ISSUE #24 2017
A Tranquil Getaway IN MALLORCA
REFINED RUSTIC
DESIGN BEGINS WITH THE LINE
MINIMAL, MODERN AND ELEGANT. UNSURPASSED COOKING TECHNOLOGY.
smeg.com.au
OVENS • COMPACT OVENS • WARMING DRAWERS COFFEE MACHINE • COOKTOPS
Tufty-Time, seat system designed by Patricia Urquiola. UP5-UP6, armchair designed by Gaetano Pesce. www.bebitalia.com
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Singapore, Kuala Lumpur
spacefurniture.com
It’s your time. Living Systems, Kitchens & Bathrooms for every moment of the day.
rogerseller.com.au
16 : 43
Time to relax.
The timeless KV1 brings elegant modernism to any design scheme. The original VOLA icon combines function and beauty, in a rich palette of high quality materials. Often imitated but ever equalled, the KV1 remains the designers’ first choice.
VOLA Design Pty. Ltd. sales@vola.com.au www.vola.com
est ISSUE #24 2017
Editor’s Letter Ending your beachside family holiday in January with a quick two week sojourn to Europe is something that I can recommend to every working mother (should they be so incredibly lucky - cough, cough!) After 4 days of trawling the well trod halls of Maison Objet and the streets of Paris (with a little side trip to London thrown in for good measure) I came back with no doubt in my mind that Australia is really on top of its game when it comes to interior design and decoration. Not only are we lucky to have amazing importers like Richard Munao at
Cult, Fiona Lyda at Spence & Lyda, Space and Poliform to name a few - we are also incredibly lucky to have beautiful boutique retailers selling highly covetable homewares to fill our homes. On this big island we seem to have it all...
Sian MacPherson EDITOR IN CHIEF
est MAGAZINE
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Contents | Regulars
09 EDITOR’S LETTER
12 THE LOOK OF LUXE
14 BEST OF MAISON OBJET
Win a Menu Grinder Set
Velvet Obsession
Homewares to Covet
16 INNER PEACE
42 RECTORY REVIVAL
64 TO THE POINT
Mallorca Home
South Africa Home
Sydney Home
75 A FAMILY HOME FOR ALL
90 GET THE LOOK
108 TRAVEL
Santa Clara Boutique Hotel
Kitchen and Bathroom
Gigi’s Singapore Guide
est GLOBAL LIVING WITH AN AUSTRALIAN TWIST
EDITOR IN CHIEF SIAN MACPHERSON sian@estliving.com
MANAGING EDITOR MELIA RAYNER melia@estliving.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER GEORGIE MCKENZIE production@estliving.com
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR MIFFY COADY miffy@estliving.com
CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHY Greg Cox, Lisbeth Grossman, Katherine Lu, Elsa Young WORDS Robyn Alexander, Yvette Caprioglio, Kerryn Fischer, Gigi Hopkins, Melia Rayner PRODUCTION Sven Alberding, Luanne Toms
ON THE COVER
PHOTOGRAPHY Greg Cox LOCATION Mallorca, Spain
ENQUIRIES
EDITORIAL editorial@estliving.com PRODUCTION production@estliving.com ADVERTISING advertising@estliving.com
CONNECT
Satin & Velvet Jacket ELIZABETH AND JAMES AMBROSE Leather Pants RAG & BONE Ruched Top ISABEL MARANT ÉTOILE
the look of luxe As the summer light fades, autumn calls for something more lush like Velvet. From go-to black to more dramatic hues, velvet lends itself to dressed up daytime glamour or simple evening chic. Offset the dramatic note with a simple silk tank or add contrast with leather. If you want just a hint of texture add a classic heel or a velvet bag. The key to pulling off this wearable luxe look is to create your own take on it. BY Yvette Caprioglio
Velvet Heels GIANVITO ROSSI
Velvet Boots GIANVITO ROSSI Velvet Clutch ANYA HINDMARCH
Silk Top VALENTINO
Velvet Trousers & Jacket VETEMENTS
LONDON WASHING UP LIQUID Tom Dixon SARN LIGHT Specimen Editions
DÉBATTRE GLASS Q de Bouteilles
editors picks With literally thousands of products to choose from after visiting almost each and every stand at this years must-see Maison Objet Fair in Paris, I found my self struggling to narrow down my list of covetable homewares to share with you. Of course, simple, pared down design won me over and in the end and it was these particular pieces that found their way straight to the top of my personal covet list. BY Sian MacPherson
TERRACOTTA TABLE LAMP Atelier Poly Hedre
MARBLE, 2016
RODAN COFFEE TABLE Pinch Design
Zuza Mangham
CANOT Andree Jardin
TAILOR SOFA Menu
est REGULAR HOME FEATURE
INNER PEACE In a quiet village on the eastern side of the Spanish island of Mallorca, Danish architect Claus Bjarrum has fashioned a tranquil, minimalist holiday home that is the perfect place to unwind. PHOTOGRAPHY Greg Cox WORDS Robyn Alexander STYLING Sven Alberding
