We love personally crashing every house that we feature but this amazing casa was just too far away (as in, Sydney Australia) to drop in on. Not to worry, we decided that holding back the amazing eye candy was just too cruel, so we opted to “virtually” house crash Max and her husband Peter’s home after they invited us to have a little look-see. They’re the masterminds behind Murchison-Hume, an amazing and eco line of posh cleaning products that are even carried here in the states by shops like Anthropologie (stay tuned for a YHL giveaway with them in April). Max and Peter live in an unbelievably inviting and organized home with their two adorable boys named Charlie and Ben. But enough jibber jabber. Here’s their house. Oh and you might recognize it from this Apartment Therapy House Tour, but we snagged tons of never-before-seen pics so you can enjoy every inch of their home (just keep a napkin nearby to catch the drool).
First we have their kitchen complete with a charming chalkboard wall. They ripped out the old 1980s cupboards in 2007 and replaced them with customized IKEA “Lack” shelving instead. It’s basically an IKEA kitchen with fancy knobs that Max imported from Restoration Hardware. She’s so happy with it, she wouldn’t change a thing. And we think the idea of bringing in Ikea bookcases to create an open pantry is a seriously genius idea. Yeah, we weren’t kidding about the drool factor here.
How much fun is that sweet and functional chalkboard wall that they use for everything from reminders and shopping lists to an “art spot” for the kids? So simple yet so chic.
And speaking of chic, it’s no surprise that their bathroom is sleek and organized- especially since they’re all about keeping everything crisp and clean thanks to their cleaning line. Everything from the diamond paned windows to the gorgeous mosaic floors have us oohing and ahhing up a storm, and simple ideas like storing bathroom stuff in glass containers and on clean-lined ceramic trays can definitely be implemented in your very own home to add some spa to your loo just like Max and Peter did.
As you’d imagine, their laundry room is just as sorted and orderly. Not only do they keep extra cleaning samples on hand, but they even manage to make things like an iron and an ironing board look downright stylish. And even though Max and Peter don’t have a single linen closet (talk about a challenge!) they used an inexpensive Ikea Expedit bookcase to create an organized and functional stash spot for everything from linens to laundry soap and more.
If it weren’t already blatantly obvious, their children are super lucky to enjoy such a cozy and livable home. Case in point, here’s six-year-old Charlie’s room.
Max says: “Charlie’s room is all about toys and access. I bought that another amazing IKEA Expedit bookshelf (a modern classic, if you ask me) and some nice looking baskets and that is how he manages to play in there and tidy his room almost all by himself at the end of each day.”
Gotta love a house that looks good and works so well with little ones- especially when it even encourages them to clean up after themselves!
And we can’t forget about ten-year-old Ben’s room, which also works double-duty as Max’s office during the day.
“Yes, It’s tiny but it keeps me virtually paperless (there’s no room for files). It’s amazing what you can get away with these days…” she says. A woman after my own heart!
We just love how Max accessorizes every surface with things that never feel too precious but always create interesting vignettes (all while keeping function and organization in the forefront of her arrangements).
Here’s Max and Peter’s bedroom. We love the chic asian influences and the simple tone on tone curtains and bedding. It’s certainly not one of those gigantic bedrooms and we love that they prove that it doesn’t take square footage to create something inviting and lovely.
Warning: if you’re anything like us, here’s where the pangs of jealousy will really kick in. As in: owww. Check out their amazing backyard cabana surrounded by their gorgeously lush lawn:
They transformed the garden in 2007 with clean-lined pavers (that happened to be discontinued and on sale) along with a custom made awning. It has virtually doubled their living space and it’s where they do all of their entertaining. Pretty dreamy, eh?
Max says that their yard isn’t large but it’s all that they need. We agree that their private and lush lot proves that less really can be more- especially when it’s so green and gorgeous!
So that’s the amazing casa that we wish we could have shot in the flesh for ya. Thankfully Max’s great photos really paint a gorgeous picture of their home and we’re thrilled to share the virtual inspiration with you guys. What do you think? Are you fighting off those envious feelings? Are you marveling at their smart and economical choices that look like a million bucks? Ikea bookcases in the laundry room, bedroom and even the kitchen! Discount pavers! Chalkboard paint! It’s all pretty genius. What do you guys like best? Let’s play the what’s-your-favorite-part game. And thanks so much to Max, Peter, Charlie, and Ben for virtually opening up their doors to us. Next time we’re in the neighborhood we might just come a knocking for even more photos. Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?
