Belle Home Feature

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BEST OF One couple with two very their wish in this 1930s

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BOTH WORLDS different ideas of luxury are each granted home that reflects their personal best.

Words CARLI PHILIP S Photography SHARYN CAIRNS Styling MARSHA GOLEMAC

These pages The rear extension by Powell & Glenn contains the new dining and living room. Its clean, contemporary lines are a marked contrast to the original period home.

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This page A ‘St Tropez’ table from MCM House is centred in the entrance, which is paved in palladiana terrazzo with an alabaster base.

Wilpena Wattle, Gums and Glade artwork by Nicholas Harding from Sophie Gannon Gallery. Opposite page In the study, custom desk by Sally Caroline on which sits ‘Black Dildo’ vase by Seb Brown from Pieces of Eight, Earth Tray #1 by Ella Bendrups from Mr Kitly and Oluce ‘Atollo’ metal lamp from Euroluce. Cassina ‘055 Capitol Complex’ chair by Pierre Jeanneret from Mohd. Walls in Dulux ‘Goyder’.

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These pages, from left In the formal sitting room, linen sofa from Studio Cavit, Tommaso Barbi coffee table and vintage chandelier, both from Pamono, ocelot and lion print rug from Brownlow Interior Design, Gubi ‘9602’ lamp from In Good Company, B&B Italia ‘Le Bambole’ armchairs from Space, cushions from House of Hackney and mirror by India Mahdavi from Studio ALM. Walls finished in Dulux ‘Goyder’. In the gallery, custom console and ‘Pear’ mirror, both by Sally Caroline, Japanese pottery basket from Kazari + Ziguzagu, Romina Gris vase from House of Orange, Liam Fleming ‘Graft’ vase from Modern Times and vessel from Pieces of Eight.

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he same as for all her projects, designer Sally Knibbs of Sally Caroline met her first-time clients armed with a quiz. It’s an initial briefing phase that she says is crucial to the way she does business. “For so many people, a new home and renovation is one of the biggest things they’ll do in their lives. People plan for years and work extremely hard to reach this point and getting it right is critical. We just have to nail it so I’m big on asking the important, strategic questions and really getting into the nitty-gritty details.”

The homeowners were moving from a conservative Edwardian property and this was the first home they had ever bought and designed together. It soon became apparent that the couple differed greatly when it came to their perspectives on luxury. While he was more classic, reserved and quiet, her taste geared towards something more wild and rebellious.

They were, however, a united front when it came to one instruction: “nothing cookie cutter”.

“They wanted to respect the integrity of the original building by designing something made to last – but not something to be expected,” says Sally. “The compromise was to make some areas more his, and others more hers. Each space was treated individually – some parts were dialled up, others dialled down.” While he favoured something more relaxed, her cues were more out there. Armed with mood boards, she had clear references to lively green hues, textural orange velvets and a palette favoured by luxury fashion brand Celine. Bearing this in mind, Sally carefully considered where to up the ante and, conversely, where to temper the tone.

Either way, it would be a nudge out of their respective comfort zones. Care was taken to introduce materials and furnishings that would sit well within the grand proportions and traditional elements of the house but also inject a “fun factor” of balanced juxtapositions. There are offbeat colours such as heavy emerald drapes and wine-hued armchairs, but also more demure moments where wispy-white sheer curtains sashay around buttery leather sofas. »

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Melbourne These pages, clockwise from left The kitchen’s palette of desert tones includes benchtops and splashback in Verde Alpi marble from G-Lux, timber joinery, solid-oak parquetry flooring from Le Parqueteur, ‘Diiva’ swivel stools in custom upholstery from Grazia & Co and Gretel Corrie terracotta vase from Modern Times.

Architect Ed Glenn of Powell & Glenn with interior designer Sally Knibbs of Sally Caroline. Adjoining the kitchen is a casual area for the kids with hidden storage under a banquette upholstered in Colourscapes ‘Babou’ from Unique Fabrics. Glas Italia ‘Shimmer Tavoli’ side table by Patricia Urquiola from Space. In the pool pavilion, the downstairs living area with Venetian polished plaster walls is furnished with a sofa from Maker&Son, B&B Italia ‘Lady-Fat’ ottoman from Space and rug from Armadillo.