The antidote to the ever-busy everyday reality is, for fortunate homeowners Claus and Kirsten Bjarrum, a tranquil holiday home situated in one of the quietest parts of Mallorca: the small village of Alquería Blanca on the eastern side of the island. Located in a predominantly agricultural area, the village is not far from the sea but it is definitely not at the coast, and its atmosphere is truely rural. This is a place where the pace of daily is life still governed by old-fashioned rhythms and rituals. An architect who has worked on both private and public buildings in his native Denmark, Claus describes the renovation of the boxy, traditional sandstone structure as a process of ‘opening, simplifying and finding a contemporary take on the vernacular’. ‘The entrance hall in Mallorcan homes,’ says Claus, ‘is always an open, welcoming space, and it always has a staircase in it.’ Here, the ceiling that originally existed in this space has been removed ensuring the visitor’s eye is drawn immediately up the curvaceous staircase to the old stone archway and to the lofty, vaulted ceiling, which like the rest of the interior is painted white. Also instantly eye-catching are the floors: exactly the same throughout the entire interior, they are made from poured cement in a soft, creamy colour. Cool, smooth and welcoming they were created using a traditional technique for Mallorcan flooring, in which poured cement is mixed with a little of the reddish local sand to give it a unique colour. They did 13 samples, says Claus, before finding the perfect shade. The other surfaces are all also tactile and sculptural: some parts of the walls are clad in plaster and painted a refreshingly pure white, while in other areas the traditional sandstone has been left unplastered, exposing the contrasting roughhewn structure. The ground-floor rooms feature typical Mallorcan exposed wooden ceiling beams, placed parallel to one another in neat rows. On the first floor are several beautiful vaulted ceilings, created using a very old, traditional Mallorcan technique that was demonstrated to Claus during the renovation and that ‘every local bricklayer can do,’ he says.
These ceilings have been mostly painted white, with one section left with the original glazed ceramic finish to add visual interest and reveal the process of their making. The material needed to add height to the stone walls up here did not have to travel far: the sandstone excavated to creates the swimming pool in the courtyard garden behind the house was used for this purpose. The roof terrace affords a sweeping view of the outskirts of AlquerĂa Blanca and the surrounding countryside down to the nearby Mediterranean, and is the ideal place to while away a warm summer evening. Its plain wicker furnishings are echoed in the almost monastic simplicity of the bedrooms and pared-back bathrooms. In the bedrooms, furnishings are kept to an absolute minimum. A single plain white wardrobe in each one hides clutter, floating shelves on each side of the bed serve as bedside ‘pedestals’. The bathrooms are even simpler: in each, a frosted glass panel encloses the shower area, and there is also a wall-mounted basin and concealedcistern toilet. Plain mirror panels, simple stainlesssteel mixer taps and a Mallorcan basket or two complete the minimalist picture. Previously broken up into a series of small rooms, the ground floor is now an equally uncluttered space in which the entrance hall and living area and adjoining guest bedroom flow smoothly through into the kitchen-dining room. The section of the building in which this room is situated was originally the stables, which had at some point had a small bathroom inserted into a section of it. The kitchen is now both simple and elegant: a long, fairly narrow space, it features a cast concrete countertop that runs the entire length of the room. Here the extended countertop functions to elongate the room still further while the cupboards below the countertop are fronted with slatted wooden doors, which echo the exterior shutters in form. The homes exterior shutters were carefully designed by Claus so that in the middle of summer, when the sun is higher in the sky, the doors provide maximum shade while in winter sunlight filters in to help warm the interior.
