Located in Carlton, just north of the Melbourne CBD, this circa 1902 apartment was once home to a trio of university students before it underwent a gorgeous makeover courtesy of The Stylesmiths. “The owner had lent the apartment to their son and his uni mates and needless to say, the transformation from uni lodge to angelic home has been tremendous!” says The Stylesmiths interior designer Kristen Dahl-Feathers who worked on the project with fellow designer Carlie Ng.
Lounge and dining
“When we were first engaged, we weren’t sure if the owners wanted to renovate it and rent it out or move into it as a retirement pad. But we are thrilled that they fell in love with the design and decided to go ahead and live in it themselves,” says Kristen.
Kitchen and mezzanine
With a design brief that focussed on contemporary classic design, with a pared back palette, The Stylesmiths team set about making the compact home feel open and airy. Downstairs, in the communal area, the kitchen is highly detailed yet simple and classic with panelled joinery and curved marble benchtops set on top of a custom designed fluted base.
Once a makeshift bedroom, the mezzanine now functions as a library
Already part of the apartment, the mezzanine was made larger to create room for a library and its adjacent spiral staircase was replaced with a beautiful new timber design with concealed laundry below. “After a few proposals we landed on a built-in library with bookshelves and a large desk up on the mezzanine,” says Kristen.
Kitchen and lounge
Notable products feature throughout including Artedomus marble, Cromwell lighting fixtures, the Bell table from The Woodroom, Armadillo & Co rugs and Mokum fabrics. Bathroom and kitchen hardware was sourced from Perrin and Rowe, The English Tapware Company and Brodware.
The Woodroom’s gorgeous Bell table features in the dining alcove
A standout feature of the home, large bay windows draw the eye in three of the rooms. In the main bedroom, soft roman blinds bring attention to a custom window seat, the living room features a custom tan leather banquette that forms seating for the dining table, and the second bedroom uses the alcove to house an antique desk. “The unique alcoves really make the project special, and each has been given individual purpose, successfully maximising every inch of the available space,” says Kristen.
Bedroom
Overall, the designers were thrilled with the end result. “We loved the aesthetic. The way the stone, fabrics, furniture and colours came together and are bathed in so much natural light makes the home feel at one with its environment.”
Designed by The Stylesmiths lead interior designer Priscilla Elasi, this renovation and extension, to a heritage red brick Federation home located in Sydney’s Burwood, has a timeless feel and uncomplicated design. With a project brief that called for liveability, the home has been designed to support the everyday life and entertaining needs of its occupants; a busy family of five.
The home’s gorgeous heritage front
The sensitive renovation highlights the original home’s heritage details; the exact details that drew the owners to the home. “These features remain the quiet heroes that inspired every decision but our clients are what made this experience special, and I wanted to do them justice. Even Uncle Amil who lives next door was included in the conversation,” says Priscilla.
Hallway
From the front door, architectural mouldings and archways at the entrance hall work to set the scene. The front reading room has been lavishly coated in layers of deep navy to further reflect the era of the home, using rich colours to create a moody yet cosy feel by the fire. An eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings complete the sumptuous space.
Stained windows are framed by midnight velvet Mokum fabric curtains and complemented by the Healey soft chair by Walter Knoll in tan leather. An authentic vintage crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
Fireplace
A new bathroom with integrated laundry replaces what was formerly the undersized kitchen. Fresh and neutral, the understated joinery allows the aged brass tapware to shine, while Calacatta marble tiling in a classic hexagon mosaic pattern takes the attention away from what is hidden behind the shaker style joinery doors.
Bathroom
The large rear addition marks the transition from heritage to modern with more neutral tones featured. The dining area boasts a ten-seater solid timber table paired with black leather chairs that complement the kitchen island bench stools by Grazia & Co. Skylights above let natural light permeate while pure linen curtains soften the space.
Dining room
Handmade and slightly imperfect, Moroccan Zellige tiles add depth to the kitchen splashback while the marble island is the main attraction – the underside of the bench is wrapped in a deep walnut colour. “By positioning the sink to the left side of the kitchen, the generous counter becomes flexible enough to double as a second, less formal dining space,” says Priscilla. Nearby, a hidden butler’s kitchen was a must for the family of five.
