With its sleek, flush façade and symmetrical steel-framed windows, one look at this home in Melbourne’s trendy Armadale and you could be forgiven thinking that it’s a new build. In truth, it’s thirty years old, a fact now long-forgotten thanks to interior designer Lauren Tarrant.
The house had good bones and a practical layout, but its ornate detailing and skirtings didn’t resonate, so Lauren pared it back to its shell, simplifying the finishes and fixtures with a spotlight on natural, biscuit-hued travertine.
Its oversized proportions start at the moment of entry, opening into a reception void that ‘instantly creates a sense of luxury and scale,’ says Lauren. Tucked into a corner, the study has been painted a custom ‘dusty green,’ furnished with a honeyed timber desk by local designers MCM House. The exposed foyer stairs were enclosed, replaced with a sculptural handrail in chalky Venetian plaster.
What's everyone reading?
Oriented around a generous gallery hallway, the refined dining room is lined in luxurious milky Vagli marble. The adjacent sitting room is similarly restrained, with a smooth new stone fireplace surround framed by ‘Fan’ sconces by Anna Charlesworth. Underfoot, natural oak Chevron floorboards soften the muted palette.
The client, a hospitality heiress — and also Lauren’s good friend — had clear instructions when it came to the meals and cooking area. Lauren flipped and enlarged the space, integrating appliances and ergonomics in line with the standards of a chef’s kitchen. To minimise some of the bulk, she added a recessed stone skirting to the island to create the illusion that it’s floating.
In the open-plan living room, the hulking joinery wall has been offset with light, neutral furniture and sandy sisal carpet. ‘The minimal and tonal background helps highlight the joinery, making it the showpiece of the house,’ says Lauren, referencing the in-built primary bedroom cabinetry.
Even in the bathrooms, the rosy marble slabs are balanced with cashew-coloured stone. ‘The splash of pink was a fun introduction. It adds a touch of moodiness and romance.’ laurentarrantdesign.com
