Along the winding backstreets and neighbouring beach trails of the Mornington Peninsula, transformed by the Stylesmiths Studio, is a hidden gem of colour and texture. A beach house turned modern full-time residence, Denis and Jura’s Blairgowrie property is layered with Japanese charred timber – known as Yaki Sugi – precast artisan concrete and bold colourful accents.
Heavily inspired by the couple’s existing collection of limited-edition Alice in Wonderland lithographs by the late Charles Blackman, the vast space has an overall gallery feel centred around the six pieces. Soft furnishings and accessories in exuberant colours mirror the wild yet soothing energy of the images, bringing the fantastical story to life. Especially dreamy is the hand knotted Designer Rug by Stephen Ormandy that effortlessly anchors this vibrant lounge space.
This reinvented mid-century project is a series of balances between colour, material and character, linked via lighting design chosen to create drama and contrast. Drop track lighting is positioned to highlight Blackman’s flamboyant artwork around the lounge and dining areas, which are all encased in museum glass to prevent any reflection or damage. Flush mounted spots that have been matched to the drop tracks providing more utilitarian light, whilst the dining pendant builds on the layers to create pools of light that fill the space with personality.
Photography : Gus MacDonald
