‘A place to unwind’: Inside TV personality Emma Freedman’s Paddington terrace home

When TV and radio personality Emma Freedman purchased an 1890s three-bedroom, two-storey Paddington terrace with husband Charlie Rundle, the couple had heard about the sale only three hours before the auction while inspecting a neighbouring suburb. The whirlwind decision comes with no regrets and it’s been their family home for the past five years.

On a leafy street, the terrace feels bright thanks to a skylit living area that’s been fully renovated to open up the rear of the home. A modern kitchen is functional and features a mirrored splashback Freedman has come to love – allowing the space to appear larger than it is. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall opens onto a private courtyard for entertaining.

The family of four spend most of their communal time in the kitchen and lounge. Here, Freedman’s love of Scandi styling meets a passion for eclectic home furnishings.

Colourful artworks are dotted throughout, including a piece by Shane Bowden, which the Lexus ambassador purchased while working on the Today show doing a live cross from Noosa, chatting to the Archibald Prize artist about his portrait of Steve Jacobs painted 10 years ago. There’s a mix of vintage posters to be found as well, from a nod to the couple’s love of skiing to a retro surfing print in the bathroom.

“I am big on colour, especially when it comes to art in the home,” Freedman says. “I like mixing original works with prints, and I love vintage and modern mixed together. We also have a white couch in the lounge – which people think is crazy with two kids under two – but it works well because it has a linen cover that we throw in the wash every few weeks. It works well to open up the space to appear airy and bright.”

A large Marrakesh rug adds an earthiness to the lounge room, and coffee table books tempt her to turn a page when she needs to switch off from life’s hustle.

The daughter of five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Lee Freedman doesn’t mind getting in on some renovation action. She hired a sander to strip the floorboards at the front of the home, which had been lacquered in black.

“It wasn’t suitable for a family with a golden retriever and kids so I did it myself and got someone to come and lacquer them back to enjoy the original feature,” Freedman says.

The renovation completed before their purchase also features concrete floors in the kitchen and lounge.

A revamp of the laundry provides for more room to move. A backyard makeover has added greenery and seating. They’ve fitted a barbecue, a new outdoor bench and railing for al fresco dining.

“Traditional terraces are always long and thin and make for tight living – this is no exception,” Freedman says. “But we love the location and, so far, it’s working nicely for our family.”

In the main bedroom upstairs, a photographic artwork by Georgina Skinner adds a serene touch. “I love that our art choices really reflect that space; the sense of a calm, nature-filled vibe is ideal for the bedroom,” Freedman says.

The mother of two (Will, 2, and Edie, 7 months), is busy juggling a radio and TV career with raising a young family, and admits her home looks lived in, feels homely and comes with all the cliched nods to raising a family.

“It’s not a display home. We have kids’ drawings on the fridge, Lego lined on the TV cabinet, toys in the bathroom. It’s our safe and happy place. The kids like to draw, we enjoy cooking and it’s a place to unwind,” Freedman says.

Their daughter Edie’s room is also her husband’s makeshift office for now, and their son Will’s bedroom is filled with art (an original John Olsen print Freedman purchased in Melbourne), a Night Sky artwork gift from friends Emma and Tom Hawkins on the night Will was born, and a portrait of their dog (a wedding present from Emma’s mother Janelle).

“That’s a quirky wedding gift, but Will loves dogs and it made sense to put that in his bedroom,” she says.

A portrait of a horse hangs in the lounge room; but don’t be fooled, it’s not Makybe Diva. “The horse doesn’t have a name,” Freedman says. “And it’s the only horse reference in the home, probably much to people’s surprise. If I had the space, I’d have a room dedicated to sport and horse racing memorabilia, but for that, we’ll have to wait.”