I moved to a new place at the end of 2016 in a new neighbourhood in Melbourne: South Yarra. It is a posh place south of the Yarra with well-groomed dogs, tree-lined streets, floral arrangements on poles and a significantly high concentration of busy yoga and pilates studios.
I can't say I truly identify with South Yarra culture, but it is a wonderful place to live. There are a couple of old-school cinemas (Cinema Como and Astor Theatre), an oddly designed modern library, a dog park where the lawn is so smooth there are signs asking residents not to play golf, a florist cart right outside my old apartment block, and many parks and gardens for local residents to flaunt their expensive activewear.
Don't worry about trying to close to fly-screen door, it doesn't shut properly; but please take your shoes off as you come inside. I'm sorry about the mess, the house has seen neater days.
This is the living room of my humble abode. On your left is the fridge sitting randomly in the corner because my kitchen doesn't have any space; in the other corner is the television which still has its stickers on and I use quite seldomly to play Wii or watch movies; the coffee table has stacks of my music, books and magazines which I'm currently perusing through; and I've filled the space where a gas heater used to be with my CD player and speakers from my old place. I hope you don't mind the Laura Marling CD playing, she's my favourite right now.
The spaces I spend the most time in here are my kitchen and the sunroom.
The kitchen is long and narrow. I don't think it's an "ideal" kitchen by any means, but there is an abundance of storage and bench space. These are both luxuries compared to my old place. I'm also living on my own which makes cooking vegan food much easier - this year I've been able to make many more creative dishes: mac'n'cheese, lentil cottage pie and scrambled tofu.
My sun-room is easily the favourite space I have been able to create. My desk sits against the windowsill, my red corduroy shirt jacket hangs on a nail and above that is my favourite bunting which my dear friends gave me for my house-warming last year. It acts as an enclosed balcony, dining room, reading room, moody sanctuary on rainy days and a space for creative ideas and thoughts to thrive. Chances are when I'm home alone on a normal day, you will find me sitting there drinking copious cups of tea catching up on YouTube, e-mails or reading.
Next to my desk is my plant Ellie, she is a yucca elephantipes and enjoys drinking water, sunshine and sitting elevated on some milk crates. Hanging down is mushroom garland which another dear friend gifted me this year for my house-warming. I recall visiting a market on a rainy day in Brunswick with them a couple of years ago and wanting it. I remember backing myself out of the purchase at the time because I still lived with my parents at the time and I didn't have anywhere to hang it. It wasn't until they gifted me the garland that I remembered that day.
Adjoined to the sun-room is my somewhat compact bedroom which is a cosy place for hiding under blankets. I've been able to sleep better whilst living in South Yarra, partly because I no longer live in the front of a thin-walled terrace house and partly because I live alone.
I recently bought new sheets and that has helped give the room some more life. I have another desk in the bedroom which I occasionally do work on, but is mostly for quick notes in the morning and for placing bedtime books or magazines just before I fall asleep. Adjacent to the desk is an overheating lamp which acts as a light for the room as the ceiling fan replaced the lights. Sitting perpendicular is a small plain brown bedside cabinet with precious belongings which often remain untouched for a long time. Opposite the cabinet are my main bedroom wall decorations - tour posters of Australian artists: Thelma Plum, Japanese Wallpaper and Lisa Mitchell (who are three of my favourite musicians I saw live last year) - hopefully by the end of the year the wall is looking filled with 2017 tour posters and some more art.
If you open the window, you'll find a small planting balcony space with predominantly dead soil, twigs and a pot of cacti which to date is my longest surviving plant. There is some work to be done here and around the apartment generally, but in four and a half short months I have been able to create a home which is peaceful and soothing to just exist in.
I've already been able to make many memories living here: small dance parties on summer nights in the living room, baking banana bread whilst failing at making pompoms, many art-house movie viewings with ensuing post-movie discussions, and countless heart-to-heart conversations with my dearest friends over food and tea for hours upon end.
Living alone has taught me how to prioritise my time so I'm not constantly out and about socialising or working and actually take time out for myself. I've learned to treat every moment I spend alone as precious as the time I spend with friends and family.
This apartment has been excellent for my mental health and has helped me become even more resilient in the face of a seemingly endless period of intense adversity in my life. It feels like I've been here longer than four and a half months, and it certainly looks that way - I think I really enjoy decorating my own spaces to make them delightful, inviting and warm.
I really hope you like my humble abode. If you need to use the restroom before you head off it is just next to the bedroom.
Thanks for stopping by my new home and visiting me. It truly means a lot.
Lots of love,
Thomas
© 2026 Thomas Feng
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