Design Hunter™ Q+A with Marc F..
Textured fabrics, native timbers and warm lighting transform a Brighton home from intimidating to inviting.
Starting with a somewhat bleak canvas of grey steel and concrete, interior designer Andrew Mitchell's (of Mr. Mitchell) brief of injecting warmth and character into this Melbourne home required decisive intervention.
FIrst on the list was a complete repainting of the interiors in off-white, which immediately refreshed and brightened. This was followed by the thematic use of recycled Australian Spotted Gum in furniture, screens and built-in cabinetry, warming the space and giving it depth of colour. Dark stained oak pieces create a vibrant contrast, maintaining the charm of natural materials without letting the aesthetic slide into blonde timber boredom.
Fabrics further soften the mood, with windows dressed in loosely woven linens in a range of neutral colours. A textured but restrained botanic wallpaper in the living room creates continuity with external spaces and lends a playful note to the communal area.
Furniture is a mix of european classics and local pieces, with the combination yielding a pleasant aura of unpretentious good taste. A few splashes of brighter colours in their coverings could have helped relax the home, but for the chromatic essentialist the appeal of the clean, minimalist palette is undeniable.
The interior fit out is complemented by Jack Merlo's redesign of the front and rear gardens, which sustains the timber motif while creating a manicured natural setting.