Mim Design, Albert Park

A Melbourne classic receives a contemporary redesign

When Mim Fanning’s clients approached her to handle the interior design on their home in Melbourne’s Albert Park, they had a very clear brief in mind. ‘They’re a young professional couple with three small children and they wanted a home that’s timeless,’ says the founder and principal of Melbourne-based practice Mim Design. ‘As well as interiors that reflect both the original and new architectural elements of the house.’ The resulting scheme respects the existing Edwardian villa’s character as much as it complements the dynamic structure of AdeB Architects’ two-level extension. Fanning took her design cue from the new curved exterior, introducing fluid lines and forms throughout the home. These rounded motifs are used to great effect in the sculptural stair and void, and repeated in other custom features no less compelling — including the bathrooms’ mirrors and highlight windows above the period doorways.

Fanning’s fine eye for detail extends to the design’s considered materiality, too. 'As part of their brief, the clients requested a calm, restrained and authentic palette of natural materials,' she explains. The use of timber to punctuate a predominantly grey and white colour palette is skilfully nuanced, adding a sense of curiosity to a design that is highly sophisticated, while a patterned marble in the living and bath areas adds an element of texture.

This project demonstrates Mim Design's deft ability to craft interiors that are modern and elegant yet welcoming. The styling is meticulous, with pops of colour found in the artwork, soft furnishings and chair selection. And the lounge area’s light gray sofa echoes the curves in the nearby balustrade, but more importantly it can accommodate the family of five comfortably (along with their friends and extended family members). In the dining area, the same applies with furniture that’s as hard working as it is good looking.

The emphasis here is on the home’s comfort and liveability. 'There’s a clear design language that can be read throughout the interior spaces,' says Fanning. 'The final outcome meets the brief perfectly, as well as the needs of the family.'

Text / Leanne Amodeo
Images / Sharyn Cairns