Given that Western Living has inspired generations of readers to design their dream home, is it any surprise that some of our favourite designers would have been similarly inspired by the magazine€”albeit from the other side of that dream-home equation?

Propellor Design's Nik Rust saw his family home featured back in 1974. €œThe house I spent my early years in was designed by my dad, and was featured in the November 1974 issue of Western Living. It was a truly beautiful and thoughtfully designed little home and a real standout in an otherwise conventional €™50s/€™60s-era suburban neighbourhood. For some time, I€™d entertained the fantasy of either talking the owner into letting my dad and Propellor collaborate on a restoration and update, or even buying it back for this purpose.€

Credit: Jack Bryan/Western Living November 1974

Propellor Design principal Nik Rust's family home was designed by his dad, architect Paul Rust, and featured in our November 1974 issue. 

Credit: Jack Bryan/Western Living November 1974

More shots of the Rust family home.

Credit: Jack Bryan/Western Living November 1974

The cover of WL 1974, featuring the Rust family home.

For architect Patrick Warren of Frits de Vries Architects, a profile of his family in a 1980 issue of WL is one he keeps near and dear. €œI keep a copy of the January 1980 issue of Western Living, which featured my childhood home, at my office desk,€ he says. €œThis is the house that inspired me to become an architect.€

Credit: Jack Bryan/Western Living January 1980

Architect Patrick Warren of Frits de Vries Architects also had his family home in the magazine in January 1980; it was designed by architect Donald McPherson.

Credit: Jack Bryan/Western Living January 1980

Another shot of Patrick Warren’s family home.

To read about more great people, designs, homes and innovations that shaped Western Living, click here.

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The editorial team at Western Living loves nothing more than a perfectly designed space, place or thing: and we’re here to tell you about it. Email us your pitches at [email protected].