Psst- Wanna see more House Crashing tours? We have a slew of them right here (no foot wiping or hostess gifts necessary).
Megan says
This is really great! Thanks for the pictures. I love the hardwood floor in the kitchen. I was wanting dark chocolate, but this has me thinking I should go for something lighter and time-worn….
ronda says
I feel bad for Ben not having his own room, especially when the house is so LARGE. “His” room doesn’t even look like a kid lives there.
Anne says
Thanks! These house tours are one of your best features. I LOVE them.
Shelley @ Green Eggs & Hamlet says
Awesome house tour! It’s beautiful and (I shouldn’t be surprised) SO clean and fresh. Charlie’s room is my favorite – love the wall color and the fabric pillows under the bed. Also love the bathroom – that diagonal paned glass is to die for. More house crashing – it’s so great for new ideas!
max Kater says
Oh, please Ronda, don’t! I feel bad enough already! I am very careful to clear out of his room by the time he’s home from school and he loves sharing his desk with me! And please remember, you really can’t judge a room (or a house) size from pictures. You only see the bits we photographed. Having said that, I am planning on moving a desk into the Laundry/Utility room because he wants a double bed now. Yikes.
Vicky says
Hi.. the prictures all great!! I love it…
Keep posting please…
max Kater says
Oh, The BAMBOO!
I almost forgot. We used a clumping (non-running) type of ornamental bamboo called Small Weavers Bamboo (Bambusa textilis var. gracilis).
The trick with it is to trim it from time to time. Peter secured a cable in the front of it after it was established to keep it from flopping forward. It’s a pretty inexpensive way to create a “Green Screen” in front of an otherwise ordinary looking fence!
xox, mk
Anna, Sydney says
I am a fan of Ikea but have started to wonder how they fall in a health sense, does anyone know? I’m mostly interested in any gases etc their furniture may exude. They use so much particleboard and fibreboard and acrylic paints etc. These are things I’ve started to care about since I started stalking YHL. :)
YoungHouseLove says
From what we have learned, Ikea is embracing the green thing when they can. They try to offer solid wood alternatives (over glue-riddled particle board) but they also try to balance affordability so not everything is solid. They also encourage the use of reusable bags by adding a plastic bag fee (which you can avoid by opting to forgo the bag or use a big reusable one. Oh and they even have a greener mattress with less chemicals than almost every other on the market. Anyone else have other tidbits to add?
dinah says
i was wondering where you got those magazine file boxes? i’ve been trying to hunt down good quality storage boxes at reasonable prices. thanks in advance! love the house, especially the room with the bunk bed.
The Starr Family says
Unbelievable. Wrap it all up and send it to Ohio please. Lush greens included.
Ruth says
I love it!!
erika says
LOVE this house! So inspiring! We are moving to a beach house soon, and I will be incorporating these ideas and themes into our new home. It’s really lovely.
Also love the idea of a paperless office, and combining it with a kid’s room. Not everyone can have a huge house (the house we will be moving into is 1300 square feet)- and so sometimes rooms have to do double duty. Such is life and how special for your little boy that he gets to “share”- at this age, kids love nothing more than to be a part of their parents’ lives. :-)
-erika
theurthmama.com
erika says
Oh, I forgot to ask my question in my last comment- LOL! I was wondering about the window sheers. Do you find that it makes your children wake up earlier?
I am buying new drapes for the new house and LOVE the idea of white sheers, but my kids are very young, and so we go with blackout curtains. I just ordered some in cream (JCPenny was having a sale) but they look sooooo blah and drab in person (just got them and was soooo disappointed).
Any ideas on where to find light blocking curtains that will give the same open and inviting look and feel as the white sheers featured in this house?
Thanks!
-erika
theurthmama.com
Rachel N. Gracia says
Thanks for the beautiful tour of this gorgeous house!
My husband and I are thinking of moving from our present home and I would like to implement all these great decorating ideas into our next home. The creativity and function of each idea in all the rooms is superb! I love it!
Rachel
Emily says
Lovely house Max. Can you tell me where you got your phrenology head model from seen in your study? I’ve seen an original in the antique store in QVB (Sydney) for around A$3,000 and would love one of my own, just not at that price!
Emily
max Kater says
OK, I’m back!
Right. BASKETS: They were on SALE and I bought ALL they had, even the display ones (can you tell I love a bargain?) at The Country Road Homewares store in Sydney.
But you can find similar just everywhere (even Target has some pretty good ones sometimes). Another good idea if you’re buying quite a few, is to contact basket wholesalers directly. Some of them will sell to the public if you meet their minimum order quantities.
