Inner-city Oasis
Eve Gunson’s transformative powers with hair and makeup have set her apart, and now she adds another string to her bow – applying that same artistic force to interior design, with magical results.
Words: Pip Miller / Photography: Hannah Blackmore / Styling: Alana Langan
When she’s not getting Australia’s television personalities and actors camera-ready, Eve Gunson will most likely be obsessing over interior design and style. This is something she is very passionate about, as evidenced in her blog, Dot + Pop, which she intends to be a springboard for a future business with partner, Matt Benetti – a builder of 15 years.
Together, the pair have renovated two homes into covetable dwellings, and have just completed their third – taking a dilapidated, long-forgotten Victorian home from worn-out to wow.
According to Eve, they purchased a building whose front was still in its original 1880s condition, with an incongruous 1980s-eraextension out the back that featured – in her own words – an “oh-so-lovely, lavender kitchen”.
From there, the pair set to work, and while living in and around the renovation, completed their transformation in three years. Incidentally, Matt just so happened to be the onsite owner-builder operating under the umbrella of his own company, New Living Constructions.
Outdoor sofa, bench seat and easy chairs from Space To Create. Cushions, moss terrarium and mister from Ivy Muse.
“The renovation included cutting the house in half from the original hallway, and demolishing the entire back end. We then started working on the contemporary reconstruction, while adding a second story,” Eve says.
Eve’s eye for understated, albeit statement-making style is unquestionable and evident in her now-completed home.
“The overall simplicity of the house comes from the use of raw materials, which create a clean finish but still with impact. We always favour the use of steel, concrete, timber and stone in our renovations, as the backbone of the design.”
The furniture effortlessly ties in with the overall neutral colour palette. Barstools, dining table and chairs from GlobeWest.
According to Eve, materials and texture is everything.
“We both love timber, and as you can tell, we have incorporated it into every room of the house. Using a textured wool rug, a woven linen couch, and wool- blend dining chairs – with the addition of steel aspects, such as the stair handrail detail – brings the look full circle with tones and texture,” she says.
Concrete rendering in the terrace adds to the minimalist feel the couple love. Black slats were also chosen to clad the boundary walls of the terrace, adding interest and depth.
In juxtaposition to the hard textures and industrial edge, there is a lot of soft layering at work, especially in the bedrooms. “I love to layer the beds with beautiful linens, bedspreads, throws and cushions, to make them feel super plush and inviting,” Eve says.
“We both love timber, and as you
can tell, we have incorporated it
into every room of the house.”
The kitchen also features a certain softness and warmth in its clever use of oak cabinetry, that has been elegantly paired with Carrara marble bench tops and smoked-mirror splashback, for a more sophisticated and modern look. The mirror also reflects the bamboo wall outside to create the illusion of added space, and to beckon the outdoors in. Interestingly, Matt also designed and built the black steel and oak linear pendant light.
“We wanted to create an oasis within the inner city because we live in such a high density area,” Eve says. “Screening the back wall of the terrace with mature bamboo gave us privacy, but also a luscious, natural green wall.”
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