Houzz Tour: Bright Contemporary Style in an Australian Family Home
A family's artwork led the way for a polished look in a spacious new build brought to life with clever lighting
Moving into a brand new house is a nice idea, but if it’s a completely different style and size to your last home, it’s a gamble whether your furniture will fit in or look out of place. This is exactly what one family faced when they moved into a spacious new home built to replace an older single-storey home in Melbourne’s leafy Hawthorn East. While the home suited the area – it is surrounded by large, new mansions and stately Edwardian houses – the family’s furniture did not fit in with the home.
‘It is a beautiful house, however it had its own set of challenges for the interior decoration,’ says Sisalla Interior Design director Lauren Macer. ‘As is typical of a lot of new houses, the rooms are very spacious and, although it’s great to have a lot of space, it’s also important to create a feeling of comfort and atmosphere. A big, empty white room does not feel like home.’
The family hired Macer to create a coherent interior that looked polished and sophisticated, but it also needed to become a low-maintenance backdrop for their busy lives.
While most of the family’s existing furniture had to go, the clients kept a few key pieces of Mid-century furniture and some great artwork pieces they’d collected locally and from overseas – they ended up being the stylistic inspiration behind the interior design. ‘They are quite abstract with similar colouring and are pieces that I am personally drawn to, which allowed the design process to run organically,’ Macer says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A professional couple with two teenage boys
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Size 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
‘It is a beautiful house, however it had its own set of challenges for the interior decoration,’ says Sisalla Interior Design director Lauren Macer. ‘As is typical of a lot of new houses, the rooms are very spacious and, although it’s great to have a lot of space, it’s also important to create a feeling of comfort and atmosphere. A big, empty white room does not feel like home.’
The family hired Macer to create a coherent interior that looked polished and sophisticated, but it also needed to become a low-maintenance backdrop for their busy lives.
While most of the family’s existing furniture had to go, the clients kept a few key pieces of Mid-century furniture and some great artwork pieces they’d collected locally and from overseas – they ended up being the stylistic inspiration behind the interior design. ‘They are quite abstract with similar colouring and are pieces that I am personally drawn to, which allowed the design process to run organically,’ Macer says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A professional couple with two teenage boys
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Size 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
When it came to the spacious family area, Macer faced the challenge of designing an open-plan living area that each member of the family could use simultaneously, while also creating an interior space that looked clean and sophisticated.
The TV is integrated into the back wall with shelving above and a large mirror adjacent so that isn’t the first thing you see when you walk in. The large ottoman works better in the space than a coffee table – the boys can sit on it, put their feet up and it adds a pop of colour.
The TV is integrated into the back wall with shelving above and a large mirror adjacent so that isn’t the first thing you see when you walk in. The large ottoman works better in the space than a coffee table – the boys can sit on it, put their feet up and it adds a pop of colour.
The formal living and dining areas called for a more sophisticated and ‘grown-up’ approach. A darker palette, with accents of turquoise and blues drawn from the artworks, gives a feeling of modern luxury.
Dashes of glamour are found in layered texture, lighting and art glass with metallic accessories.
Dashes of glamour are found in layered texture, lighting and art glass with metallic accessories.
In the formal dining room, Macer redesigned the table using the clients’ existing table top.
“The client had owned the existing table for many years and it had sentimental meaning, however the style wasn’t right for the space,” Macer says. “I designed a new steel base and the existing timber top was refinished, resulting in a beautiful new piece.”
Adding layers of lighting has also had a dramatic effect. “We added pendant lights, lighting for the artwork, and floor and table lights that give a textured lighting effect and so much ambience.”
Table: Black Dog
“The client had owned the existing table for many years and it had sentimental meaning, however the style wasn’t right for the space,” Macer says. “I designed a new steel base and the existing timber top was refinished, resulting in a beautiful new piece.”
Adding layers of lighting has also had a dramatic effect. “We added pendant lights, lighting for the artwork, and floor and table lights that give a textured lighting effect and so much ambience.”
Table: Black Dog
The saturated turquoise floor rug in the formal lounge ties the space together.
‘I love large floor rugs that define an area within a larger space,’ Macer says. ‘The largest rug possible in the space works well with the furniture on the rug; my pet hate is little rugs that float in the middle of the space; they actually make the space feel smaller.’
Aesthetically, Macer loves the effect the sheer curtains create in the formal living and bedroom. ‘They soften the spaces and are simply beautiful,’ she says. ‘As designers we can get obsessed with allowing natural light into spaces, but in this case it was about filtering the light and darkening the room to create a moody effect.’
Rug: The Rug Collection
‘I love large floor rugs that define an area within a larger space,’ Macer says. ‘The largest rug possible in the space works well with the furniture on the rug; my pet hate is little rugs that float in the middle of the space; they actually make the space feel smaller.’
Aesthetically, Macer loves the effect the sheer curtains create in the formal living and bedroom. ‘They soften the spaces and are simply beautiful,’ she says. ‘As designers we can get obsessed with allowing natural light into spaces, but in this case it was about filtering the light and darkening the room to create a moody effect.’
Rug: The Rug Collection
Much thought went into the lighting choices throughout the house, the idea being to really make the spaces come alive and to add instant atmosphere at night. ‘We installed pendant lights over the dining tables, kitchen bench and cascading over the stairs, which gives the spaces a real presence,’ Macer says. ‘We also installed directional ceiling lighting pointed towards the artworks and the result is amazing.’
To create a more intimate and serene atmosphere in the spacious master bedroom, Macer went with a dark blue palette layered with natural linen bedding and sheer curtains.
‘The bedside lamps add a dash of luxe to the master bedroom; I love them,’ Mercer says.
Lamps: Euroluce
See more dark colour schemes
‘The bedside lamps add a dash of luxe to the master bedroom; I love them,’ Mercer says.
Lamps: Euroluce
See more dark colour schemes
Of the couple, the wife had more day-to-day input in the design process, although the husband is just as thrilled as his wife is with the result.
‘He said that he loves coming home each day and stepping through the front door; it really feels like home,’ Macer says. ‘To me, that’s what it
should all be about.’
Do you like this home? Tell us why in the Comments below.
‘He said that he loves coming home each day and stepping through the front door; it really feels like home,’ Macer says. ‘To me, that’s what it
should all be about.’
Do you like this home? Tell us why in the Comments below.
‘Mixing up the colours of the dining chairs was a little unusual, however the end result is a really interesting and fun space,’ Macer says. ‘And the client has been thrilled with the result, too.’
Chairs: Insitu
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