BOXES: Linen covered Boxes are the new Baskets after my basket madness of 2005. The brown ones in Ben’s Room are from a specialty stationer’s here in Australia called Kikki K. Quite expensive, but she let me buy them at wholesale because we took so many! I have seen similar in the US at OfficeMax (and Target…they have everything).
CABANA CURTAINS/AWNING: We had these custom made from a guy here using Sunbrella fabric. I had to beg him to do the piping in black but we got there in the end!
INTERIOR CURTAINS: I hate to admit it, but these, too are from IKEA! They’re not sheers, although they look it in the photo and they do block out a fair bit of light. The boys wake up at the crack of dawn no matter what anyway!
Charlie’s is a Roman blind and the rest are just plain old white cotton chino fabric straight out of the box. They come with big metal rings which means you just slide them onto a pole. Couldn’t be easier! Peter made the boxed out pelmet above the curtains for me to hide the curtain rod.
ADMISSION: Even the curtains in our bedroom are customized IKEA. I just bought some inexpensive black fabric and took them to my local alterations lady and had her add on the black edging and bottom. (Unfortunately she mis-read my instructions and lopped off about 2 feet at the bottom so they are too short for the window now, but I never had the heart to tell her)!
Oh well. I might fix them this Winter…
xox, mk
Jo says
Yay for you getting in on Muchison Hume. I remember emailing you when I first discovered their products, raving about how good they are. Stunning home, fabulous products. Quite the all-rounders hey!
Fred says
I am a big fan of this house. What an amazing home environment Max has created for her family – great job.
This is by far my favourite house featured so far. Style and functionality in perfect balance!
Fred
Christine Knight-Maunder says
I am lucky enough to have visited this beautiful house in real life and it is every bit as gorgeous as the photos make out. Max and Peter effortlessly combine practicality with impeccable good taste and style. I am still suffering serious blackboard, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and laundry envy, one year on!
Tracy Esposito says
Beautiful and functional!! Inspiring!!! Thank you for sharing. One question…where are the handled baskets from in the bottom sections of Charlie’s bookshelf??? Thanks!
rose says
I like the size of the grass/turf just perfect for water restrictions although not sure what restrictions you have in Sydney or in USA for that matter but in Melbourne (Australia) we are stage 3 water restrictions…so limited in your ability 2 maintain lush lawns….
Also saw this house in an Australian home magazine last year or the year before and loved the colour of Charlies room.Have the picture in my clippings file. What colour is it (sorry if u already answered this question)
Renee says
Lovely to see an Australian house- takes away the excuse to say that none of the stuff will be available here.
Although, I am again very happy that we don’t have IKEA up here in Darwin, otherwise I would be rushing out to impulse buy wall to wall bookshelves! Instead I have to carefully consider all purchases (and might end up making some aka knockoffwood).
Also, thanks for clarifying about the open kitchen shelves- although I am still thinking they would get quite grimy.
Steph says
Ohhh I’m extra excited about this one! I LOVE Murchison Hume products (the juniperberry line is lovely) and their home is Australian AND it’s gorgeous. Triple bonus!
Dominic says
Gorgeous write up and even more gorgeous in person I’m sure! I love the way you have combined elegence with functionality, too often one or the other is left out which leaves us with a great looking home you can’t live in or a “lived in” look that is neither elegent nor stylish :( Thanks for all the tips too, makes it seem at least slightly possible for the “rest of us” ;)
Well done!
Dom
Rose says
just found the answer:
Porters paints: Lake George
Abby says
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful and inspiring home. The lush backyard is just amazing! I also love the “Lake George” color of Charlie’s room. Sherry or Max, any suggestions as to comparable paint colors from other brands?
YoungHouseLove says
Try Benjamin Moore’s Fantasy Blue or Quiet Moments for a similar look to Charlie’s room. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Grace says
How beautiful! Love all the organization! It inspires me to finish organizing our house. We’ve lived here 8 months and I still haven’t finished unpacking! You’ve done so much with your space. It’s really not about how much space you have, but what you do with that space.
erika says
thank you for the tips on the drapes! our kids are late sleepers (and i like it that way!) ;-) After seeing your house, I am seeing Ikea in a whole new light.
I have REALLY been avoiding Ikea- I told myself 5 years ago that I would never go back (the one in Los Angeles is a ZOO)- but after seeing this, it might warrant a visit.
