Home to Robert Gray, the managing director of Graya (who lives in the house with this wife Meghan), Arcos Villa is located just a few minutes from Brisbane’s CBD in the suburb of Paddington. Arcos translates to ‘arches’ in Spanish and it’s a design motif that features throughout the home and also gives it the strong Mediterranean feel that the couple were looking for.
“We wanted a home that felt like we were in an international hotel, a home away from home. We wanted to achieve a Spanish villa feel with an Aussie twist,” says Robert, who bought the home’s 800 square metre block with the aim of turning its existing Queenslander into a Mediterranean inspired luxury abode.
The palatial home runs over three levels and includes five bedrooms, six bathrooms, three living rooms, a swimming pool and space for eight cars. The stylish renovation was a collaboration between Joe Adsett Architects and Graya Construction.
Visitors enter the home through a dramatic and softly-lit arched tunnel, which leads to a series of open-plan interior and exterior spaces that are bathed in natural light. The living space features an elevated and sunken living room either side of the kitchen. These rooms are adjacent to a large open-plan courtyard.
“We wanted a space where we could easily entertain and a space that was connected to both the living area and outdoor entertaining area, yet comfortable for day-to-day use,” says Robert.
A focal point of the home, the large kitchen features a gorgeous island bench with subtle ribbed detailing and light oak cabinetry. The rounded edges of the kitchen island echo the statement curved staircase that connects two floors of the residence. The kitchen features the Gaggenau 200 series ovens that sit flush to the surface for a subtle finish.
“Seeing the whole house come together has been unlike any other home. As this is our forever home, we spent a lot of time initially planning the design so it’s great to see it all come together.”
Photography: David Chatfield
