When designer Melissa Jenkinson purchased her South Sound townhouse in 2019, it was not exactly her preferred aesthetic.
“It was very dated, very generic, a typical developer townhouse,” she remembers. “The previous owner had painted it every shade of brown and beige, and hadn’t changed a thing in 20 years – but the space was good. It’s large for a two-bed townhouse and I could see the potential.”
As founder and director of Island House, an interior design firm based in George Town, Melissa had just the skills to maximise that potential, recently completing a full renovation of the home.
The resulting space is contemporary with eclectic elements thrown in.
“The bones of the house are modern, so I leaned into a more contemporary look, and mixed in antiques and eclectic pieces to make it feel a little softer and lived in,” she says.
UNIQUE ACCENTS
The eclectic pieces are seen throughout the home. Bowls and figurines dot the bookshelves, while an eye-catching curio cabinet downstairs draws the eye to the wonders within.
“I’m a collector and I always have been, ever since I was a child,” says Melissa. “All the pieces in my house are items I’ve collected over the decades from my travels, flea markets, auctions, antiques fairs, treasured pieces friends have given me and things I have literally found.
“My most prized pieces are those that are truly artisan, completely natural or unique and rare. The handmade spikey terracotta vessel from Burkina Faso, a wafer-thin oak burl carved bowl by contemporary artist Anthony Bryant, a pair of oversized palm motif lamps that I bought at auction, a very simple carved wooden head that I picked up in a junk shop in Sydney, Australia for $3…”
More recently, Melissa bought some Werregue palm pots while travelling in Colombia. “They are woven by an indigenous tribe called the Wounann and are a stunning example of indigenous craftsmanship,” she says.
As well as unique accent pieces, Melissa has a large collection of artwork throughout her home. “Art is so subjective,” she says.
“I’ve collected it for as long as I can remember and have a lot of local work by artists such as Charles Long, Joanne Sibley, Janet Walker, but also pieces that I’ve found over time, and from unknown artists. I invest in art that I like and don’t pay so much attention to names.”
FAVOURITE FEATURE
The townhome’s kitchen and the primary ensuite underwent the biggest transformation during the renovation, and are now Melissa’s favourite areas.
“In the kitchen we took down walls, we moved appliances, added a little laundry sink and created a huge island, which I controversially tiled instead of using traditional countertops,” she explains. “I found some very inexpensive vintage marble tiles and figured it was a good way to add character and save money, and I was channeling British interior designer Ilse Crawford’s Guilford Street Project circa 2003.”
The kitchen cabinetry was designed and supplied by Melissa, thereby saving her money, while remaining excellent quality and being fully customised.
“I also love the custom hood,” she says. “I designed and had my guys make it to my specifications to hide the recirculating extractor fan.”
When it came to the primary suite, Melissa changed an awkward layout with a lot of wasted space. A walk-in closet in the bathroom was turned into a generous walk-in shower, with free-standing bath and generous double vanity. Closet spaces moved to the previously oversized bedroom, with Melissa ingeniously transforming Ikea PAX closets into built-in pieces.
RENOVATION PROCESS
Melissa’s background as a designer brought both pros and cons to the process.
“I find it incredibly challenging to design for myself,” she says. “I’m influenced by so much all the time that I find it hard to settle on choices. I’m naturally very eclectic and I have a lot of pieces that I knew I already wanted to integrate into the design. I’m also acutely aware of the cost of things, which is both good and bad.”
Ultimately her skills as a designer helped the process, as she used several design ‘hacks’ to achieve the desired look, within budget, as well as having access to suppliers that many homeowners may not.
As such, Melissa has transformed her home into a beautiful representation of herself, with exquisitely designed spaces and quirky touches. “I have a space that is uniquely mine and fits my lifestyle,” she says.
INTERIOR DESIGN
MELISSA JENKINSON AT ISLAND HOUSE
CONTRACTOR
PJ CONSTRUCTION
ELECTRICIAN
HODANE DAVIDSON
TILER
TALDINE GREGG
UPHOLSTERY
ANGELA BRYAN
CABINETRY
ISLAND HOUSE
This article appears in the Spring/Summer 2024 issue of InsideOut magazine, now available at magazine stands around the island.
