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Interior Design
Melbourne Tour: Tranquil Acreage Home With Hints of South Africa
Finding the right designer on Houzz allowed a couple to create a breathtaking home that reflected their shared history
After a lengthy search for a calm oasis with enough space to accomodate their beloved horses, the couple that own this home settled on a sprawling acreage in Research, an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne. While the location afforded the couple and their young adult daughter the tranquillity they craved, the dark and disconnected 1980s home that stood on the site, with its tiny, tucked-away kitchen and awkward living spaces, left a lot to be desired.
Their natural next step was to turn to Houzz to find an interior designer to help them create the warm, contemporary home they wanted. Their search led them to Sally Wilson, director and principal designer at Substance Within Design. “The clients have a growing family and love to entertain,” says Wilson. “They wanted to create an open, inviting and light-filled home where they could host friends and large family gatherings, while incorporating a sense of the owner’s South African heritage into the design.” Read on to see how she did it.
Their natural next step was to turn to Houzz to find an interior designer to help them create the warm, contemporary home they wanted. Their search led them to Sally Wilson, director and principal designer at Substance Within Design. “The clients have a growing family and love to entertain,” says Wilson. “They wanted to create an open, inviting and light-filled home where they could host friends and large family gatherings, while incorporating a sense of the owner’s South African heritage into the design.” Read on to see how she did it.
“For the redesign, the client wanted to combine the feel of a luxury travel resort with the comfort and usability of an everyday home,” says Wilson.
Smart spatial planning was key to meeting the brief. “The kitchen was tiny and hidden away, and there were two small living areas mirroring each other that were separated by a wall, both of which felt like transitional spaces. Our focus was on creating spacious and light-filled open-plan living spaces that connected to the outdoors.”
To achieve this, Wilson started by replacing the poky kitchen with an open-plan entertainer’s kitchen with a cosy dining area beside it that caters to both formal dinner parties and casual family meals.
Inspired to redecorate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Smart spatial planning was key to meeting the brief. “The kitchen was tiny and hidden away, and there were two small living areas mirroring each other that were separated by a wall, both of which felt like transitional spaces. Our focus was on creating spacious and light-filled open-plan living spaces that connected to the outdoors.”
To achieve this, Wilson started by replacing the poky kitchen with an open-plan entertainer’s kitchen with a cosy dining area beside it that caters to both formal dinner parties and casual family meals.
Inspired to redecorate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Living room before works.
From there, she opened up the two awkward living areas to create one large, connected space where her clients can relax, connect and unwind. New glazed exterior bi-fold doors that open on to the garden draw in sunlight.
“We wanted the new design to capture as much natural light as possible, while accommodating the fluctuating Melbourne climate by allowing spaces to be closed off or completely opened up,” says Wilson.
From there, she opened up the two awkward living areas to create one large, connected space where her clients can relax, connect and unwind. New glazed exterior bi-fold doors that open on to the garden draw in sunlight.
“We wanted the new design to capture as much natural light as possible, while accommodating the fluctuating Melbourne climate by allowing spaces to be closed off or completely opened up,” says Wilson.
One of the two original living rooms before works.
“Access to one of the bedrooms was also an issue as it was directly off the main living room. I was able to create a private entry by borrowing space from an ample-sized neighbouring bedroom,” says Wilson.
“Access to one of the bedrooms was also an issue as it was directly off the main living room. I was able to create a private entry by borrowing space from an ample-sized neighbouring bedroom,” says Wilson.
Living room after works.
The timing of the project was something of a challenge for Wilson as the builder’s plans were close to finished when she came on board. “The structural changes I was recommending, including a new skillion-style roof for the outdoor room rather than a plaster flat roof, and revised access to the fourth bedroom, meant a plan revision, which thankfully was done quickly and didn’t cause any delays. The builder agreed these ideas had substance and was receptive to altering the plans,” she says.
The timing of the project was something of a challenge for Wilson as the builder’s plans were close to finished when she came on board. “The structural changes I was recommending, including a new skillion-style roof for the outdoor room rather than a plaster flat roof, and revised access to the fourth bedroom, meant a plan revision, which thankfully was done quickly and didn’t cause any delays. The builder agreed these ideas had substance and was receptive to altering the plans,” she says.
Original first floor plan.
Proposed first-floor plan.
“These clients are insightful with amazing taste, and there were many elements they had that needed to be carefully and considerately placed into the environment,” says Wilson.
“The incredible petrified wood coffee table in the living area, which weighs around a tonne, was purchased from Weylandts, along with the media console and bookshelf. The dining table, buffet and wall mirror in the dining space were inherited family pieces. The rug in the living space was also the client’s own,” she says.
“These clients are insightful with amazing taste, and there were many elements they had that needed to be carefully and considerately placed into the environment,” says Wilson.
“The incredible petrified wood coffee table in the living area, which weighs around a tonne, was purchased from Weylandts, along with the media console and bookshelf. The dining table, buffet and wall mirror in the dining space were inherited family pieces. The rug in the living space was also the client’s own,” she says.
The new scheme mixes earthy, organic tones with accents of turquoise and rust to create a sense of warmth and welcome. “[The homeowner’s] South African heritage played a big part in defining the style for this project,” says Wilson. “I was thrilled to be able to use the raw, organic landscape of South Africa as inspiration for the design aesthetic.”
“The round sofa covered in Mokum’s Zebre fabric and the cushions in Catherine Martin’s Leopardi print could not have been more perfect to inject an unmistakable South African aesthetic into the main living room,” she says.
With a AU$100,000 budget to spend on furniture, fixtures and fittings, Wilson was able to create a luxurious interior with custom inclusions. “The client was happy to invest more in certain items, such as custom seating and joinery, that were integral to realising the overall design concept,” she says.
