The comforting feeling of heat that comes from sipping a dram of whisky surrounded by loved ones inspired the earthy, smoky and tobacco-rich palette of this home in Melbourne. The work of Australian interior designer Simone Haag, the grand building’s new look was created for a family wanting to cherish time with grown-up children, and has an autumnal quality that suits many of the restored furniture designs on display.
It’s anything but old fashioned, though.
As introductions go, this space’s high ceilings make a great first impression. Simone custom-designed the graphic rug from Loom, its caramel tones taken from the paint colour used on the walls. These same hues appear again in the artwork on the wall – I Think One can be Classed as a Misstep but Watching Two is Welcome to the Cheater House by Kirsty Budge, purchased from Daine Singer, a gallery in Melbourne.
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Dedar’s ‘Pazl’ fabric has been used to decorate the ceiling in the living room, as well as a border around the top of the walls, to add a splash of geometric interest to the smoky scheme. The chair and ottoman are the ‘The Tired Man’ design from By Lassen, the ‘G1’ floor lamp is by Sammode Studio and the two ‘Yumi’ side tables are by Bendtsen Design Associates for Moroso. Vincenzo De Cotiis designed the ‘Tactile’ sofa, which is a piece for Baxter.
The dining area is a lighter affair. Two burgundy chairs from Fermob are placed around a vintage wooden dining table – for similarly sculptural modern designs, try E15. A large sliding door runs alongside this room and the adjoining snug (where the owners’ dog sits on a ‘Valley’ sofa by Jardan) from the inviting garden. The artwork on the wall behind the foliage on the table is a vintage piece.
With quirky details and an abundance of texture throughout – think velvets, bouclés and hand-tufted rugs – this home shows that a timeless look doesn’t have to be traditional. simonehaag.com.eu
