September 2017
This Melbourne home interior is plein de vie
L’Histoire………..
A grand Melbourne home, forgotten for years, has been saved from apartment development and restored.
An early 1926 design by Melbourne society architect Marcus Martin [1893 – 1988 ], the footprint of this house is wide yet shallow allowing all rooms to face onto the magnificent northern tiered garden.
The owners connected the ground floor rooms with a series of double doors to create an enfilade of light filled spaces.
Inspired by the simplicity of French country homes, the installation of extra wide blonde floor boards combined with the existing high ceilings and white walls have provided the perfect mise en scene for vignettes of art and objects.
Entrée……….
The crunch of white gravel stones underfoot immediately transports us from the Melbourne streetscape into to the sunny French countryside.
A large abstract canvas painted by the owner bathes the entry in a luminous pink glow. In front are spring blooms in a lilac vase from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London.
A miniature antique framed oil painting depicting a French seaside port draws attention to the extraordinary ceiling height in this old home.
The restrained decision to have no floor rugs highlights the beautiful timber floors and connects the series of rooms. It’s by simply not doing, that this interior achieves it’s feeling of undone insouciance.
A raw timber provincial chair from Rose Street Trading Co and hand painted linen tree cushion from Manon bis below the greys and sea greens of one of the owners own seascapes.
The french inspired garden…………..
De The…………..
We enjoy a welcoming cup of tea in an intimate living room to the left. Tea cup from T2
A new French stone fire surround with a simple unframed mirror above displays white porcelain candlesticks and a bronze cheetah sculpture, a treasured birthday gift.
Crystal cut glass spheres in front of the rich colors of a painting by an Australian indigenous artist.
Le Coeur de la maison…………..
Gloss cabinetry reflects a white Murano glass chandelier from Mondo Luce Melbourne
With no formal dining room, the kitchen and dining spaces operate as one allowing a relaxed entertaining style in the heart of this home.
The kitchen is filled with brightly coloured pieces stemming from a love of Moroccan cooking. We loved the pink kitchenaid stand mixer . On the wall is a framed miniature ‘cheetah’ painted by the owner.
Potted blue hydrangeas and much used gardening tools on the Minimo table by Piero Lissoni with chairs, both from Space Furniture . A glass framed charcoal on paper by Australian Indigenous Art Award winner Brian Martin .
Se Detendre……………..
To relax ……..there is a room at the farthest end with a large sectional linen sofa.
Another seascape by the owner artist is complimented by velvet scatter cushions in jeweled sea tones from Ikea plus home-made down filled linen covers sewn from a mix of Designers Guild remnants picked up whilst in London.
En Haut…….
Upstairs……, windows are flung open and colourful provincial courtepoint cotton bedspreads add southern French charm to all the bedrooms.
Between two shuttered windows in the master bedroom is a 1970 artwork titled ‘When the soul sleeps’ by artist friend and Melbourne treasure Mirka Mora. This work features on the book cover of Mirka’s biography.
Words copyright 2016 DesignConsigned.com.au
Images by Melissa Stewart for designconsigned 2016
