Beachside Interior Design Project
Working as the Melbourne Style Editor for Real Living magazine and running my own homewares shop led to some exciting interior design commissions. I was approached by homeowner Claudia Grimberg to re-design her modernist 1950’s beach house tucked away on the Mornington Peninsula. Claudia was happy to give me free rein to update the spaces and bring a more contemporary feel to the house, whilst making sure the new additions were practical and could withstand the demands of her young family. After visiting the property and creating mood boards for the Grimberg’s to approve, I enlisted the help of local tradespeople, and project managed the job.
My aim was to create a playful, uplifting interior that harmonised with the leafy beachside location and reflected the stylish, mid-century feel of the building. I chose a streamlined, contemporary white kitchen, combined with pops of bright green to create a fresh feel. Glossy, translucent FL/Y pendant lights by Kartell draws the eye up to the textural wooden beams, whilst echoing the vibrant green of the sturdy Tolix bar stools.
The pretty penny tiles in the laundry room catch the light and echo the circular shapes of the flooring. Originally designed in the 1960’s by Danish designer Verner Panton, the iconic Flowerpot lamp brings a burst of sunshine yellow and adds to the retro feel. The patterned laundry bin has been made using recycled outdoor floor mats.
Continuing with the fresh colour scheme, I opted for a vibrant, emerald green rubber flooring from Dalsouple for the bathroom, laundry and powder room. Having always loved this colourful, hard-wearing flooring, I was excited to be able to use it in a residential setting.
I chose the contemporary wall hung wash basin to maximise precious space in the compact bathroom. The simple brick tiles continue the pared-back feel, while a stylish round mirror ties in with the circular motifs on the flooring and accentuates the feeling of spaciousness.
The bold Vivienne Westwood x Cole & Sons Squiggle wallpaper in the powder room brings an unexpected, whimsical twist. Small spaces are often overlooked, but an over-the-top wallpaper can be an instant mood booster and offer the ideal opportunity to have some fun with pattern.
Thank you to the marvellous Colin Doswell for photographing this project.