ML Interior Design

A little sourcing trip to Adairs today, pulling together the final layers for our Williamstown renovation. Old mate joining me too of course!

The brief has always been a relaxed French beach house aesthetic, so textured linen and classic stripes were an easy yes. But I couldn’t resist introducing a rich dark chocolate gingham with soft powdery blue. 💙💙

It adds just enough contrast while still feeling calm and effortless.

We already have a green upholstered bedhead and matching rug, the palette feels grounded, warm and lived in. And of course, a ridiculously soft fur throw for those crisp winter mornings when getting out of bed feels like a terrible idea!

The renovation is almost complete, the furniture is starting to arrive, and this is the part I love most… adding the layers that make a house feel like home!

Are you team stripes or gingham?? Or perhaps you would layer both…

When planning a renovation or new build, one of the most common things I hear is:

“I think we should think about resale value when we pick colours and finishes”.

And I usually push back.

Because if you’re constantly designing your home for a future buyer you don’t even know yet… you end up compromising the very thing that matters most...how you actually live in the space.

Your home should reflect you.

-Your lifestyle.
-Your routines.
-Your taste.
-Your version of beautiful.

Not a hypothetical buyer 10–15 years down the track.

The homes that feel the most effortless and elevated are the ones designed with intention from the start, where function, flow, and personality come first.

And here’s something important:

Most buyers, if and when you do sell, will want to make their own changes anyway. So designing your entire home around “what might appeal later” can often dilute what could have been a truly special space.

The only time I design specifically for resale value is when I’m working with developers or property investors. That is a completely different strategy, focused on margin, market appeal, and return on investment from day one.

But for your own home?

That’s not the brief.

Design it for you.
Live in it fully.
Let it support your life now, not just its future value.

If you’re planning a renovation or new build in Melbourne and want help designing a home that actually feels like you, send me “HOME”