• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
    • Get Your Free Ebook

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • 20240206_185022-01Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp
    • IMG_0235Kerb appeal: 3-bedder given fresh new look for retirees
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • image013How Victorians can get a beautiful kitchen reno on a budget
    • Screenshot 2025-05-13 at 3.09.43 pmBeautiful backyard transformation brings Italy to Bondi
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • Screenshot 2025-05-19 at 1.02.34 pmClean your carpets professionally at home without the dry time
    • Kopia av Ankarsrum-Assistent_Coral_12_Ny_webInnovative new Swedish mixer lands in Australia
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • 230331_JDZ_Coogee 45Pokey extension becomes beautiful open plan living space
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Crispy egg noodles with seafood p. 116Foodie Friday: crispy egg noodles with seafood
    • 1293660_lifestyle Crossland Pearl GL-Porc Txt Rect 597×1195 UNI_Crossland_AMB 02_Living_PearlHow to bring your favourite travel destinations home
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Meet Gold Coast electrician-turned-artist, Christopher Broome

By Jen Bishop •

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

It’s always exciting to discover an artist at the beginning of their career, especially when you find out they’ve made a big leap of faith to follow their passion. Such is the case with 31-year-old Christopher Broome, a Gold Coast electrician who decided he would rather live a more creative life, largely inspired by his mother Karen, fiancee Mel, and young daughter Chelsea. I now have two pieces of Christopher’s work hanging in my home and they make me so happy I was keen to learn more about the man behind the paintbrush.

“I knew I loved art from a young age, but I only recently realised I wanted to do it as a career,” says Christopher, who made the big switch last year. “As a kid, I wanted to be a comic book illustrator, so I was always sketching people and simple backdrops. Then I decided I wanted to do animation and joined art class when I got to high school. They didn’t teach any of that there but that’s where I learned the basics of painting! Then, once I was out of high school I pretty much stopped cold turkey and got a full-time job, so painting was just something I did in my downtime.”

Christopher became an electrician, working 60-hour weeks. He and Mel had completely renovated their house, leaving them with a lot of bare walls to fill, so he picked up his paintbrush again. “I just got really fired up to paint again so once we sold it, we basically got in a position where I could take the chance at doing art as my career and I haven’t looked back. Although I do want another reno project too now!” Becoming a dad to Chelsea has also kept him busy and he’s loving the flexibility his new career affords him to spend time with her.

He definitely still considers himself an emerging artist and while her admits he’s still experimenting with various styes, he can’t imagine ever sticking to just one. “I’m still learning a lot and always ask a lot of questions to hone my skills. Abstract work is especially new to me, because I started out doing illustrations, but I feel like I have the most fun with it. I think my biggest challenge is I have too many thoughts running through my head so it’s hard to just stay on one path and try to express how I feel, but that’s the beauty of being able to work on multiple pieces at once!”

The ladies in his life have been a huge inspiration to Christopher. Almost losing his mum a few years ago, really made him realise that life could be short and you should give it your best shot. “My fiancee Mel encourages and supports every hair-brained idea I come up with and she’s always behind the scenes, helping me achieve the things I want to. She also has no problems telling me rethink an idea or colour choice!”

As for little Chelsea, she makes him want to be a very present dad. “Being able to work out of a studio from home gives me that ability. Her personality and spirit give me a lot of inspiration too. The series ‘Peaceful By Name’ is just like her, beautiful to look at but still plenty of chaotic elements!

“Women influence me by being some of the greatest supporters in my life. I wouldn’t exist without my mum and I wouldn’t be where I am today without my own family. My ‘Luxurious Ladies’ series started when we found out Mel was pregnant. Women really are amazing and what they go through to carry children is just mind-blowing. So I guess I just wanted to recognise the female form and based them off women that I think are positive role models for today’s youth… I’m not going to tell you who though!”

While the Gold Coast art scene is full of talented artists and galleries, Christopher says it’s definitely a smaller community compared to Melbourne and Sydney. He has recently started to sell a lot of work via his Instagram and says having a strong social media presence is important and like having an online gallery without the wine and cheese platter. “Social media’s reach is immeasurable. My artwork is now in Tassie, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast, and I’ve had commission requests from London and LA too. It’s really up there as a marketing and sales tool.”

