Room of the Week: A Classic Living Room With Elegant Arches
An elegant approach to a beautifully proportioned living room creates a classic and timeless space
Vanessa Walker
29 April 2019
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Hannah Caldwell Photography
Styling by Lucina Bocian
Answers by Melissa Balzan, designer/director of Melissa Balzan Design
Who lives here: A retired couple who love entertaining
Location: Middle Park, Victoria
Room purpose and size: A 6.4 x 5.45-metre living room
Styling by Lucina Bocian
Answers by Melissa Balzan, designer/director of Melissa Balzan Design
Who lives here: A retired couple who love entertaining
Location: Middle Park, Victoria
Room purpose and size: A 6.4 x 5.45-metre living room
Brief
My clients had bought a lovely double-fronted Victorian home in Middle Park, not too far from the beach and Albert Park and Lake. I was asked to help them create a comfortable and elegant home.
We gutted the house, demolished the back, filled the pool to enable the creation of a courtyard, and designed a large open-plan living/dining/kitchen area.
The space needed to be functional, elegant and easy to use. As this was the only living area, it needed to look good. We designed lots of built-in joinery, allowing for the incorporation of a pop-up TV hidden within a cupboard, and we also installed steel-arched doors leading out to the courtyard.
My clients had bought a lovely double-fronted Victorian home in Middle Park, not too far from the beach and Albert Park and Lake. I was asked to help them create a comfortable and elegant home.
We gutted the house, demolished the back, filled the pool to enable the creation of a courtyard, and designed a large open-plan living/dining/kitchen area.
The space needed to be functional, elegant and easy to use. As this was the only living area, it needed to look good. We designed lots of built-in joinery, allowing for the incorporation of a pop-up TV hidden within a cupboard, and we also installed steel-arched doors leading out to the courtyard.
Starting point
We very much wanted to draw the outside in; we started by layering fabrics and textures and introducing patterns. We built on a blue base and added touches of pink and green.
We very much wanted to draw the outside in; we started by layering fabrics and textures and introducing patterns. We built on a blue base and added touches of pink and green.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: Blue and stone with touches of pink and green.
Materials palette: Linen, cotton, wool and timber.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
Colour palette: Blue and stone with touches of pink and green.
Materials palette: Linen, cotton, wool and timber.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- Custom-made sofa by Wills Furniture with fabric from Ascraft.
- Custom-made armchairs by Furniture Inspirations with fabric from The Textile Company.
- Custom-made ottoman in fabric from Domestic Textiles and trim from Domus Textiles.
- Cromwell stools.
- Behruz Studio rug.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
We wanted the fireplace to be a feature, so we centred the seating area around it.
We wanted the fireplace to be a feature, so we centred the seating area around it.
What challenges did you work around?
My client wanted the TV to be hidden so we needed to ensure its location allowed for viewing from many angles within the room.
My client wanted the TV to be hidden so we needed to ensure its location allowed for viewing from many angles within the room.
Why do you think this room works?
I feel the colours and finishes we selected work harmoniously within the space. We have brought the outside in and given our clients a classic yet elegant home.
Tell us
What do you love about this living room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: An Open-Plan Space That’s a Vision in Blue
I feel the colours and finishes we selected work harmoniously within the space. We have brought the outside in and given our clients a classic yet elegant home.
Tell us
What do you love about this living room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: An Open-Plan Space That’s a Vision in Blue
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I really like it. It's classy without being pompous, looks casual but is obviously high end. Great bones have been respected and lots of attention to detail in the finish. Congratulations. A beautiful room.
A gentle colour scheme.