Mid-Century Modern

Mel Shaver-Durham has made a beautiful home for herself with a rich colour palette, vintage-inspired furnishings and an abundance of her favourite artwork

- Abbi Henderson

Recently divorced and starting a new chapter of her life, Mel Shaver-Durham had limited options when faced with finding a new family home for herself and children Joey and Lucy. ‘I chose this house because it was the nicest one I could afford, and it was within the school district my children were already in,’ she says. ‘When I moved in, it was a big, empty, white and beige box, but I really loved the two-storey ceilings and the open-plan living space suited us really well.’

With a strict budget to keep to, necessities, such as mattresses and a dining table, had to be chosen carefully, and any ideas of stylish interiors were put on hold. ‘I let the children pick the sofa, and they chose a big, chocolate brown chenille sectional,’ Mel says. ‘I highly recommend not allowing your pre-teens to select your furnishings when you’re starting your life over again. I’ve since given that sofa to a friend.’