Burke’s Backyard treasures finding some of Australia’s unique homes. Rita and Carmillo Russo’s house in Northcote, Melbourne, is one of these. It is completely covered with shells.
The columns holding up the front veranda, window frames, garden edges, pots and hanging baskets are all decorated with shells, a project which took Carmillo almost seven years to complete. On the front of the house under the eaves is a triptych painted by a friend of the family, featuring scenes of Naples (the Russo’s birthplace).
Inside the house, there are decorative objects such as a shell map of Australia framing a barometer, elaborate shell picture frames and shell covered plant pots. One room has been lined with shells on the ceiling, walls, air-conditioning unit and barbecue. Out in the backyard, the back walls of the house, planter boxes, pillars and even the clothesline are all encrusted with shells.
Rita and Carmillo have eaten many meals of spaghetti marinara over the past seven years. After each meal, they save the pipi, mussel and oyster shells, dry them out, and use them to decorate the house.
Carmillo Russo capped off a tour of the house with a hearty rendition of an Italian song while wearing a shell suit, shoes and matching hat.