When the owner of this new-build home in Melbourne started searching for the right team to give life to its interior, she was adamant that the approach should be a collaborative one. Having previously found herself working with a designer whose vision didn’t match her own, she turned to interior decorator Simone Haag and interior designer Angela Harry to create a home for her young family.
‘She felt strongly that the house shouldn’t replicate anything anyone had seen before, and yet largely favoured pieces that were classic and understated,’ says Simone. ‘During the three-year process, her taste shifted and we were able to help her embrace her more experimental side. We introduced high-impact designs as well as punchy textiles, which contribute to the home’s unique sense of identity.’
A substantial residence comprising two pavilions connected via a glass runway, the bones of this two-storey home provided a strong starting point. ‘Angela devised a wonderful canvas that became the backdrop for a significant collection of furniture and art,’ Simone continues, referencing the careful material selection, which includes a terrazzo-effect concrete, luxurious marbles and soft-grey timber. The refined palette heightens the gallery-like feel of the architecture.
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The brief required each room to have a different feel, but to be flexible enough to cater for various day-to-day activities. One example is the family’s den: a subterranean space visible from the glass walkway, which was inspired by a room that the homeowner remembers from her grandfather’s house.
‘She had fond memories of summers spent playing games there, as well as of elaborate parties that were hosted in the space, and wanted to replicate the experience,’ explains Simone, who responded with a selection of whimsical 1970s-inspired pieces, such as the ‘Botolo’ dining chairs by Arflex and a custom geometric rug.
In the main living area, the aesthetic is designed to engage and surprise. ‘It was intended to be polarising, sculptural and interesting,’ Simone says of the space, which overlooks a central courtyard complete with an indoor-outdoor pool.
Pops of bright colour are tempered by softer blues and greens here, which create a dialogue with the courtyard and trees beyond. ‘It is so refreshing when the brief doesn’t revolve around the practicalities of seating arrangements and TV viewing,’ she adds.
Downstairs, the his-and-hers study is a little more restrained. Custom shelving provides a space to display books and treasured objects, while a handmade Persian rug is a nod to the homeowner’s family connection to rug-making. ‘It was fabricated to the highest standards in Iran,’ states Simone. ‘In fact, every rug in the house was painstakingly created to honour the client’s link with the craft.’
Details such as this are what help to make this home a thoughtful and authentic representation of its owner, who is delighted with the results. ‘We are so proud of the house,’ she affirms. ‘It’s contemporary without being cold, and practical yet unpredictable.’ simonehaag.com.au; angelaharry.com.au
