“The lounge room is the place where new art and design ideas are discussed and where our friends come together,” says Penfold.Credit: Armelle Habib
“We both love natural history and vintage pieces,” says Ashford. “We mix these with modern pieces that have a point of difference from the mass-produced.”Credit: Armelle Habib
“Having an intimate outdoor space surrounded by established greenery is such a treat,” says Ashford of the courtyard garden.Credit: Armelle Habib
“Pinning and preserving butterfly and moth specimens is quite a complex procedure that requires me to slow down to achieve precision and perfection. It’s actually quite meditative, and a quality I like to instill into my artworks,” says Jason.Credit: Armelle Habib
“Unsurprisingly, we want the bedroom to feel peaceful and tranquil – a total retreat,” says Ashford. The artwork above the bed is by Gabrielle Penfold. Credit: Armelle Habib
“Atlas is a new addition to our family,” says Penfold. “He is full of energy, but a long snooze in the sun is never far off.”Credit: Armelle Habib
“The console table welcomes you into the house and it reveals its details as you walk up the hallway,” says Ashford. “The mix of vintage and contemporary objects has a story to tell.”Credit: Armelle Habib
“The Victorian-style domes are a new creation from my studio,” says Penfold. “My creations are quite minimalist by nature, so it’s nice to explore more elaborate and complex works.”Credit: Armelle Habib
“This sculptural lamp was made by our very clever friend Sarah Nedovic Gaunt,” says Penfold. The table is from Dinosaur Designs and the rug is from Armadillo. Credit: Armelle Habib
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