The main living area opens onto the garden behind the house via typical, traditional wood and glass doors, with a built-in couch stretching along the entire length of the room and a white String storage unit hugging the other wall. The decor here is a useful demonstration of how well traditional furniture and crafts work in conjunction with pared-back modern pieces. The wood and metal desks designed by Claus, for example, perfectly complement traditional wooden Mallorcan chairs. Outdoor living is centred around a rectangular salt-water swimming pool with a raised surrounding wall and a blue mosaic tiled interior. The water-wise garden planting features a veritable mini-forest of lavender and a large lemon tree that provides the inspiration behind the name of this beautiful, peaceful ‘still point’ of a house: Ca’n Limon.
Vintage Kilim Cushion $69 JOY THORPE
Dornstab Floor Light $5500 GREAT DANE FURNITURE
Black Leather Butterfly Chair $1790 FUNKIS
Tray Table $350 CULT Jute Basket $179 DHARMA DOOR
Foto Pendant Lamp $29 IKEA
Airport Sofa POA POLIFORM
RECTORY REVIVAL A first-time visit to the Cape Town home of the de Waal family is a guaranteed to be a memorable experience. WORDS Kerryn Fischer | PRODUCTION Luanne Toms PHOTOGRAPHY Elsa Young
Wedged graciously between the buzz of Kloof Street and the arterial traffic of Kloof Nek Road, in an area where tiny semis are the order of the day in this part of Capetown, this rambling and gracious home designed by Sir Herbert Baker in the late 1880s, is a wonderful surprise. Not least for its gargantuan 2000m2 sized urban plot of land. Design consultant Doreen and her husband Meyer, a property lawyer, have lived here for almost 20 years while raising their three children; son Uno, 32, and daughters Jade, 24, and Olivia, 18, here. The DeWaal’s bought the house before Olivia was born over eighteen years ago, when it was still the rectory for the St Barnabas Anglican church next door. Best described as pre-Victorian, postGeorgian in style, Doreen admits that the house wasn’t love at first sight but more a gradual appreciation. ‘It wasn’t my style from an interior perspective but I could see the possibilities of such a wonderful house and garden and of course its location in the centre of the city.’ A self-described closet minimalist, Doreen simplified the layout and fittings of the interiors as much as she could whilst ensuring that every room in the house was imbued with plentiful light, bursts of colour and a strong sense of comfort. ‘We did everything over time but the most significant was to simplify the flow of space, so we broke out the kitchen into one big room and then opened it onto the back garden. We also put in a main bathroom off the main bedroom and we went up into the roof for Olivia’s room.’ There’s an understated sense of drama and presence to this home that no doubt comes from Doreen’s career as a publicist in the theatre and as a magazine stylist. ‘I love pattern and colour but none of that is really obvious in the house as the style here is a real mix. There’s the strong architecture of the house, along with inherited pieces that I may not necessarily like but that are important as they represent who we are, together with the personalities of our family.’
Antico Luce Cotto Natural Tiles ECO OUTDOORS
6013 Brass Door Handle POA PITELLA
Tehro Lamp $670 CULT
Kali Stoneware Plates $99 AURA
Huxley Dining Table POA JARDAN
Terracotta Tagine $25 WORLD MARKET
CH24 Wishbone Chair $1300 CULT
As a veteran renovator, over the years Doreen has restored many houses and apartment blocks in the city bowl, before selling them on and finding a new project. Her savvy sense of spatial dynamics together with her pared-down aeshetic and talent for identifying the functional nub of a space, has ensured that the house has changed with minimal transition. Above all, Doreen craves simplicity. ‘I’d rather have one utterly gorgeous find than a slew of mediocre things, and I’m not really drawn to grand stuff or lots of art either, I’m not quite sure what I’d do with it all.’ The colour in the house is a nod to Meyer who likes bright colours, and so Doreen has been mindful to include it in small doses around the house from bathroom tiles to a cupboard or chair. Their savvy restoration of one of the great historic houses in the City Bowl has been greatly influenced by Doreen’s signature sense of style and the family’s bonhomie and lust for life. With a saxophonist, a publisher, a chef and a creative stylist in the family, there’s always something going on. And as both Doreen and Meyer grew up in homes where food was a firm focus, as was entertaining, the house sort of grew to accommodate that kind of lifestyle too. Recently Doreen’s focus has shifted to a portfolio of Cape Town cottages and loft apartments that she has designed and decorated to rent out. ‘Our home has always been an open house to our friends and our children’s friends, a place where everybody gets together,’ says Doreen. ‘Mostly because of the space it offers. But it has definitely become something else since I started the home rental business, InAweStays. In addition to the guest accommodation, there are also regular Food Jam dinner club evenings hosted by daughter Jade, all of which Doreen and the house take in their full stride. ‘The house is wonderful like that,’ says Doreen. ‘It opens up or closes in as the occasion requires.’
