MODERN ALCHEMY
The chemistry between the introspective hallways and the extraverted visual gestures throughout this grand residence is undeniable.
INTERIOR DESIGNER DYLAN FARRELL CONJURES A BEWITCHING BLEND
OF VISUAL WIZARDRY WITHIN THIS GRAND MELBOURNE RESIDENCE.
Staged across three levels, the interiors of this Melbourne home dance in a choreographed display of give and take, extraversion and restraint, movement and stillness. One moment you’re gliding through near-empty hallways designed with balletic lightness and the next you’ve waltzed into an exquisite formal living room with a cocktail of burnished brass, curvaceous velvet and a pistachio onyx fireplace beneath a chandelier studded with selenite wands.
Behind this magnetic aesthetic alchemy is designer Dylan Farrell, who was engaged to orchestrate the interiors of this brand new build when the property “was still a dirt hole”. The owners, a couple with two children, envisioned a residence reminiscent of Melbourne’s stately Victorian architecture, but without the austerity and stuffiness of a traditional turn-of-the-century home. “They wanted the grandeur to feel fresh and contemporary, which is why I was referred,” Dylan says. “I understand how classical architecture works but at the same time I’m not afraid to bend the rules.”
While the brief was ripe with opportunity to test convention, the sheer size of the floor plan presented a few issues of its own. There was ample space to play with, but it was just as important to “bring in” the dimensions of the house and make any sense of vacuousness feel purposeful. “The challenge was to design the house so that when its halls and parlours were empty, there remained a sense of wonderment and intimacy,” Dylan says. Achieving this visual connection began with selecting and layering unique, personalised materials and finishes. Take the landings, where bespoke parquetry floors of charred and ebonised oak are met by custom quarried white and smoke marble while thresholds are defined by doors and frames in French-polished ebony walnut. The expansiveness of the interiors also informed the furnishings, many of which were tailored to specific measurements that would feel proportionate to the rooms. Despite the added logistics of designing and ordering custom lights, furniture and rugs, Dylan says it fortuitously meant many pieces were made in Australia.
While furnishing the five-bedroom house, size wasn’t the only dialogue that had to be negotiated. “We had an ongoing conversation about how it could be dressed up but still feel comfortable,” Dylan says of the client’s desire for luxurious fixtures and decadent fabrics such as velvet and silk. “That was a great part of the journey and brief – keeping the house texturally rich but not overdressed.” The solution? An exuberantly curated mix of contrasting decor. “Juxtaposition is a powerful tool,” Dylan says of the decision to place relaxed materials and contemporary pieces beside opulent features. In doing so, those lavish elements stand out and any stiffness is offset. “I relate it to a drumbeat,” he explains. “If you keep hitting the snare over and over, it’s not a dynamic beat.” »
This page Distinguished architectural details in the upper landing and hallway set the stage for two Serip ‘Aqua’ chandeliers. Vintage chandelier, console and Paola Paronetto ‘Cartocci’ ceramic bowl, all from 1stdibs. Bespoke ottoman in Designers Guild fabric from Radford Furnishings. On the plinth is a vintage wooden sculpture from Wright auctions. Acrylic sculpture by Vasa Mihich. Charred and ebonised oak floors laid in a custom parquetry pattern. Curtains in Zimmer + Rohde sheer fabric from Unique Fabrics. Opposite page, from left “Art has a special place in all the houses I design,” Dylan says. The oil painting on the wall and the watercolours seen at the end of the hallway are all by McLean Edwards, with whom the homeowners have an “affinity”. In one of the boys’ bedrooms, an Alec Monopoly artwork hangs above a Ligne Roset ‘Togo’ fireside chair from Domo. Pacific Compagnie gold stool from 1stdibs. Gubi ‘Pedrera’ floor lamp from Criteria. Trunk from Interiors Online. Custom rug from Behruz Studio. Above, an Arteriors ‘Nolan’ pendant light from Boyd Blue.
These pages The formal living area is one of the most exuberant rooms. Pistachio onyx marble was used on the fireplace – white would make the room feel cavernous. Custom shutters with seeded glass and sheer curtains temper the light and add privacy. Aged brass ‘Arp’ coffee table by Dylan Farrell Design with a Pols Potten ornament on top. Bespoke sofas upholstered in Decobel velvet from Tigger Hall Design (left) and Pierre Frey velvet from Milgate (right). Dylan Farrell Design ‘Nido’ nesting tables by the fireplace. 1970s Murano glass and brass floor lamp and Gianluca Fontana ‘Sun’ table lamps, all from 1stdibs. The Dylan Farrell Design ‘Spike’ chandelier was inspired by vintage earrings. Artwork by Dale Frank. Custom silk rug from Behruz Studio. “This is a house that’s going to be lived in, but I still want it to feel impressive,” Dylan says of the mood he wanted to create.
