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Meet & greet: Miriam McWilliam (graphic designer) and her husband, Hamish (scientist), with their children Atlas, four, and Sunday, two, plus a 13-year-old cavoodle.
The property: A bland brick 1990s home that’s now a vision of organic Japanese-style calm.
Over many catch-ups, interior designer Caitlin Perry of Setsquare Studio and graphic designer Miriam McWilliam of Studio Mimi Moon reimagined Miriam’s 1990s-era brick home.
The creative friends and neighbours are relative newcomers to their neighbourhood, with Caitlin arriving five years ago and Miriam, two years later. “I was searching on Instagram one day and found Miriam,” says Caitlin. “She looked cool and I noticed she was a graphic designer, so I thought there was a chance we could work together as well as become friends.”
In 2022, after collaborating on a branding project, Caitlin and Miriam turned their attention to Miriam’s home, where she lives with her scientist husband, Hamish, and their two children.
The one redeeming feature of the original build – besides its lush garden and proximity to bush trails and creeks – are the prominent timber window trims.
The woodwork happily merges into the inviting scheme the design duo concocted, where layered texture and saturated 1970s-inspired colour harmonise with natural finishes. They create an organic feel with echoes of Japanese design.
“The hardest part was choosing the timber tones for the joinery and the floor,” says Miriam. “There is a lot of dark timber in Japanese interiors, but we have quite low ceilings and wanted to bring light in, so getting the balance right was tricky.”
After 10 months of design and sourcing, followed by four months of construction, the formerly featureless, light-deprived home now zings with colour and tactility, as well as oodles of character pulled from Miriam’s fun curation of art and vintage pieces.
The two bathrooms are forest-green sanctuaries that evoke the restorative calm of a Japanese bathhouse. The laundry, tucked behind a linen noren curtain by the kitchen, hums joyfully with earthy apricot tones.
The old U-shaped layout included a breakfast bar on a strange angle. “We eliminated that and were able to do a larger bench with a more central eating area,” says interior designer Caitlin. In the new space, organic tones and surfaces are paired with black and a little bling.
In the reimagined kitchen, sunshine pours into the new skylight and creeps through glass double doors that open onto the alfresco dining area at the rear.
“We didn’t want to make big structural changes because it is a solid brick house,” says Caitlin. “Adding the skylight and door in the kitchen were the main architectural things we did, and the rest was pure fit-out and rethinking the layout in a more family-friendly way.”
Miriam initially thought a roomy back extension was required, but then changed her mind. “Hamish and I realised we didn’t need the extra space after we went away on a long family trip in our vintage caravan,” she shares.
“I saw just how effective a small space can be with clever design. The dining nook, which has garden views, is a prime example of this space-savvy approach. By removing a built-in cupboard with outward-opening doors and adding a wide cushioned bench seat with storage, Miriam and Caitlin have created a multipurpose corner for dining and more.
Meals also occur at the kitchen bench, where timber bar stools found on Facebook Marketplace add worn texture to the clean-lined joinery in black laminate and walnut veneer.
Sprinkling in Miriam’s requested “hint of luxe”, the bronze splashback tile dances with the light and morphs from gold to deep olive as the day progresses.
“The splashback was the only thing Hamish wasn’t sure about. He was wondering whether it would be too blingy and intense,” says Caitlin. “But it’s not a Las Vegas gold at all. It has a real depth to it.”
Throughout the reno, Miriam and Caitlin cemented their friendship and respect for each other’s expertise. “As a graphic designer, Miriam has such a wonderful eye for colour. This project was about bringing that in,” says Caitlin. Meanwhile, Miriam was fascinated by her co-worker’s 3D modelling skills and critical knowledge of spatial planning.
“The project is a really beautiful example of how graphic design and interiors meld. It was a really nice test of colour, composition and art. Now I get to live in the creation,” says Miriam, with Caitlin chiming in, “And I get to visit.”
Text Jessica Bellof
Styling Miriam McWilliam
Photography Martina Gemmola
Shop the Japanese-style home aesthetic
1. Modern Cloche in Black
$135 at Loftmotif
At 360mm in diameter, this classy black pendant adds just the right amount of elegance to a room while not being too distracting or overbearing.
2. Seasonal Change Unframed Art Print Pair
$258 (for two) at EJ Wood Art
Hang this art print pair in your living room or even above your bed to welcome some positively summery vibes into your home.
3. Piccolo Dining Table
$1,499 at Freedom
The best thing about a round table is that you can see every one of your dinner guests at all times! Opt for this beautiful oak one to maximise style and functionality.
4. Hallie Dining Chair
$449 at Freedom
This natural woven rattan dining chair masters the laid-back living look and pairs well with any colourways or aesthetics.
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