Stylist Melissa Stoward has created a peaceful and airy bohemian home with nods to the Mediterranean.
Photography: Mark Zeidler, Coast Park Creative / Interior design Melissa Stoward
It’s hard to believe that the home Melissa Stoward shares with her husband and their three boys in Greenbank, Queensland was once very dark and very tired inside.
“It had cream paint throughout, burgundy and green feature walls, 1990s faux-terracotta tiles, and plastic vertical blinds,” Melissa recalls.
That’s not to mention the kitchen, which was a small, black, boxed-in room with swollen and damaged chipboard cabinetry. “The kitchen was definitely earmarked for renovation as soon as we viewed the house,” says Melissa.
The first major changes they made when they moved in were cosmetic: a fresh coat of paint, new flooring and softer window coverings. She says those changes alone made an enormous difference.
“Converting the garage into a laundry and second living space was something I wanted to do straight away as well, so we could utilise those much-needed zones,” says Melissa. “We also added VJ panels to the entry and dining room walls for warmth and texture.”
The unique niche wall that separates the kitchen from the front entry was actually the result of some last-minute creative thinking. Armed with a phone full of archway imagery and Mediterranean inspiration pictures, Melissa thought up the idea while the kitchen was being demolished.
“Rather than just plaster over the existing ’90s-style niches and have a plain wall, I decided that this was a space where I could get creative. So, drawing inspiration from Mediterranean architecture, I scribbled the design of the arches and shelving on a piece of cardboard while sitting on the floor, then showed our builder, who made it happen that day.”
“Rather than just plaster over the existing ’90s-style niches and have a plain wall, I decided that this was a space where I could get creative. So, drawing inspiration from Mediterranean architecture, I scribbled the design of the arches and shelving on a piece of cardboard while sitting on the floor, then showed our builder, who made it happen that day,” explains Melissa.
Melissa says that the renovations have made the living and kitchen areas into fluid zones that allow the members of their busy family to be together while doing different things. “I can be preparing dinner while my youngest is at the bench doing homework, one of the other boys is relaxing on the sofa with our dog Milo, and my husband is finishing paperwork at the dining table,” says Melissa. “It’s where we share the day’s events with each other and schedule everything too.”
Melissa’s eye for styling saw her collect pieces like the Indian dough bowls and antique column-base candle holder that really make the interior. “I’m still obsessed with the rice-husk pendants in the kitchen and bedrooms that I sourced from an importer,” says Melissa.
Furniture-wise, she loves mixing Marketplace finds with new pieces. “The linen slipcovers are probably my favourite furniture item. They’re comfy and versatile, and the fact you can throw the covers in the wash is a big win with a house full of boys!”
Melissa says the bathrooms are next on the renovation list, but she’s taking her time to design spaces that the family will love for years to come.
“My style is constantly evolving, and our home is a reflection of that,” she says. “It may always be changing in some way; I enjoy the creative outlet.”