« Originally built in the 1930s, the house had a dated 90s renovation and needed considerable work to bring it back to life.

Renowned architects Powell & Glenn were brought on board, gutting the interiors and creating a clever extension. The house now opens into a generous entryway and subsequent gallery lined in impressive green palladiana terrazzo flooring reminiscent of an Italian palazzo. Branching to the right are the original heritage rooms, still lined in their period mouldings and outfitted in conservatively hued furniture with a chandelier well suited to the formality of the space. Adjoining this room is the study, where an eye-catching metallic ‘Atollo’ lamp rests atop a custom desk in a glossy vivid green.

To the left of the gallery and tucked under the staircase is a compact powder room followed by one big open-plan zone, starting with the kitchen on the west wall, followed by an impressive brass island bench. A new addition encompassing the dining area and casual living room has been composed with an arrangement of sofas, cushions and armchairs in desert tones of khaki, wine, hazelnut and saffron. Behind the kitchen, timber flooring continues through to the new build and ground floor

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pool pavilion. Here, the palladiana flooring picks up again, calling to mind a boutique European hotel or beach club with its indooroutdoor paving and casual living area kitted out in whitewashed shutters, sisal carpets, linen sofas and an impressive marble bar made with mesh pivot doors. To put it simply, says Sally, this is the “party cabinet … the stuff dreams are made of”. Beyond, double doors open to freshly manicured gardens by Myles Baldwin.

From the pool pavilion, a set of back stairs moves through to the first floor part of the double-storey extension to a playroom, kids bedroom and bathroom. The remainder of the floor is planned with a central hall, off which are two bedrooms and another bathroom. At the end of the corridor, the master suite is made up of an ensuite and two dressing rooms, hers a gutsy space where a voluptuous makeup vanity in high-gloss candy pink sits atop mossy green carpet. In contrast, the bedroom is decidedly masculine. A large void shines a light on the central front stairs that lead back to the ground floor entryway. “There’s just a beautiful interplay of individual dynamics,” says Sally of the house and its spaces. “It’s a place for family, and always a home for fun.” # sallycaroline.com; powellandglenn.com.au; mylesbaldwin.com

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This page, from top The pool pavilion’s bar exudes the sporty glamour of a European beach club with its mesh pivot doors, swathes of Arabescato Vagli marble

SPEED READ » This original 1930s home in Melbourne’s bayside was the first renovation project the homeowners undertook as a couple. » Architects Powell & Glenn created a masterplan for the property but, structurally, the existing home was kept intact. » The addition involved the extension of a communal living and dining zone. » A new double-storey poolpavilion wing was also added and lined in lavish palladiana terrazzo paving. » Interiors pro Sally Knibbs reimagined the new interiors by balancing out-there moments with quieter spaces to satisfy the brief.

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from Corsi and Nicolai and ‘Amalfi’ bar stools from JANUS et Cie. The facade of the pool pavilion, which houses the ground-level bar and living zones with new bedrooms upstairs. ‘Zeta’ sunloungers from Satara. Opposite page, clockwise from top left In the master bedroom, glass sculpture by Bastien Thomas and Mari Masot ‘Two-Part’ planter, both from Pépite, and Iittala ‘Aalto’ vase. Black Verandah artwork by Rob Howe from Sophie Gannon Gallery. SuperTuft wool-velour carpet. A Fontana Arte-style ‘Broken Glass’ wall sconce from 1stdibs and custom mirror by Sally Caroline hang in the master ensuite above the vanity in Arabescato Vagli marble from Corsi and Nicolai. The view from the entry gallery through to the pool pavilion. The master bedroom walk-in robe features a custom makeup vanity and ottoman. Cheshire Architects ‘Parison’ table lamp from District.