THE INTERIOR DESIGN INSTITUTE

SCOPE

The client is a young family who originally had an outdated closed layout, that did not work for their family-oriented entertainment style.

For this project, the kitchen was reimagined as the center of the home, replacing the former study. Rather than have closed off zones, each area; formal dining, study, living room, outdoor patio, and private guest bedroom, were given the space to act as their own area and a communal zone.

ACCENTED ACHROMATIC

To modernize the space, we used an accented achromatic color scheme to complement the Australian Modern design style the client was drawn to. The achromatic contrast of black, white, and pale blue juxtaposed nicely with the variations of wood, patina, and open space that Australian Modern is known for.

LIVING AREA

For the living area, it was incredibly important to mix modern and aged pieces because they'd be getting the most wear and tear.

For this area two vintage apothecary cabinets were restored. The quartz coffee table is the inverse of the kitchen island, bringing in a layer of visual depth while avoiding sameness. And curated "fun" shapes were brought in through glass, rugs, and the seating to keep the space approachable for kids but mature enough for the adults.

GUEST BEDROOM

The guest bedroom is a collection of the modern shapes and colors found throughout the house and very interesting and curated pieces. For this room, the Ace Hotels were the biggest inspiration.

The clean and timeless silhouettes contrast with the almost whimsical shapes, dots, and lines to create depth and texture. It was important that the room was relaxing but didn't appear sterile. Like the rest of the home, this room was designed for the children to hang out in, especially as they got older and wanted space away from adult focused functions.

STUDY

The biggest goal of the study was to have it act as its own space while still blending with the rest of the house. Everything was to be cozy and visually interesting without being overly stimulating.

The pieces were picked to give the children allowance to move around, move stools or chairs into the hallway by the bookcase, or into the guest bedroom. Because the area is tucked into a corner, having control of light was critical, which is why diffused lamps, big windows, and mirrors are in use.

KITCHEN/FORMAL DINING

For this area, everything was designed to be used and well loved. After all, the kitchen area is the new heart of the home and one of the first things you visually see when you walk in. All the design choices stemmed from this area.

The mixing of brass, gold, and Tiffany glass juxtapose with the light wood and splashes of harsh black to give the eye something to latch onto. This area gets the most light and shadows, so the pieces were curated to allow the room to transform into different vibes at different points of the day.

The white glass either becoming warm with the morning light or toned down midday, the mixing of the woods coming out at different points of the day, along with the metals and golds interacting with the black tile and marble to defuse the light bouncing off the white walls.

MATERIALS

Because the family entertains it was so important that everything was approachable even though the color scheme is so stark and moody. Instead of leaning into coziness, everything was to feel worn, aged, and lived in. Everything was moved away from sterile and Scandinavian styles. This was a very interesting family and the way they live and use their home should be shown as they continue to grow and invite others in.

The Stuga floor was chosen for its ability to bounce light and grow with scratches and wear, while the sink is designed to look beautiful even if it's scratched up and worn.

I didn't want the client to have to change the pieces out in their home because they were no longer trendy or got scuffed up. Instead, I wanted everything to get more beautiful as it was used. And to allow the client the ability to move away from achromatic and into other color schemes without having to mass change everything in their home. Even the shade of blue was carefully picked because it's such a versatile color. It's also why only the kitchen sink is blue, while every other fixed fixture is a natural or black.