Belle

Another world

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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.”

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