This Small Melbourne Rooftop Apartment Has a Must-See Courtyard

Adrienne Breaux
·8 min read
brown leather couch, simple terrazzo rectangle coffee table, large door to outdoor place, colorful throw pillows
angled ceiling, built in bench seating, arm chair fireplace
brown leather couch with colorful throw pillows and terrazzo coffee table
vintage pictures and rustic cabinet
white tv counsel with wood top, small round chair, tv, art and packages under stick christmas tree
angled ceiling, built in bench seating, arm chair fireplace
round wood dining table with different chairs and built in bench with blankets and colorful throw pillows
round wood dining table with different chairs in angled nook
light wood flooring galley kitchen with white cabinets and white appliances
built in bench seating with throw blankets and growing ivy
sink below large window with wood counter tops and rainbow glass jars on exposed shelves
white cabinets and wood counter tops with large black knobs
white cabinets with wood counter tops and built in bench
geometric mural on stair well wall in blue, teal, and pink
black stair railing with pink and red shape mural on the wall
large plant on step stool next to bedroom door
Dogs on bed with blue and cream tropical floral throw blanket with colorful throw pillows
white penny tile on wall with built in mirror medicine cabinet
standing mirror with hanging rob and wood bench at foot of bed
vintage green claw foot tub outside in sun room with plants
dining table with white tables in screened in patio with string lights

After a long career as a visual merchandiser and retail manager, Amy Renou went back to university to become a primary school art teacher. She’s lived in this apartment — a small but mighty space on the top of a building — for two and a half years, and it’s a family affair.

vintage pictures and rustic cabinet with homeowner standing in

“My out-of-box-thinking sister had the great idea of building on top of an existing building that was already in the family,” Renou begins. “The suburb would have otherwise been well out of our price range. We worked with architect/ pre-fab builders ARKit to build an apartment for each of us.”

Exterior of apartment with wood paneling and blue letters painted on side

Renou explains that they wanted to build sustainable homes, so they made sure to include solar panels, extra insulation, and double-glazed windows to maximize their energy needs. “We also included rainwater tanks, which are plumbed to the clothes washer, toilet, and used to water the garden. Australia is one of the driest continents on the planet!” she continues.

Dogs on bed with blue and cream tropical floral throw blanket with colorful throw pillows

It wasn’t just sustainability features Renou got to weigh in on; she had a hand in designing the look of the space, and describes her interior style as very personal. Though, she says she did find the exercise of having to choose finishes for her forever home a little stressful.

geometric mural on stair well wall in blue, teal, and pink

“My approach is to keep the permanent features neutral and light so my colorful art and accessories create the color,” she explains of how she tackled the design. She’s also added bits of color and personality as she’s lived in the space, like the fun mural she’s painted on the stairs.

dining room table in angled nook with homeowner sitting in

And while the home doesn’t have a TON of outdoor space, the little courtyard features plenty of room for both gardening and for Sunny, the rescue dog. The proximity to her sister can’t be beat, either. “We have the ultimate situation where we have our own places that link via a hidden gate in the courtyard,” Renou writes. “It’s perfect for swapping cups of sugar (or wine, which is more likely) and our dogs play together all day.”

Resources

black stair railing with pink and red shape mural on the wall

ENTRY

  • Steamer Trunk — Vintage

  • Screen — Fabric, Marimekko

  • Pots — Painted by me

  • Transparent chain — Sourced online

  • Stair mural — Painted by me

large plant on step stool next to bedroom door

HALLWAY

  • Domsten orange stool — IKEA

  • High stool — Intage

  • Fabric pot — Gorman Shop

  • Wicker pots — IKEA

dining table with white tables in screened in patio with string lights

LARGE COURTYARD 

  • Dining table — Terrazzo top is an off cut and base is Marketplace find

  • Urban Chairs — IKEA

  • Skalboda Lounge chairs (not designed as outdoor chairs but I love them) — IKEA

vintage green claw foot tub outside in sun room with plants

SMALL COURTYARD

  • Claw foot bath — eBay

  • Table — Flea market

  • Shaving cabinet — Op shop

brown leather couch, simple terrazzo rectangle coffee table, large door to outdoor place, colorful throw pillows

LIVING ROOM

  • Danish leather sofa — Vintage

  • Velvet Armchair — From my grandma

  • Wicker Saucer Chair — Vintage

  • Cork Coffee Table — IKEA

  • Cork Stool side table — IKEA

  • Altar Aaltos Stool 60 — Anibou

  • Low wood stool — IKEA

  • Rug — From my parents

  • Cushions — IKEA

  • ‘Yes’ cushion — Gorman Shop

  • Cockatoo cushion — Space Craft

  • Footstool — Vintage

  • Christmas decorations — Sourced from various places like Etsy, op shops and even a flea market in Russia.

  • Disco ball — Kmart

  • Rice paper floor lamp — IKEA

  • Anglepoise lamp — From my grandma

  • Ice cream pot — Third Drawer Down

round wood dining table with different chairs in angled nook

DINING ROOM

  • Table — My grandma

  • Fler fibreglass chairs — Gift from a friend

  • Studio chair — Vintage

  • Thonet chair — My grandma

  • Odger chair — IKEA

  • Penny Round cushions — Castle and Things

  • Embroidered cushions — Made by my mum in vintage fabric

  • Vintage East German ceramic vase — Gift for my 50th birthday

  • Branch vase — Dinosaur Designs

  • Small vase — Vintage

  • Amber glass vase — Vintage

  • Rugs — From my parents

light wood flooring galley kitchen with white cabinets and white appliances

KITCHEN

Dogs on bed with blue and cream tropical floral throw blanket with colorful throw pillows

PRIMARY BEDROOM

  • Stretched Bottna fabric — Marimekko

  • Componibili bedside table — Kartell

  • Planet lamp — Gift from my parents as a child

  • Thonet chair — Vintage

  • Ypperlig lamp — IKEA

  • Quilt cover — IKEA

  • Floral Pillow case — IKEA

  • Striped pillow case — Castle and Things

  • Fitted sheet — Target

  • Bench — Replica Furniture

  • Cushion — IKEA

  • Nia Latif Prints of traditional costume paper dolls — @vnialatif

  • Mirror — IKEA

  • Custom Art — Spin Spin

  • Akira Isogawa Paper doll souvenir (framed) — NGV

  • Dancing Queen Hurdie Gurdie — Abba The Museum

  • Debbie Harry necklace — Vintage

  • Ladder with Perspex — Made by me

standing mirror with hanging rob and wood bench at foot of bed

SPARE BEDROOM 

  • Framed print — Deborah Halpern

  • Ladder bedside table — IKEA

  • Bedside table — Vintage

  • Bench seat — Kmart

  • Pretzel Pillow case — Kip and Co

  • Flower pillow case — Castle and Things

  • Quilt cover — From my great aunt’s house

  • Floral Cushion — Marimekko

  • Yellow cushion — Castle and Things

  • Klippan Blanket —Arket

  • Small painting — Vintage

  • Planet Lamp — Vintage

  • Fishing miniature sculpture — @tinkysonntag

white penny tile on wall with built in mirror medicine cabinet

BATHROOM 

Thanks Amy!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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