Home Tour: For The Love Of Art

Location: Malvern, Melbourne's southeast

Who lives here: A downsizing couple

Interior style: Contemporary with an arty edge

Favourite pieces: The artwork and the really beautiful caramel low vintage armchair. It is these unique vintage pieces that make the home feel more interesting. 

Love the most: The renovated kitchen living dining. Architect Tom Robertson did a nice job with the renovation and making sure that the space was light-filled.

When a heritage cottage in Malvern gets an architectural renovation by Tom Robertson and an interiors makeover by Fenton & Fenton, the results are bound to be something special. And that's exactly what happened here at Horace Street in Melbourne's leafy neighbourhood of Malvern.

A paved pathway leads you through a lush yet understated garden to a cottage that charms with its heritage façade. Step inside, and the three-bedroom home starts to take on a decidedly different feel – a beautiful blend of old and new architecture where the modern open plan addition anchors the home. Opting for a restrained palette in the architectural design, Tom Robertson created the perfect canvas for Fenton & Fenton to work their magic.

THE BRIEF

Known for her striking ability to bring colour, texture, pattern and flair into homes, the founder of Melbourne-based Fenton & Fenton, Lucy Fenton, explains that the owners have been clients of theirs for years. The couple, downsizing from a large family home into a cottage that showcases their art collection, turned to Lucy once their renovation was complete.

The brief was simple. Sophisticated yet playful. Colourful, but not too over the top. Lucy and her team delivered with an array of thoughtfully considered art and furnishing, which sat against a neutral palette.

"We really wanted the interior styling to be comfortable, contemporary, and something our client will have for a long time. Everything in the home is timeless. Nothing is going to date," explains Lucy.

NATURAL LIGHT

A defining feature of the cottage is how the architectural design harnesses natural light that filters through from the internal courtyard, the large sliding doors, and the oversized highlight windows. The light playfully reflects across the large marble benchtop and over the beautiful marble and timber dining table.

"The house is quite small, so every piece of furniture had to serve a purpose – it had to sit within the space perfectly," says Lucy.

OPEN PLAN LIVING

The marble theme continues into the living room, where a beautiful fireplace was built atop a marble bench, offering a warm and welcoming space. The banjo sofa – comfortable, practical and understated – sits atop a colourful rug. Combined with the cushions and caramel low vintage armchairs, the bold colours bring the room to life. Yet still, what really shines is the art collection and the vintage one-off pieces, which add a sense of lightness and fun to the sophisticated palette.

"They have a really nice collection of Australian art. They mix photography with original artwork, beautiful ceramics and vintage glass, which creates a feeling that's very inviting," says Lucy. "What I love about how the art is displayed in this home is that people tend to have one big artwork above a dining table, but here we have one bigger piece and a few pieces on the side. And in the kitchen, beautiful open shelves display art and ceramics."

THE BEDROOMS

Being in the original part of the house meant the bedrooms were a bit darker. Adopting an arty edge, Fenton & Fenton set about lifting the space with a splash of colour. "We went with really luxe velvet bedheads, bright coloured linens and artwork to really make sure the rooms were in keeping with the rest of the house," says Lucy.

LOCAL YET GLOBAL

The combination of Fenton & Fenton's unique global style and collection of homewares, art and furniture with that of the owners injected luxurious textural finish into the Malvern cottage in some of the most unexpected ways.

"Almost everything came from us. They had come vintage one-off pieces that were sourced from auction houses, but a lot of the homewares were designed by us and made overseas. Such as our rugs, which are made in India, and their dining table and chairs are from Indonesia – so it's a very global collection," says Lucy.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

The leafy streets and picture-perfect homes of Malvern are a veritable playground for families. In fact, it's hard to believe that these lush green neighbourhoods are a mere 20-minute drive from the city. What's not so hard to believe is that once the kids leave home, mum and dad tend to have no intention of following suit. It's the type of place where gardens are perfectly manicured, café culture reigns supreme, and a pet dog is essential.

SITCHU’S FAVOURITE MALVERN HANGOUTS

For breakfast: Saint Jaxie Cafe is an absolute must for a lazy weekend breakfast – especially in the courtyard when the sun is shining.

For lunch: Inspired by New York’s old school delis, Stan’s Deli and Sandwiches is a lunchtime ritual.  

For dinner: When you’re craving a good shake with your burger and fries, Boy & Co hits the mark.

For drinks: Milton Wine is a small wine bar that will also keep your cellar well-stocked.

GET THE LOOK

Fenton and Fenton

PROJECT CREDITS

Interior Design: Fenton & Fenton

Architect: Tom Robertson

Photography: Eve Wilson

Words: Margaret Quilter