Last time I was there, Demi Moore was shopping next to me. That was a trip! But in general, here the Ikea shopping experience is frenzied and frantic. But I’ll brave it if I can get my house to look like this! :-)
-erika
theurthmama.com
domilcileid says
where do you find the laundry room containers!? we are looking for something like that for our client. any ideas? (love your blog by the way…good luck with the little one!)
domicileid.com
YoungHouseLove says
Hey everyone,
Max has dropped in and answered a TON of questions (thanks so much Max!) so be sure to scroll back through the comments to see if she has already answered your question. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
max Kater says
Hi again, Guys!
Wow! lots more questions. I am truly flattered…thank you. Let’s see, I think I have answered all of them except the one about the Laundry Room containers. I’m not sure which containers you mean…is it the Willow ironing baskets? (Told you I was a bit basket crazy).
If so, then they are from a shop here in Sydney called “Cotton Love Home.” Tell ’em Max sent you! I think that gets you a free tic-tac or something.
xox, mk
Diana says
Wow! What a gem! I love this house! I would love to some day have hardwood in my kitchen too. Funny I say that since I’m in the porcelain/natural stone business. Anyway, this place is fantastic!
Christine says
WOW WOW WOW!!!
Thank you for showing us some new ways to use Ikea! You house looks like a wonderful vacation home!! Must be hard to get rid of house guests!
Thank you for sharing!
Lily says
Am so glad to see you featuring an Australian place on YHL and that the USA is embracing MH! I use it at home here in Queensland, Australia and get so many compliments on their Grapefruit handwash/handsoap. It is the business!
Congrats Max on your YHL feature and your wonderful products. You have done Australian homes and products proud! Much love!
Lily :)
Marilyn says
Where did you get the desk and shelving above it?
Amanda says
Beautiful!! Where did they get all of their flooring?!?! I need those hardwood floors, and then I see that sisal looking carpet…and I kinda want that too…
tracy says
sorry to ask again, where did the baskets in Charlie’s room come from…the ones in the bottom sections of the large book shelf. thanks!
tracy says
oops! just found the answer. thank you!!
Veronica says
I love how you hung up the tennis rackets! My MIL gave me two last year and I ended up donating them to goodwill..good for them, bad for me :( I need to be more creative and envision how things can be used in my house.
Also, love the office (what little photo I could see) and would love to see more of those shelves and how you keep things organized. That is a challenge for me, how to keep things orgaized in the office, functional, and stylish! Any tips??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Veronica,
This link might help: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/04/how-ya-bin/
It’s all about how we store everything in our tiny house. Of course we’d love to hear Max’s tips as well on the subject!
xo,
s
Zane Stern says
Wow, what an amazing house! Max and Peter, please adopt me!
It is just stunning, the chalkboard wall is such a clever idea, and I can just imagine lounging in the garden, enjoying another beautiful day in paradise.
Thanks for letting us all into your gorgeous home.
Jacci says
That house is FABULOUS.
Bob Austin says
Just finished looking at this fantastic home. This home gives the feeling you can be very comfortable and still have elegance to enjoy. Love the boys room.
julie nazarian says
BEAUTIFUL in every way! It’s a WOW!
Cheryl Cantilli says
Great house! So efficient! Love the chalkboard wall in the kitchen, the shelves in the boys room and laundry room and the use of the bamboo on the fence line. We are in the process of adding a laundry room and I will use this idea.
Gotta love Ikea!
Tim Laws says
Really liked the kitchen. Whoever created it did a beautiful job.
Michaela says
Max, I’m also from Sydney and would love to know where you got the little shelf in Charlie’s room – the one under the artwork. I’ve been trying to find a shelf like that forever with no luck!!
LOVE the backyard!!
LC & Leon Yoder says
What a darling & lovely, creatively decorated home. We really liked all the room, the laundry looks so functional, along with the kitchen (love that chalkboard-especially with kids!). The yard looks green & lush & then to have a private outdoor living space too is really great! Enjoy it!
Jeanette says
Your house is beautiful. You are definately blessed. I love the chalk board in the kitchen. I love the cabana and the garden is quite tranquill.
Too bad you’re so far. Would love to see it in person.
Good luck!
Sally T says
Max and Pete,
I keep this vision of your supurbly styled
and kept nest high in mind always, in the hope that I might
soon follow through with my desire to declutter
my own home. Thanks always for the inspiration.
Beautifully photographed by the way.
Sal
Susan Sheller says
What an inspirational space.
Gemma says
Wow!! What a stunning home, i love the kitchen with the blackboard wall. Favourite room has to be the master bedroom though that is stunning but wow was I jealous of the cabana area, wish it was ever warm enough here to have one. Dam the UK weather!