He describes the bulk of his work as energetic. “Then I have the pieces that are deeper tones with subtle highlights that are more moody. I’m not sure how to describe them. But I love trying to get an emotion into the work so you feel something when you look at it.”

Christopher’s inspired by fellow artists Tania Blanchard, Michael Bond, Marnie McKnight, Ruchi Rai and Jennifer Lia. “It’s like I find a new one every day!”

So, what’s a day in the life of a full-time artist and new father working from home really like? “Balance is probably the biggest challenge, but we have a good routine which I think helps a lot. I’m usually up first and get a couple of layers down across a few canvases and then take over dad duties while Mel gets ready. We basically tag in and out for the rest of the day while I order materials and do some marketing and Mel runs the rest of the house and reminds me to eat and stay hydrated!
She does an amazing job as Mum though, it’s just so natural for her which makes focusing on my work much easier. The advantages are exactly what you would think they are; we get to hang out as a family much more, even while I’m painting we can have a chat. We always try to keep the weekend free though so we don’t forget to have a break and just enjoy being parents and spending time with friends.”

Most of Christopher’s sales are online, the rest come from retail. “I will post a picture of a completed piece on Instagram and it can be instantly sold because of how much people use their social media. Art is definitely more accessible now. Again, I think we have social media to thank for that, because basically anyone with an Instagram account or internet connection can see what you are creating day to day and can be more involved in the process. This brings the masses into the art world rather than it being a kind of closed off industry like it has in the past. I also think being able to create prints of artwork has been great because it’s so affordable. Limiting the number of prints so the piece is still somewhat exclusive is a great idea, and then, for those with bigger budgets, there is always the original. Nothing beats having an original piece, but having people just enjoy the work is the main thing.”

He says art can be the icing on the cake of your interior. “Personally, I’m a big fan of a simple home that’s kind of a blank canvas with the colours and softness of the home coming from the interior styling. That way your home can always adapt to the changes in your style without needing to literally renovate.”

Follow Christopher on Instagram | Buy his work online at Design Twins or Blue Thumb

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

May 17, 2017

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • Beautiful backyard transformation brings Italy to Bondi

  • Innovative new Swedish mixer lands in Australia

  • Foodie Friday: crispy egg noodles with seafood

  • More than double your kitchen storage with clever wireware

Follow us on Instagram

Swipe for before ▶️▶️▶️ This kitchen Swipe for before ▶️▶️▶️ 

This kitchen is small but mighty and very very pretty! Swipe through for the finer details of this reno by Casa & Co Interior Design. It sure went from boring beige 90s to stylish and full of detail and storage!

What do you think?

Read all about it on the blog now via link in bio/stories.

#smallkitchenideas #kitchentile #potfiller #featuretiles #hamptonskitchen #pulloutpantry
A Melbourne husband and wife duo have launched the A Melbourne husband and wife duo have launched the world's first fully customisable cot, offering countless options to personalise your baby's space and change it as the mood takes you!

@bold_baby_co cots are made from sustainably sourced European beechwood, and are finally available after four years of meticulous design and safety testing.

Tag a pregnant friend who'd love these!

Read more on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

#melbournesmallbusiness #cotdesign #designernursery #nurserydesignideas #babycot
This small backyard makeover is NEXT LEVEL. @jone This small backyard makeover is NEXT LEVEL.

@jonesandco_ founder Jennifer Jones wanted an Italian vibe for her North Bondi semi and wow did @landart_home_garden_beyond deliver her vision. And then some!

Comment 'Positano' for the link to read all about it, including the antique terracotta Italian roof tiles around the curved pool, firepit, olive and lemon trees and lavender!🪻 Chef's kiss👌🏼

Size is NOT everything!

#smallpool #smallpools #smallbackyard #firepitdesign #smallgardenideas #crazypaving
Swipe for the rear of this gorgeous Woollahra home Swipe for the rear of this gorgeous Woollahra home. Heaven!

