Earlier this year Denise Rix and I had the incredible opportunity to photograph the gorgeous home of  Julie and Michael Martino, owners of Solta Homewares.

Denise and I have been on a mission to present Perth homes exactly as they are lived in. We wanted to bring to you, homes that are real and are enjoyed by families. Homes that house collections, treasures and finds that truly make a house a home. Homes that are full of conversations, life and heart. This home is all of those things.

We managed to shoot 4 of these homes this year and we are very pleased to present this beauty located in Doubleview that we photographed in March this year. We interviewed the owners and love being able to share with you a little snippet of who lives here.

Who lives here?
Julie and Michael Martino
What are your professions?
I’m a teacher and a florist and we both are working our business ŠOLTA Homewares (Solta Home) supplying Pop and Scott pots to atelier plant shops in Western Australia. We also sell direct to the public and to designers.

Tell us something interesting about the home?
Our house was built with love by a clever Polish migrant Joseph Petruisko in the 90s. He was actually a vet who needed a house for his family so he worked very hard and built it himself.  He built it using timbers and materials from houses that were being demolished in the Doubleview area at the time. It’s a quirky house built slowly, and carefully using rescued doors ,windows and timbers to make a unique special house.

Is there anything you would change?
I would love to make a roof top garden outside our bedroom above our patio roof.
Who built your home?
Joseph Petruisko
When was it built?
1990s
Have you made any changes?
We have a new kitchen and bathroom downstairs. We have painted a few times and built new gardens ,a deck and an outdoor living area .

How long have you lived here?
19 years
Do you know your paint colours?
Ceiling white. Exterior, White Illusion
What is Your favourite furniture piece?
A hall table made by an interned soldier on our farm during WW2 using farm timbers.

What are your top 5 business crushes at the moment?
Pop and Scott
Furniture, light shades and pots beautifully designed and made by my daughter and her partner Scotty and their team and supplied by us Solta HomewaresWarmun Art Centre
I love the art from this area where the artists use different coloured ochre from surrounding country to paint simple strong paintings. promoting Gija art language and culture.All the op shops and junk shops in the country . You never know what treasure is sitting waiting to be rescued and loved 🤗.Emma Gale artist.
I love her paintings of everyday people doing every day things. She takes inspiration from other cultures and their daily rituals and routines…….and All the beautiful plant sellers
Hass and Co
Little Leaf Co
Stackwood
Bar Botanik
Style and Leaf
Plants are the best way to beautify and create life and energy in your home.

Do you have a favourite room and why?
My bedroom. It’s big airy and peaceful. I have lovely mirrors from my mother in law, a collection of genie bottles a beautiful oil painting that I found on a verge collection and had reframed and beautiful In Bed linen

Thankyou for staying until the end of this Perth Home Showcase and please throw your support behind ŠOLTA Homewares. They are happily supplying Pop and Scott pots to atelier plant shops in Western Australia, direct to the public and to designers. You can find them via their website soltahomewares.com or you can contact Julie via 0417841399 with pickup in Doubleview.

Please get in contact with Denise Rix if you have an interesting and unique home you think my audience would love to see.