There’s something instantly comforting about a home that doesn’t feel too precious. One filled with books and board games, toys underfoot, records within reach and pieces that have already lived a life or two.

For our latest Heart-to-Heart, we step inside the character-filled home of Rebecca Brewin, where she lives with her husband Andy, their two children, Woody and Dottie, and miniature dachshund Alby. Built in 1963, the home retains many of its original details, from wood panelling and a slate fireplace to the little traces left behind by the family who lived there before.

Furnished largely with secondhand and vintage finds, Bec’s home feels collected, personal and truly lived in. We sat down with her to talk new nostalgia, the thrill of the vintage hunt, embracing the quirks of an older home and why the pieces with a little imperfection often tell the best stories.

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Meet Rebecca

Tell us a little about yourself...

Hi, I’m Bec Brewin, and I have an addiction to op shopping! I love making my house feel full of character and curated to my family and our style. I don’t have a creative job, but I work in local government, which I’m really passionate about, helping and doing things for the community. My creative outlet is outside of work. I love flipping furniture, finding things on the side of the road and giving them a new life, while saving things from landfill.

I love old things. They’re often so well made, and I love that they’ve had a life before coming into my house. They tell their own story and bring a little bit of history that feels unique.

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Do you remember the first vintage or op shop find that made you think, “This is my thing”? What is it about old things that has kept you hooked ever since? 

I returned to Melbourne from living interstate and a long period of travel with my now husband in 2017. With virtually no money, we had no choice but to furnish our first apartment via Facebook Marketplace. My first purchase was a mid-century sideboard that had been painted white (the landlord special). I picked it up alone in my tiny hatchback. The end of it was lightly brushing the windscreen and I was praying for no potholes. Almost 10 years later I still haven't stripped the white paint but I still use it every day. It's been a tv stand, a bench seat (I removed the legs) in a kitchen nook and now it's actually being used as a sideboard in the dining room. It was my first mid-century piece and sparked my love for that era of home decor. I love old things because they come with built-in character and are usually sturdy and made to last.