Clothes in the ensuite: The surprising ways a stylist renovated her Victorian cottage

That fashion stylist Vivienne Gidakos still owns the Vogue magazines she began collecting when she was in primary school says a lot about how she has approached the decoration of her two-bedroom cottage. It’s a shrine to style, of course, but also to her strong sense of nostalgia and lifelong appreciation for aesthetic detail.

Gidakos, a red-carpet regular at Melbourne’s fashion events, is known for her knack of combining pieces from international fashion houses with emerging local designers and even the odd chain-store find. With a career background in store design and visual merchandising for a national homewares brand, it took her nearly two years to find a home that had the requisite “charm, character, and a touch of the unexpected,” she says. “I wanted a dialogue between the past and the present.”

Drawn to the vibrancy of Melbourne’s inner east, Gidakos was willing to sacrifice space for the right location. “I love the diverse demographic of the area and the vibrant restaurant and cafe culture,” she says. “There’s also a high concentration of art galleries and fashion boutiques within walking distance.”

When she bought it, the home retained its original Victorian plasterwork, fireplaces and Baltic pine floorboards. But the previous owners had updated it using industrial materials such as galvanised iron and mesh on the mezzanine level, and corrugated iron lining sheets in the ensuite bathroom. “It was the perfect canvas for me to layer with both new and beloved pieces,” says Gidakos. “I have a strong visual instinct, and I really honed my eye for detail working in retail design, so everything I do is very thoughtfully planned.”

A palette of pink, red and black links the rooms. “It’s my favourite colour combination – very theatrical and dramatic,” says Gidakos. “To me, style is style, so fashion and home style will always intersect. The colours you love are the colours you will want to live with. It’s not about trends, it’s about who you innately are.”

The elegant lounge room is the space Gidakos loves most. “It’s where I read books and plan outfits,” she says. “Karl Lagerfeld said he had a fatal attraction for books, and I feel exactly the same way. This room reflects my eclectic approach to decorating and also holds so many cherished family memories.”

A recent bathroom renovation has been Gidakos’ only big change to the home. “And my only plans are to collect more art, finesse my book collection and to slowly evolve the garden,” says Gidakos. “I love it when friends walk in and say, ‘This place is so Viv!’ It’s a place I feel really great in.”

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