Creative people yearn for environments that inspire, sparking conversations that lead to inspiration. Such was the brief for Paul’s Place ; a home that welcomes both work and play, blurring the line that divides them and facilitating the creation of art.
The originally up-cycled and relocated 1950s house has been completely renovated to its present utilitarian form, with features that hint to the accomplished script writer and producer residing there. Hidden among the coastal tea trees and banksias of Rye, a seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, known for its rugged coastline and calming bay.
The house still maintains its weatherboard facade that plays tribute to its roots. Although a long way from the original dark box-like layout, interior designer Nicole Rutherford from The Stylesmiths, “has been able to retain and incorporate elements of the past in a completely modern way,” says Paul, the proud owner. It would be impossible not to mention here, the golden hue chosen for the living room walls that is every bit as bold as the art layered on top. Like a warm hug that wraps itself around the heart of Paul’s inspiration corner, the rich amber walls elevate the space and delineate the living zones. The house is a physical manifestation of Paul’s love to observe, write and entertain, the combination of materials perfectly balanced to create a versatility that suits any audience. Vibrant green velvet and grey plush upholstery invite cosy dialogue, contrasted with wooden picnic-style benches that tastefully bring outside, in. The kitchen, bathed in natural light takes its inspiration from the local terrain in both materiality and colour palette, which is a bold choice, yet at one with its setting.
Photography : Gus MacDonald
