Quiet confidence
A rich, yet restrained palette of materials is the epitome of modernity in this Australian apartment
Luxe elements in restrained hues are the height of fashion in this Australian apartment – we show you how to get the look
The air of sleek, modern luxury that defines Helen
Russell’s Melbourne apartment is a far cry from the original florid, mock- Georgian duplex that she commissioned interior designer David Flack of Flack Studio to ‘ de-faux’. His considered approach was to retain the classical-style features of the apartment that still worked – the herringbone parquet floors, solid panelled doors, 3.6-metre-high ceilings and mouldings – but strip the space of its frills in favour of strong, graphic details. The result is strikingly modern.
David revised the layout of the apartment to create a sense of spaciousness. Helen, who enjoys entertaining at home, has both a formal living room and an open-plan kitchen-dining-living space, which spills onto a sundrenched courtyard. But it is David’s rich, dark palette of materials that elevates the fluid backdrop into something spectacular. ‘My studio is known for using deep tones, but Helen is cautious about colour, so we explored this in another way, by selecting hand-rubbed bronze detailing, chocolate oak flooring, black American oak cabinetry and white Calacatta marble,’ he says. ‘It was important to Helen that the interior conveyed a sense of sophistication to her guests, but it is also her home, and had to feel comfortable.’ The finished aesthetic deftly skirts the fine line between cutting-edge and classic. ‘This home has a contemporary ambience, and yet feels as though it has some age to it,’ says David. ‘ You can’t pinpoint exactly when the house was designed – to me, this exemplifies the “new modern” look.’
The consideration of symmetry and the repetition of key features – such as the brass-lined American oak cabinetry, which is the focal point of the kitchen and is also used on the bookcases in the living room and the units in the bathrooms – creates a sense of cohesion, with every element meticulously executed. David’s team even experimented with the level of bronzing (a process that involves applying acid to raw brass) that would perfectly frame the furniture. ‘ The more acid and rubbing you apply, the darker the brass becomes,’ he explains. ‘ Modernism is always simple in execution, but usually has one standout detail that is repeated.’ Elsewhere, design classics – the ‘ Beetle’ chairs by Gubi, ‘ Bristol’ sofa by Poliform and the Serge Mouille ceiling light – add to the air of timeless elegance.
Feeling completely at ease in her new home, Helen loves to sit by the open fire and read a book. She particularly appreciates having plenty of room for her grandchildren when they visit, and enjoys watching them from the kitchen as they play. flackstudio.com.au