TO THE POINT Faced with limited space and an awkward layout, Brad Schwartz reinvigorated this 1950’s apartment with a streamlined layout and sleek timber veneer. PHOTOGRAPHY Katherine Lu WORDS Melia Rayner
Blessed with those signature Sydney harbourside views and ocean breeze, Darling Point is one of the most enviable postcodes in a city with plenty of beautiful locales. Originally built in the 1950s, this apartment boasted stunning outside views but inside, the interior was lacking.
KV1 Mixer Tap VOLA
Enter Brad Schwartz, one of Sydney’s most promising emerging architects with a track record for transforming small spaces to elegant, generous interiors. With a client brief to overcome the original apartment’s ‘awkward’ layout, Schwartz stripped back the elements and reorganised the home’s floor plan to reflect a modern lifestyle. The central living, dining and kitchen spaces were reinvigorated as an open plan area, with the floor finishes adding gentle definition between the kitchen and living spaces. The diagonal line of the floor finishes also guides the positioning of the living space towards the balcony and harbour views, lending greater emphasis to the beauty of the panorama outside. Concealed behind the entryway is the bedroom and bathroom as well as laundry and storage areas cleverly tucked away behind the new timber veneer panelling. Reinforced in the kitchen and bedroom cabinetry, the timber veneer is a warm contrast to the concrete and carpet of the predominantly white interior aesthetic.
Helios Table Lamp $1850 WORKSTEAD
White Smoked Oak POA WOODCUT
With minimal space to play with, both furnishings and finishes have been kept to a minimum to emphasise the gentle approach of the design. The open plan area was imagined as a space to highlight the owners furniture and art collection, in particular the Alvar Aalto furniture as a reminder of the original building’s era. While most of the design rests on a simple, gently Scandinavian aesthetic, the bathroom finishes reference the 1950s tiling of the original apartment, and the balcony’s whitepainted bricks meld the styles of the building’s contemporary interior and the original brownbrick exterior together. These small touches add character and respect to the design, grounding it in history as well as looking ahead to future inhabitants.
Classic Thermoseal Pyrolytic Oven SMEG
A FAMILY HOME FOR ALL More family home than hotel, Santa Clara 1728 offers relaxed hospitality in a historic 18th century building. WORDS Melia Rayner
One of Europe’s most quietly romantic cities, Lisbon charms with its historic backdrop and bustling local culture - so it was only a matter of time before hotelier João Rodrigues stumbled across an 18th century in one of Lisbon’s most picturesque squares and knew it was perfect for his growing boutique hotel collection. Known for a string of small, design-driven properties across Portugal, Rodrigues enlisted the help of good friend and leading local architect Manuel Aires Mateus to carry out a comprehensive renovation of the property, bringing together the heritage of the building with a delicate contemporary touch to create Santa Clara 1728, a family home that welcomes long-time friends and global travellers alike. Surrounded by historic monuments, beautiful palaces and stunning river views, the building’s design emphasises the familiarity and intimacy of a family home through understated features and a respect for the surroundings. Large windows frame the beauty of the city surrounds, the communal dining room provides a centre point to come together over a meal, and raw elements from the original home have been embraced and preserved rather than replaced. Mateus’ simple, delicate interiors thoughtfully develop the sense of comfort amongst the building’s heritage foundations, favouring neutral hues, natural materials and Antonio Citterio furnishings with one or two well-chosen classic artworks to further the sense of history and culture. The two suites, the Suite Santa Clara and Suite Tejo, cater to a family of a four and a couple respectively, each including living spaces and large bedrooms. Contrasted with the warm, rich interiors of the downstairs areas, the guest rooms have a light, modern aesthetic with grey and blue hues, earthy linens and some downright dreamy bathrooms. With its intimate design, communal features and grounding in the city’s history and culture Santa Clara 1728 is certainly more family home than hotel. While certainly more stylish than our usual abode, its personality is welcoming, peaceful and comfortable - all the elements most welcome after a long flight.
