By Janine Jorgensen, Project Consultant Monique Rankine, Photography Nic Baleta
The owners of this home are lovers of classic style, so it’s no surprise that their vision for the house, both architecturally and in the interiors, was to create a timeless, elegant space.
Being Portuguese, they also wanted to bring Mediterranean elements into the design, such as heritage-style furniture, porcelain-tiled floors and wrought-iron balustrading.
The kitchen follows this brief, decorated in a French Provencal scheme, with a large table to gather around, traditional cabinetry, and accents of blue and white. “It’s my favourite room in the house,” says the home owner. “It’s picture-perfect, yet practical.”
From here, it’s an easy transition to the dining room and to the outside, due to the open-plan layout of the living area. Stackable doors open to the patio, which has its own outdoor kitchen, and to one of the home’s unique features, a Portuguese-style tavern.
In addition to these options for entertaining, there’s a separate outdoor area with a pizza oven, for relaxed gatherings on warm evenings.
Inside, Persian rugs soften the tiled floors, and a warm palette of gold and green tones has been applied throughout the interiors. “We wanted a homely, yet chic aesthetic,” says the home owner, which is a fine balance to achieve.
In the furnishings, a combination of patterns, such as stripes and florals, and textures, including tweed, silk, velvet and leather, provides interest and a playful contrast with the collection of dark wooden furniture and more ornate accessories, such as gilded table lamps, finials and decorative mirrors.
The welcoming atmosphere has not lost a sense of luxury. In the master bedroom, for example, a chandelier hangs above the carved bed, and there’s a generous walk-in wardrobe with ample storage for clothes and accessories.
All of the bedrooms are en suite, featuring spacious showers and baths, and there’s a combined study/gym for a private workout.
The owners decided to go with a turnkey interior design service, to avoid costly mistakes and to get their vision for the home right from the start of the project. The approach has paid off.
“This house is a dream come true,” they say. “It’s a masterpiece in the making.”
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