Another world
Well, what did you expect?” asks Perth designer Christian Lyon in reference to his latest residential project deep in the quiet, leafy streets of Melbourne’s South Yarra. Truly, from the shuttered, ivy-covered brick facade, assumptions gear towards a farmhouse-style maison not dissimilar to one you might find in the French countryside. Pastoral misconceptions aside, this is more Milan than Melbourne, a sophisticated residence with layer upon layer of period pieces and modern art arranged over three vastly different, yet masterfully cohesive levels.
With an aversion to cookie-cutter design and a magpie’s eye for provenance, it’s a defiantly inimitable arrangement that saw Christian dig deep within his network of international antique dealers and pull vintage items from his retail gallery, Editeur. It’s here that he rediscovered a chinoiserie-style drinks cabinet purchased more than a decade ago but kept in storage, waiting patiently for the right client. “I didn’t want anything gimmicky, ‘of the moment’ or transient. I wanted something that would last,” he says of the refurbishment and furniture.
Downscaling from a large property nearby, the homeowner carried across only a single mirror in the move, yet it was of utmost importance that nothing feel contrived. “Everything has its own story. I wanted to curate a collection that seemed as if it had been gathered and edited over generations, much like you see in the significant houses and apartments of Europe,” says Christian. “Contemporary artworks and custom furniture served as a counterpoint, ensuring that the look was young and relevant to the owner and her family.” It was a collaborative process made faster and easier by their existing relationship. “I’m her brother from another mother,” he laughs. “There was an enormous amount unsaid because we’ve known one other for such a long time and have an innate, mutual understanding.”