Strata Argentum Neolith POA CDK Arq Wall Mixer Tap $555 ROGERSELLER
Radient Sconce $1660 LIVING EDGE
Stone Bath POA B.E. ARCHITECTURE
Vida Towel $129 ABODE LIVING
Clare Cousins Architecture NEW NORDIC STYLE
Photo: Lisbeth Grosmann
Clare Cousins Architecture “The design responded to our Swedish-Australian clients’ brief for a classic Scandinavian material palette.” DESIGNERS Clare Cousins, Sarah Cosentino, Sarah Birthisel. BUILDER Fido Projects.
Raft Stool CULT
Unforgettable DULUX
Bianco Carrara CDK STONE
Black Tray FUGA
Gabbe Design MODERN MEDITERRANEAN
Photo: Amelia Stanwix
Gabbe Design “A treasure hunter and market-maven at heart, I curated a culturallyinspired yet modern design, piecing together references from all over the world to result in a space that transported us off the streetscape into our very own escape.” DESIGNER Georgia Ezra
Harsin Rug CADRYS
Icon Tap ASTRA WALKER
Ice Snow CAESARSTONE
Zellige Moroccan Tiles TILES OF EZRA
Multiform FORM 1 KITCHEN
Monroe Pendant Light RAKUMBA
White Oak Flooring WOODCUT
Tonic Kitchen Mixer ROGERSELLER
Black Ceramics SPENCE & LYDA
Jackson Clement Burrows Architects SLEEK AND SPACIOUS
“This Kitchen was designed for a client who loves to entertain with the large timber doors to the rear leading to a wellequipped scullery.” DESIGNER Jackson Clement Burrows
Cement Neolith CDK STONE
Jean Stool LIVING EDGE
Liebherr Fridge E&S TRADING
Meet the experts. From concept to conclusion, we’ll guide the way. Let us help bring your ideas to life www.rogerseller.com.au/appointment
By Rogerseller Catalano Effegibi Falper Fantini Lema Valcucine
Est Design Directory MIXED MATERIALS
Scoop Chair REMODERN
‘Dry 01’ by Chris Warnes OTOMYS
Crono Sofa FANULI
Fizi Ball Sconce ARTICOLO
Tati Coat Rack GREAT DANE FURNITURE
Saddle Leather SPINNYBECK
IO Collection THE ENGLISH TAPWARE COMPANY
Alcova Bed SPACE
Handelsmann + Khaw
Vieques XS Bath ARTEDOMUS
Yokato Wall Set BRODWARE
125C Wall Light ARTEDOMUS
TRAVEL Gigi Hopkins takes us on a tour of Singapore with a perfect balance of discovery and luxe travel. WORDS Gigi Hopkins
eat. GO LOCAL: At least once or twice. Visit Lau Pa Sat (or ‘satay street’) at night for a full satay fix. Stalls come alive from 7pm onwards. During the day, go hawker-style. We recommend checking out the Maxwell Food Hawker Centre in Chinatown. Don’t miss the best chicken rice in Singapore (as it is famously known) from the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall (#01-10). Be prepared to queue. CHECK OUT: The very green and very beautiful Open Farm Community in Dempsey to experience an initiative/cafe that promotes local farming, connecting the community to nature, and celebrating the local spirit. Surrounded by lots of lush green, this is a beautiful spot to chill out over a healthy breakfast and coffee. CLUB STREET: There are so many great bars and restaurants hidden in and around ‘Club Street’. We like Maggie Joan’s, while you will find hidden behind an unassuming metal door tucked away down the tiny Gemmill Lane. Come here for authentic Mediterranean food. Check out the cute bar next door as well.