It's a finalist in the Houses Awards 2025. Head to the blog via link in bio/stories to see more of the shortlist. There's some absolute BEAUTIES.

Project by @tobiaspartners 📸 @justinalexanderphoto

#housesawards #housesawards2025 #woollahravillage #woollahra #woollahrahomes #australianarchitecture #australianarchitect
Edit: the winner is Kathy Petersen of VIC. To cel Edit: the winner is Kathy Petersen of VIC.

To celebrate @sataraliving's beautiful and biggest ever new collection we're giving away a $500 voucher! Comment 'satara' for the link to the easy entry form and more info on this everyday luxury range!

This giveaway is in no way associated with or endorsed by Meta.

#australianfurniture #australianfurniture #australianinteriors #relaxedluxury
I always LOVE a new IKEA STOCKHOLM (widely known a I always LOVE a new IKEA STOCKHOLM (widely known as the IKEA best of) collection and 2025 is in Australian stores NOW.

I'm getting that floor lamp at a minimum.

Karin Gustavsson, creative leader for STOCKHOLM, IKEA Sweden, said: “The purpose of the STOCKHOLM collections has always been to prove that high quality doesn’t need to come at an intimidating cost. We have worked to create a no-compromise kind of collection where every piece tells a story."

Check it out on the blog now via link in bio and stories.

Don't hang around as these pieces always sell out fast.

#ikeastockholm #ikeastockholm2025 #ikeaaustralia #ikeahack
Building new isn't the only way to get a climate f Building new isn't the only way to get a climate friendly home. CSIRO research indicates that over half of the houses Australians will live in by 2050 already exist today. And those homes — from our 1950s weatherboards to mid-century gems — offer one of the most exciting opportunities to slash emissions, cut energy bills, and reimagine home design for a low-carbon future.

Welcome to the rise of retrofit culture: a movement that’s proving you don’t need to knock down to level up.

We're having this discussion on the blog today and sharing examples of two older homes given new, more sustainable, leases on life.

Head over via link in bio and stories.

Love to know your view on knockdown rebuild vs. Renovating older homes and what you have done and why in the comments!

@reneworgau

#sustainablehousing #sustainablehome #sustainablelivingaustralia #climatefriendlyhome #passivhaus #passivhausdesign
Swipe for the before! You won't believe it! This Swipe for the before! You won't believe it!

This upcycle started with a freebie off Marketplace and with some vision, elbow grease and chalk paint, became a beautiful shelving solution for Home Beautiful stylist @style_by_lucy 

Lucy's a bit of a Marketplace pro and she even found the Samsung Frame TV on there 😯

Tell us about your best marketplace finds in the comments?

All the details of how she did this including paint colour on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

#upcyclefurniture #upcyledfurniture #upcycledsideboard #marketplacefinds
A year in, this reluctant soccer mum has realised A year in, this reluctant soccer mum has realised 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'!

So, as I start thinking about the boys going into separate rooms later this year, I've been researching non-ugly soccer-themed linen, rugs, art, wallpaper and more for Seb's room, which I'll be as happy with as he will! 

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the details and links to buy. My favourite is the wallpaper mural from @oliveetoriel 

#soccermom⚽️ #footballbedroom #boysbedroomideas #kidsroomart #kidsroomstyling #kidsroomwallpaper
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Jen Bishop

About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. She founded Interiors Addict in 2011. Jen also works as a copywriter and comms consultant to small business owners and brands, helping them with their own content as well as working out what will make them appealing to the media.

More from Art

Artist creates for Block’s Dan & Dani after loss of baby Billie

What’s new in furniture and homewares: March 2025

Boyd Blue announce new collaboration with Kate Nixon

New Dinosaur Designs collection: Chestnut

Discover the latest trends in home & decor at Reed Gift Fairs

Weave Australian nostalgia into your home with Carmen Hui art

How to tap into the growing trend for smaller original artworks

Interiors Addict’s Best of the Black Friday home sales

Jewellery designer turns her creative flair to fun homewares

Promo Area

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2025 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in