Stellar

Stellar house creates magic through the meeting of Edwardian heritage and contemporary decoration. Here, the playful balancing of history with artisanal craftsmanship, ovations of colour, materiality and light, achieves a dramatic yet welcoming atmosphere. Creating an enchanting family home that is grounded in comfort while amplifying the client’s artful eye.

PHOTOGRAPHY | MARK ROPER

Stellar House is one of our favourite projects, with its sculpted staircase emphatically setting the scene for the rest of the house.

Stellar house creates magic through the meeting of Edwardian heritage and contemporary decoration. Here, the playful balancing of history with artisanal craftsmanship, ovations of colour, materiality and light, achieves a dramatic yet welcoming atmosphere.

Inspired by original Edwardian themes of decoration, our design response was to enhance the layered interior with a richness of colour, texture and character, whilst injecting moments of surprise and joy. The romanticised vision of family life, balanced with practicality for a family of four and their two dogs.

Stellar house skilfully balances colour, contrast and connection. The colour strategy is evident in the alignment between the drapery and the starburst-patterned ceiling, both of which complement and contrast the wider palette of the living room furniture and interior design vision. The dining room’s theatricality is heightened by the starburst ceiling patterns, framed by sculptural curves, integrating both an aesthetic and functional lighting strategy. This decorative element references the home’s traditional period while bringing it into a contemporary context, demonstrating how historical influences can be practically reimagined.

Sculptural focal points create spaces for showcasing objects and artworks, while also framing the bespoke, locally handcrafted dining table informed by these curvaceous lines. Artwork and objects were influenced by the client’s passion for Australian makers, respond intentionally to the interior planning to create a further layer of detail and discovery. 

Furnishings blend classic elements with new interpretations, while selected pieces involved a deeply personal curation in collaboration with the client. Themes of connectivity and joy are revealed in locally crafted artworks that have an otherworldly personality, each element creating spaces filled with moments of joy.

Rethinking the plan allowed spaces to open and flow. Between the kitchen and living room, an island bench in sweeping solid marble now provides a nuanced space for pre-dinner drinks. The solidity of the marble expressing the honesty and beauty of the two connecting stones. Volume shifts in the living room reflect the scale of what was once the exterior of the building, the classically detailed steel framed windows and exposed raw concrete beam adding a contemporary layer in tune with the grandness of the historical building.