Kitchen
The rear lounge area features a double-sided wood fireplace that can be enjoyed from the outside too. “Our clients craved a space to unwind, prompting the use of neutral colours, plush furnishings and warm accents to realise their vision. Walking through, every element is of generous proportions, including the emotive art that feels immersive and soothing with shades of blue, orange and green,” says Priscilla.
Lounge room
The kidney shaped pool keeps the kids entertained
Upstairs, the daughter’s bedroom replicates the use of natural fibres and fabrics – a wool-blend Armadillo and Co rug underfoot, light timber side tables and aged brass antique bed frame, kept for sentimental reasons. The wardrobe joinery references the Federation style.
Along the winding back streets and neighbouring beach trails of the Mornington Peninsula, is a hidden gem of colour and texture. A beach house turned modern full-time residence, Denis and Jura’s Blairgowrie property is layered with Japanese charred timber – known as Yaki Sugi – pre-cast artisan concrete and bold, colourful accents.
Denis and Jura aspired to create a bespoke home that responded to how they live and reflected their personal style. The Stylesmiths lead interior designer, David Puckering, collaborated closely with them to realise their vision via a truly unique design. It encompasses the interior architecture and decoration of the entry, living, dining and kitchen. Previously, these zones were overwhelmingly open plan with no delineated spaces to lounge, dine or sit quietly.
As a pharmacist with a strong passion for renovating, Denis has a history of designing shopfronts for his businesses. However, this project called for some experienced ingenuity, so The Stylesmiths were engaged, and it wasn’t long before ideas started evolving and the initially small brief extended to include a larger collaboration.
Heavily inspired by the couple’s existing collection of limited edition Alice in Wonderland lithographs by the late Charles Blackman, the vast space has an overall gallery feel centred around the six pieces. Soft furnishings and accessories in exuberant colours mirror the wild yet soothing energy of the images, bringing the fantastical story to life. Especially dreamy is the hand knotted Designer Rug by Dinosaur Designs that effortlessly anchors this vibrant lounge space.
In the entry hang, the original Blackmans are tastefully contrasted by the block multicolour piece that draws your eye to the end of the hall. The 1993 poster “Festival of Saint-Denis, France” was a perfect addition for owner Denis given the name, encapsulating the couple’s love of interesting art that provokes emotion. The enormous piece replaces what was previously a glass door leading outside to the entertaining area by the pool, but the sight of the BBQ and lounge chairs left no room for imagination – now visitors are required to peak around the corner to discover more.
Stepping down from the entry into the generously sized living space, it’s easy to appreciate the benefits that having an integrated island entertainment unit brings. The new addition not only provides an architectural focus to orientate furniture around, it also breaks up the floorplan and forges two distinct zones that establishes much needed structure. The custom-built unit ties in the elements of the home, intersecting modernist minimal sensibilities with robust materials grounded in nature such as concrete, timber, blackened steel and handmade tiles.
Yaki Sugi charred timber wraps around the exterior of the home, harmoniously blending with the surrounding native vegetation and doubles as a fire-resistant façade. The timber is also applied inside the home as a feature wall in the lounge introducing a sense of connectivity that balances out the entire design. The timber panelling has been oil bent and left to set with a snake-skin texture that adds depth, presenting the perfect stage for one of Blackman’s lively lithographs, continuing down to conceal push-door storage. Below the blackened timber is a large plinth of polished concrete extending the width of the room, another nod to refined organic materials. The new entertainment unit mimics this previously existing plinth, duplicated by the same local craftsman designed specifically for fireplace and TV cabinet to sit.
Custom joinery set on cast concrete was designed to ensure the unit looks as discreet with doors open and TV on, as it does closed when the neighbouring fire is alight. The technical door mechanisms are but one layer of this deceptively simple construct – brass mirror panelling around the foundation creates the illusion that the concrete is floating. To accommodate the heat emitted from the Oblica fireplace, a layer of blackened steel wraps around the TV compartment to protect it. Treated with an acid wash which naturally oxidises the steel, the nuanced and random effect observed up close adds the element of “perfectly imperfect,” which Denis and Jura adore.
Slim, cream brick tiles cover the reverse side of the central unit that divides the living room from the dining area. The handmade tiles are made with sand granules that subtley allude to the coastal setting and enhance the visual impact of the dark Aboriginal portrait layered on top.
In the kitchen, original washed timber, grey splashbacks, and cream pendants typical of beach house style, have been given an upgrade with dramatic accents that continue the moody theme. Stylish matte black cabinetry and bronze mirror splashbacks add an organic warmth, matched in the pendant that adds functional light along the island bench.
