I recently got in touch with Caecilia Potter of Melbourne-based design firm Atticus & Milo to hear more about the project which won her firm the Residential Decoration award at the Australian Interior Design Awards (read my earlier post on the awards here).

I mentioned to her that the project looked like the result of a very close relationship between designer and client, and that I thought it was really brought to life by the art collection. Caecilia told me that it was her easiest client ever, because it was her own family home, and her own art collection! Here's her account of the project.

Chivasso sheer fabric at the windows. Image: Atticus & Milo Photography: Derek Swalwell

We found a beautiful old lady of a home, replete with gorgeous faded original finishes and fittings everywhere, but in a state of neglect, and fell in love with her and wanted to bring her back to life.  I designed new bathrooms and powder rooms, rewired for sound with speakers in walls, restored the damaged floors, stained them and finished them with a natural wax coating, designed outdoor living spaces with bright cushions and Tribu furniture, and a natural swimming pool cleaned by rock and water plants and then focussed on restoring the interiors.

Hundreds of buckets of water later we could see the beautiful cedar newel posts and balustrades, and original Victorian oaking and herringboning on the doors that had been covered by layers of soot and dirt. Then I added a few finishing touches like the Chivasso bird sheers in the dining room which have a band of Designers Guild ombre velvet on the base, and rearranged my old furniture pieces and hung our art collection which includes everything from Gareth Sansom's painting "God" outside the bedroom, to Jan Sennbergs,' Otway and Old World Memories" in the dining room, Guan Wei's Cloud sculptures, and my children's artwork. 

Powder room. Image: Atticus & Milo Photography: Derek Swalwell

The powder room was trowelled in orange and magenta plaster (the fabulous stripes were created by Matthew Collins at Art & Interiors) to remind us of sun downers on the African savannah and the rhino head was inspired by my brother in law who has had a baby rhino named after him for his conservation work in Africa. Ingo Maurer Bang Boom light in the den was a fun piece for the boys as both of them are interested in art and graffiti. I designed new cabinetry to store our books including the study which features text telling some of the story of the house, laser cut in sliding acrylic panels.

Laser cut panels telling the story of the house. Image: Atticus & Milo Photography: Derek Swalwell

We also installed a bar in the tower with orange and pink Canovas hunting wallpaper for champagne and great views! Jeeves and Wooster pendants in the boys bathroom remind us that this is 'the gents". I could go on, but I'm sure this is too much information already!  As you see I have had a lot of fun.

It's the sense of fun and whimsy that really brings this home to life - it's probably rare that a designer is given completely free rein. Caecilia says she is now working on her "gorgeous, rambling garden", including an organic kitchen garden. Some people have all the luck!

Have a lovely weekend.

Victoria