Arts and Crafts
When the designers at BE Architecture were asked to build a rear extension to a Victorian house in Melbourne, they created a house which combines the old and new seamlessly through sensitive design, superb craftsmanship and an unerring attention to detail.
Distinctive features from the Victorian wing of the house, such as the arched doorways and curved cornices, are carefully restored. The spacious and elegant rooms they help define are home to a sensitive selection of contemporary furniture and lights, from book-filled perspex cubes which double-up as coffee tables to sculptural lights made of glass and marble.
The ground floor of the extension is dominated by a beautifully crafted kitchen. Storage and appliances are concealed behind timber-fronted cabinets which line an entire wall and a monolithic island unit with a curvaceous front. These contrast artfully with the rough hewn timber dining table and the refined wooden dining chairs. An external metal staircase leads down to a tranquil spa area where the pool, Turkish bath and Japanese style showers are all encased in soothing grey stone tiles.
Numerous artworks grace the walls, adding to a sense of contemplation. The light installation "Heaven is a Place Where Nothing Ever Happens" by artist Nathan Coley, in particular, turns an otherwise blank wall which extends three storeys down the internal courtyard into an engaging talking point. This is a house fit for a Renaissance man indeed.
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Product Inspiration
Focus on great design and superb craftsmanship with the Redondo sofa from Moroso, the Playing Games side table from Dooq and the Couture cabinet from BD Barcelona Design.
Enhance the atmosphere with sculptural lights such as the Loop suspension light from Utu, the Dusk table light from 101 Copenhagen and the Liuku suspension light from Mater.
For accessories with a touch of artistic flair try the Tornado vase from Ghidini 1961, the Zodiac wall mirror from Moustache or the Aer vase from Menu.