David notes how important it is to be guided by your clients. “They understand the quirks of the house more than anyone.” Thus, when Jura insisted the island seating wasn’t practical for them, additional custom storage was an easy solution. A set of drawers now sit under the bench in the same veneer as the cabinets, with a hidden tech station in the middle drawer maximising the space. Similarly, open wine squares were covered to create a camouflaged bar unit that doesn’t distract from the more important elements. All new European appliances in black blend into the design, essential for any enthusiastic cook.
This reinvented mid-century project is a series of balances between colour, material and character, linked via lighting design chosen to create drama and contrast. Drop track lighting is positioned to highlight Blackman’s flamboyant artwork around the lounge and dining areas, which are all encased in museum glass to prevent any reflection or damage. Flush mounted spots that have been matched to the drop tracks providing more utilitarian light, whilst the dining pendant builds on the layers to create pools of light that fill the space with personality.
Photography: Gus MacDonald Photography | Interior Design: The Stylesmiths (leaddesigner David Puckering)
Bright fuchsia carpet, pastel blue and pink walls and emerald green velvet make for a fabulously opulent feel in this Melbourne family home that was renovated recently by the team at The Stylesmiths, with lead designer Danielle Brustman at the helm. The homeowners were keen to create a more ‘adult-friendly’ vibe given their children have grown up, and what emerged certainly filled the brief.
Dining room
“The makeover was inspired by the clients’ love for the fabulously eclectic New York apartment of American-Italian model Carmen Dell’Orefice which is artistic and chic but not too precious. The project aim was to create a mix of re-purposed vintage furniture with the kitsch, embracing the client’s poster and print collections,” says The Stylesmiths creative director Richard Misso of the 19th Century Victorian weatherboard home.
Bedroom
“The lead designer Danielle, with an eye for colour, materials and composition felt that the furnishings, surfaces and fixtures were outdated, which made the home dull. Bringing fresh eyes we injected more personality, colour, elegance and style. Receptive to these changes the clients entrusted in The Stylesmiths to integrate their original pieces of art with sentimental family value, whilst considering a matching palette that incorporated a broad spectrum of colour throughout,” says Richard.
And they certainly embraced colour! Each room is painted with a different colour swatch including base tones made up of soft, muted pastel pinks and blues. As a colour fan, I love how monochromatic each space is and I’m not surprised that the project was a finalist in the 2018 Dulux Colour Awards.
Lounge room
“It was important to look at the house and scheme as a whole. The process involves creating a spread of swatches, fabrics and materials throughout the home to ensure that the balance works throughout the entire scheme,” says Richard who explains that strong contrasting tones formed the icing on the cake. “Deep green, navy, black, gold and magenta were layered via furnishings, paint, wallpaper and surface treatments,” says Richard.
The renovation included several fabulous upcycling projects too. The living room features reupholstered, well-loved art deco chairs that look completely fresh courtesy of a sumptuous bottle green velvet and the family’s circular dining table now features Japanese black lacquer legs and a black glass top.
The dining room features an upcycled dining table.
The home also boasts an abundance of texture. “We worked with layers of texture to mix things up. We used a combination of very shiny and reflective glass surfaces alongside rich velvets and earthy wool/linen and leather textures. Mixing it up gives each space a unique feel. We went to town with velvet on this project too,” says Richard.
Fancy a trip to India but can’t afford the airfare? Well the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto may just have the next best thing.
In celebration of the release of the hilarious The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel to DVD, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and the InterContinental have launched The Marigold Suite.
Styled by interior designer Kali Cavanagh (of The Stylesmiths), the Junior Suite at Melbourne’s InterContinental has been transformed into a grand Indian-inspired hotel room. Influenced by her own trips to India and by the film itself, Kali has used vibrant and textured fabrics, golds and brass pieces and lots of flowers and plants to create a space that embodies the feel of a luxurious Indian hotel room.
Furniture standouts include an antique Indian ladder, an orange velvet bedspread and cushions, Baroque antique tables in brass, antique accessories from Orient Express and a Marigold weave rug from Armadillo & Co. The stunning flowers, palms and pots used bring the whole space together and work to make the room really pop with all the colours and excitement of the film.
The Marigold Suite can be booked until the end of August from $360 per night. For more information.
