10 Steps To Artful Lodgings Designer Aaron Wong’s advice on creating a colourful vacation vibe.
This property in bayside Melbourne is a holiday house with a difference. It’s a home-away-from-home for the owners, an overseas-based couple with two children. In 2016, they asked interior designer Aaron Wong of Alexander Pollock to remodel their ho-hum getaway in a “tailored but relaxed” way. It needed to be sophisticated yet have a beachy Australian vibe, with a sprinkling of fun.
“As this was a holiday home, I could take risks, because the owners aren’t seeing everything every day,” says Aaron. He changed little structurally, apart from replacing carpets with European oak flooring and installing plantation shutters, but introduced boisterous splashes of colour and pattern against the neutral backdrop. As a result, this relaxed space is no slouch in the style stakes. Read on and learn how to create those dreamy vacation vibes…
1 LAY ON THE TEXTURE
“Texture is my signature,” says Aaron. “It creates interest in a neutral space.” This formal living room is a perfect illustration, a tactile layering of the chunky and the smooth: a handspun ‘Hamilton’ rug from Bayliss Rugs, slick marble-topped table from Zuster, sheer curtains, knobbly textiles on the sofa and cushions, and a sheepskin chair (see next page). Sofa, Lounge Designer Furniture. Featherston ‘Talking’ chair, Grazia & Co. Trent Jansen ‘Nuptial’ floor lamp, DesignByThem. Artwork from United Interiors.
2 GO RETRO
With its clean profiles, retro furniture brings a lighthearted, fun quality to the home.
In the dining area, the classic Featherston ‘Scape’ dining chairs from Grazia & Co exude timeless good design. “This dining room was not to take itself too seriously,” Aaron explains. “Here we could have a bit more fun and add more colour.” Hence the ‘Scape’ seating, a vibrant artwork by Sarah Brooke, and the vintage-inspired Zuster dining table with diamond edge. “The intricately shaped table legs have an interesting sculptural quality while the timber top is simple and functional,” says Aaron. It seats up to 10 diners and is a cinch for no-fuss entertaining.
3 PLAY WITH FIRE
Aaron has made the existing fireplace and its hearth the hero element of this formal living zone. The stucco finish, in a deep grey custom shade, makes it stand out from the other walls (in Dulux Lexicon Quarter), adding more gravitas. The elegant, round ‘Flynn’ mirror, from Middle of Nowhere, brings an extra dimension to the room, making the space appear larger. It draws the eye directly to the hearth wall, reinforcing its status as the room’s focal point. Stone-composite shelving does the same on the horizontal plane. Artworks from United Interiors.
4 THINK LOCAL
Throughout the house, Aaron has paid homage to local manufacturers and designers and their creations, such as this ‘Stamp’ side table and ‘Reeno’ sheepskin chair, both by Mim Design. They imbue the home with a relaxed quality and a sense of pushing boundaries, so the smart decor never feels too stitched up.
5 SEE THE LIGHT
Clever lighting adds ambience after dusk and a sculptural element at all hours. A Grok ‘Invisible’ pendant, from Brindabella Lighting, makes a strong statement, as does the ‘Long John’ five-pendant fitting from Fred International (glimpsed through the cutout wall, an original feature). Equally illuminating is the ‘Wayy’ metal lamp on the credenza (opposite), from Bloomingdales Lighting.
6 ROLL OUT THE WALLPAPER
By using wallpaper on all four walls of the main bedroom, Aaron has created an enveloping feel of textural richness. The low-key geometric pattern, with its subtle nod to mid-century rattan furnishings, is smart and structured, while its raised texture adds warmth and prevents the effect from appearing too formal. Walter G ‘Dash Dot’ custom wallpaper, Emily Ziz Style Studio. Lumi wall light, Articolo Lighting. Artwork from United Interiors.
7 BACKDATE THE BED
Aaron wanted this space to look like “a ’70s bedroom, in brown and olive green. It’s a dull palette used in a smart way.” The effect is chic, but at the same time the interplay of muted colour and texture makes it cosy and welcoming. Bedhead in Zepel Fabrics ‘Cottage’ fabric in Gardenia. Bedside table, Globe West. Artwork from Designer Boys Collections.
8 LINE UP A DISPLAY
Here in the informal living room, Aaron has broken up a long wall with a 2m-wide shelving unit from Barbera Design, a great way to display books and collectables. It lends an informal, intimate air to the room, while its slim, dark, open-backed form creates another dynamic pattern against the crisp expanse of white wall. Sofa, Lounge Designer Furniture. ‘Sabrina’ armchair, Zuster. Side table, Warranbrooke. Accessories sourced from Jones & Co, Urban Couture Design+Homewares and eBay.
9 STRIPE IT BACK
In the sunroom, Aaron took his biggest risk by suggesting wallpaper on the ceiling. And not just any wallpaper. “With a kooky, retro vibe, it’s out there,” he says. “But the clients were chilled enough to say, ‘Go for it.’” The diamond-motif rug and vibrant cushions are strong enough to stand up to the visual drama overhead. Oversized Stripe wallpaper, Emily Ziz Style Studio. Argentina ‘Inca’ rug, Bayliss Rugs. Table lamp, Surrounding. Floor lamp, Angelucci 20th Century. ‘Duyfken’ buffet, Zuster. Large vase (on console), Jones & Co.
Artwork by John Martono.