The story of living beautifully often requires a blank site, a serious budget, and a willingness to wait. However, Borrowed Light, a renovation project by Shelby Ann Studio, challenges this notion. In Melbourne’s Preston, Shelby Lenehan has transformed a plain suburban house into a stunning home for Kalu Edmunds, founder of Mood Objects, Royce Akers, co-founder of Pep, their two young children, and the family dog.
The project’s name, Borrowed Light, is literal, as Lenehan focused on utilizing daylight to make the ordinary suburban home more special. Round skylights above the kitchen and bathroom bring in natural light, while recycled bronze glass bricks in the living room throw rippled reflections across the ceiling.
In suburbia, the trade-off between openness and privacy often results in blank walls and frosted glass. Lenehan took a different approach, “borrowing the sky in fragments.” A reclaimed leadlight entry door casts colored squares down the hallway and into the bathroom after midday, adding to the home’s unique character.
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Beyond the house, a palm tree leans over the travertine checkerboard pool, and golden light filters in from the tree-filled parklands of the Merri Creek. According to Lenehan, “Together, these moments allow the natural world to quietly shape the experience of the home throughout the day.”
The materials used in the renovation were chosen for how they age, rather than how they photograph. Dark burl timber from Elton Group lends the kitchen and living space depth and mood. The brass splashback was always meant to patinate, and a construction accident delivered organic swirls that add to the home’s unique character.
Edmunds, a vintage dealer and collector, sourced and reworked pieces over the years, making the home truly special. A custom dining table, a reupholstered vintage sofa, and artworks were made or sourced from friends and family.
They wanted a home that welcomed everyday life, where beautiful objects weren’t protected from living, but became part of it. This approach to curation has resulted in a home that is both beautiful and functional.
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The project’s success can be attributed to Lenehan’s thoughtful approach to design and Edmunds’ careful curation of the home’s contents. Lenehan notes that the natural world has been allowed to “quietly shape the experience of the home throughout the day,” resulting in a truly special space.
The lesson from Borrowed Light is that suburbia doesn’t need permission to be beautiful – it just needs attention. With a focus on daylight, materials, and curation, even the most ordinary suburban home can be transformed into a stunning space that welcomes everyday life.
Images of the Borrowed Light project can be seen, courtesy of Shelby Ann Studio, with photography by Jack E Carlin, showcasing the home’s unique character and beautiful design.
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