“You move through this house like you move through life: sometimes it’s loud, sometimes it’s quiet.”
This page This gallery space exhibits a McLean Edwards artwork. Vintage Tommi Parzinger chair from 1stdibs. Serip ‘Aqua’ chandelier. Opposite page, from top The owners entertain regularly so the kitchen and connected communal areas are designed to cater to very large groups. The cabinets in charred and natural oak and the steel-framed glass cabinets are by Touchwood Joinery. Arabescato benchtops and splashback. The brass hardware includes Joseph Giles ‘Irvine’ pulls from The English Tapware Company and Mother of Pearl & Sons pulls. Franke ‘Centinox’ sink with an Oliveri ‘Vilo’ mixer and Zip tap from Winning Appliances. Wolf freestanding oven. Bespoke burnished brass rangehood. Rakumba ‘Highline’ pendant from Design Nation. In the formal dining room, the custom walnut and brass table, chairs in Pierre Frey velvet and ‘Bijout’ chandelier create a ceremonial atmosphere. Above the custom marble mantle is a Charles Blackman artwork. Bespoke sideboard in black lacquer. Arteriors ‘Nathan’ floor lamp from Boyd Blue. Ralph Lauren Home ‘Ionian Sea Linen’ wallpaper in Tide from Radford Furnishings. Custom designed silk and wool rug from Behruz Studio.
This page The master ensuite is located on the brightest side of the house because “it’s important to get that light – this is where you start your day”. The owners like stone and the bespoke bath, blue onyx platform and cream onyx floors delivered. Zucchetti ‘Bellagio’ tapware from Candana and a vintage Sciolari chandelier evoke old-world grandeur; the India Mahdavi ‘Baby Bishop’ stool from Studio ALM injects contemporary ease. The palatial lightly bronzed and antiqued mirrors bounce light around. Reflected in the mirror is an Arteriors ‘Kaya’ wall sconce from Boyd Blue. Opposite page, from top Sculptural ‘Module’ tables by Dylan Farrell Design elevate the lower ground entrance, which Dylan says needed “to be worthy of how special the rest of the house is”. Ebony travertine stair treads and custom rails traverse the home’s three levels. A celestial Il Pezzo ‘12 Round’ chandelier from 1stdibs leaves a trail of light in its wake. Decadent fabrics underpin the master bedroom. The bespoke bed and bedding are in Jim Thompson velvet from Milgate, the Baker ‘Castel’ chair is in velvet from Mokum and the rug from Behruz Studio is in Mongolian cashmere. Baker ‘Larimar’ floor lamp from Studio Cavit. A vintage chandelier from 1stdibs is reflected in the ‘Wonderland Wall’ sculpture by Dylan Farrell Design.
« There’s certainly nothing one-note about the home’s scheme, which Dylan describes as a blend of New York eclecticism, neoclassical Parisian details and undertones of Hollywood Golden Age glamour. “We’ve got this perverse balance between maximalism and minimalism,” he says. “In some areas it’s about tonality and simplicity. It’s like oxygen, you take a breath and it’s fresh.” And in others, such as the mirrored master ensuite with a bespoke bathtub, platform and flooring in a crescendo of stone, “it’s extremely opinionated and maximalised”. To create equilibrium, transitional zones are kept neutral and dramatic gestures are saved for specific rooms. “You move through this house like you move through life: sometimes it’s loud, sometimes it’s quiet,” Dylan says. “It’s not a static balance, there’s movement. It swings back and forth without being erratic.”
Lighting is another exquisitely choreographed aspect. Ambient light emanates from a skylight and window treatments provide privacy without distorting the colour of the sun’s rays. As for the interior fixtures, Dylan says his clients wanted them “to feel like jewellery”. Vintage chandeliers from 1stdibs in the master bedroom and bathroom embolden the home’s grandeur, while Serip ‘Bijout’ and ‘Aqua’ chandeliers in the dining room and landings evoke an organic tone to soften the formal architecture. Two in particular resonated with both Dylan and the owners – the ‘Spike’ pendant in the formal living room and the custom Il Pezzo ‘Round’ chandelier, which free falls through the stairwell, illuminating all three levels of the home at night. “The clients were happily surprised,” Dylan says. “They said it felt like art, which is the best reaction. I cherished their trust.”
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