caffeinate. PUNCH: This is my favorite coffee spot in the city. Turns out the charming owner, Vincent, lived in Melbourne for 10 years and worked at a bunch of awesome and well-known Melbourne cafes. Come here for the clean lines and simple design aesthetic, the excellent coffee, a perfectly small and wellcurated food menu, and the friendliest staff and service I encountered on my trip. Just a short walk from Raffles Place. STRANGERS REUNION: It was the coffee cups that sold me, “Lets make love, coffee and magic”. Regarded as one of the first ‘hipster’ cafes in Singapore, you will find very good coffee, a great food menu, and friendly vibes.
Superloco
NYLON COFFEE ROASTERS: Tucked away in a small HDB shophouse at Everton Park, we found Nylon a little hard to find, but once we did, we loved this little micro-roastery, pop-up brew bar & cafe space. Great coffee.
Maggie Jaon’s
Capella
The Warehouse Hotel
drink. SUPER LOCO: Enjoy the rooftop at Customs House. Only opening in November, this is the 3rd Super Loco outpost for brothers Julian and Christian Tan (their other brother Eugene is the clever man behind Aquabumps in Bondi). Good vibes, good cocktails and views over Marina Bay. EMPLOYEES ONLY: A hidden behind a pink neon sign that flickers “Psychic”, for the same kind of prohibition-type bar experience you would find at its NYC older sibling. We love it here. Have your fortune read or squeeze yourself into one of the comfy booths. Amazing cocktails. TANJONG BEACH CLUB: is a must for a chilled Sunday beach/drinking session over on Sentosa Island.
sleep.
The Warehouse Hotel
THE WAREHOUSE HOTEL: Brand-spanking new and the closest thing to a NYC hotel that Singapore has ever seen, this lofty, revamped warehouse (a former disco) sits perfectly alongside the river with a great in-house restaurant, Po (be sure to try local dish Popiah) and an incredibly inviting aesthetic. Make sure you check out the cute infinity pool as well. LLOYD’S INN: Tucked away in a pretty party of Singapore right by Orchard Road is this minimalist, modern boutique hotel in a quiet leafy setting. We love the raw all-white and pale wooded interiors. CAPELLA SINGAPORE: If you are looking for something a little more luxe, you cant go wrong with the Capella hotel on Sentosa Island. A beautiful combination of old and new, the curved modern buildings merge perfectly with the historic colonial building, surrounded by acres of lush green rainforest and views over the South China Sea.
Lloyds
The Warehouse Hotel
Lloyds
Capella
The Warehouse Hotel
shop. TIONG BAHRU: This quickly became my favorite hood, and one that still remains relatively under the tourist radar. Packed with character, its cute little streets are full of whitewashed, three-storey, spiralstaircased apartments (the city’s first ever public housing project) and deco buildings. Lots of charming little stores to explore. Check out Woods in the Books (an adorable little bookshop specializing in children’s picture books) and it’s older sister next door, BooksActually. Also be sure to stop past the Tiong Bahru Market (or “wet” market) for stalls upon stalls of fresh produce, flowers, and a local hawker-style food court up the top. HAJI LANE: A tiny little alley hidden away in Kampong Glam (the Muslim quarter). The narrow shophouses here are filled with cute boutiques and independent stores. Definitely a must if you’re in the mood to shop. 3. ORCHARD ROAD: If you’re into big brands, or love a good mall session, Orchard Road is where you go. You’ll have a field day at Paragon or Takashimaya, or Tangs for local designers.
insider’s tip ... UBER: Head out to MacRitchies Nature Reserve early one morning to do the 6km return walk through an epic jungle setting, 250m of which will take you along a freestanding suspension bridge high above the tree tops. MASSAGE: Treat yourself to a deep-tissue massage at Auriga Spa at Capella. If you like your message ‘strong’, request the lovely female therapist Seh. FACIAL: Try a bird poo facial (trust me) at Ikeda Spa, or maybe have some organic hair removal using sugar (instead of wax) at Sugar(ed) Singapore’s first and only certified sugaring studio.
Haji Lane