“The French Casamance wallpaper and Mokum fabrics used in the living space and for the bedroom curtains were quality inclusions. Custom-made sofas were specified after careful consideration of the scale of the space and traffic-flow requirements.
“Re-upholstering the clients’ existing dining chairs provided an opportunity to cement the colour palette and coordinate with the turquoise rug under the coffee table,” says Wilson.
“Re-upholstering the clients’ existing dining chairs provided an opportunity to cement the colour palette and coordinate with the turquoise rug under the coffee table,” says Wilson.
Kitchen before works.
Collaborating with Adele Locke from Mint Lighting Design, provisions were also made to create ambient and task lighting in every space.
Collaborating with Adele Locke from Mint Lighting Design, provisions were also made to create ambient and task lighting in every space.
Kitchen after works. Laminam porcelain benchtops: Signorino Tile Gallery.
The small galley kitchen was gutted and the wall between the two original living areas was removed to make way for a spacious new open-plan kitchen with a large island at its heart where guests can mingle and chat. A new skylight above the island fills the space with light.
The small galley kitchen was gutted and the wall between the two original living areas was removed to make way for a spacious new open-plan kitchen with a large island at its heart where guests can mingle and chat. A new skylight above the island fills the space with light.
The client’s wish list for their new kitchen included a generous pantry, lots of bench space for meal prep, seating at the kitchen island and a coffee station.
Wilson custom designed a curtain in luxurious Offa fabric to divide the kitchen and dining area, which creates a striking contrast against the new concrete floor.
The dining table and buffet in the dining space were inherited family pieces.
“We incorporated an element of whimsy in the kitchen and dining area by adding delicate curtains to the dining alcove,” says Wilson. “Draw the curtains and dinner party guests are transported to an intimate private dining experience.”
“We incorporated an element of whimsy in the kitchen and dining area by adding delicate curtains to the dining alcove,” says Wilson. “Draw the curtains and dinner party guests are transported to an intimate private dining experience.”
The rear terrace before works.
A new outdoor room, complete with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace and a built-in barbecue fit for entertaining was one of the clients’ must-haves for the new design.
A new outdoor room, complete with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace and a built-in barbecue fit for entertaining was one of the clients’ must-haves for the new design.
The new outdoor room. Sofas: Coco Republic.
The new outdoor area, which can be closed to the elements on cold or wet days, offers plenty of room for a crowd, with comfortable seating, a bar table and an outdoor dining setting.
“The client was keen to incorporate some timber into the space, so my recommendation was to clad the ceiling. Timber decking would have required ongoing maintenance whereas the ceiling cladding finish will retain its aesthetic,” says Wilson.
The new outdoor area, which can be closed to the elements on cold or wet days, offers plenty of room for a crowd, with comfortable seating, a bar table and an outdoor dining setting.
“The client was keen to incorporate some timber into the space, so my recommendation was to clad the ceiling. Timber decking would have required ongoing maintenance whereas the ceiling cladding finish will retain its aesthetic,” says Wilson.
Floral displays and artwork warm up the outdoor room.
The parents’ retreat adjacent to the main bedroom makes a lovely spot to retreat with guests after a dinner party for quiet conversation or a game of chess.
“The client had several beautiful art pieces in storage that needed to be framed,” says Wilson. “We had the family portrait in the dining space scanned, enlarged and printed from an A1-size card that had been used to promote a family restaurant.
“[One of the homeowners] also had some stunning original pencil sketches of African animals, purchased while on holiday from an artist in Africa, in storage. These were taken out of storage, reframed and hung in the bedroom hallway,” she says.
“[One of the homeowners] also had some stunning original pencil sketches of African animals, purchased while on holiday from an artist in Africa, in storage. These were taken out of storage, reframed and hung in the bedroom hallway,” she says.
The main bedroom suite. Maddisson pendants: Substance Within Design.
The client wanted Wilson to transform their bland main bedroom into a cosy and luxurious retreat. To do this, she added an oversized, faux leather-covered bedhead, high-pile carpet, a pair of pendants above the bedside tables, and new custom window treatments in a bronze fabric.
The client wanted Wilson to transform their bland main bedroom into a cosy and luxurious retreat. To do this, she added an oversized, faux leather-covered bedhead, high-pile carpet, a pair of pendants above the bedside tables, and new custom window treatments in a bronze fabric.
One of the guest bedrooms. Bedhead: Searles Homewares.
Continuing the South African-inspired theme, Wilson had two photographic prints of zebras that the family had purchased on holiday framed in simple, black frames and hung above the bed in one of the guest rooms.
Continuing the South African-inspired theme, Wilson had two photographic prints of zebras that the family had purchased on holiday framed in simple, black frames and hung above the bed in one of the guest rooms.
The daughter’s bedroom. Throw: Mulberi. Cushions: Ruby Star Traders.
Your turn
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More
Would you like to see another home filled with colour? Don’t miss this story: Arch Deco House: A Designer’s Masterclass on Curves & Colour
Your turn
What is your favourite feature here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Would you like to see another home filled with colour? Don’t miss this story: Arch Deco House: A Designer’s Masterclass on Curves & Colour
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young adult daughter
Location: Research, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room
Size: Around 240 square metres
Interior designer: Sally Wilson, director and principal designer at Substance Within Design
Budget: AU$100,000 for the furniture, fixtures and fittings, not inclusive of building materials and labour
How did you use Houzz for this project?
The clients found me on Houzz then, throughout the project, we shared Houzz ideabooks to fine-tune the design.
I first started using Houzz Pro software while designing this project. Generating and sharing product proposals and invoices on the one platform was so simple and convenient. Now I use Houzz for every element of my project tracking.