Stickybeak of the Week: A Penthouse Living Area Dressed to Impress
This open-plan living space boasts a contemporary character with a splash of vintage charm
The owners of this elegant open-plan living space had lived overseas and travelled extensively but, after settling in Melbourne, sought to furnish and decorate their newly built penthouse apartment. After an extensive search for a designer, they enlisted Christopher Elliott of Christopher Elliott Design to transform the apartment into something truly special.
The owners wanted to create a space that was timeless, inviting and functional, yet reflected their love of progressive and luxurious design. Special consideration was taken with the open-plan living and dining room in order to make it visually appealing, yet a functional and comfortable space that is versatile in nature.
“When working with an open-plan living and dining space it’s important to create distinction between the two spaces, so that each has its own designated zone. This can be done with the use of rugs that delineate a space visually; as well as with lighting and in particular, pendant lighting,” says Christopher. “This is evident in the dining space with the random cluster of Tom Dixon Beat pendant lights suspended from the mirror canopy. The sculptural shape of the lights are appealing during the day, and at night when the lights are on, the space is bathed in a golden hue. The effect is elegant and luxurious.”
The couple, who enjoy an active lifestyle, needed the design to be one that would suit themselves, but also their large extended family. A versatile, open-plan space was a key element in the design.
“Another consideration with open-plan living is that the space may need to accommodate a variety of different purposes; from causal to formal, and as such the best approach is to opt for a smart casual look – much like clothing,” says Christopher. “This enables the most amount of flexibility from a space; it will look great for those times you are entertaining or hosting an event and feel relaxed and comfortable for everyday living.”
The design from the beginning was a collaborative one, with Christopher and his clients seeing eye-to-eye from the start. This enabled the design to rise to glorious new heights.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Semi-retired couple with a large extended family
Location: Toorak, Melbourne
Size: 350 square metres (3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and powder room)
Designer: Christopher Elliott of Christopher Elliott Design
Photography by Sharyn Cairns
The owners wanted to create a space that was timeless, inviting and functional, yet reflected their love of progressive and luxurious design. Special consideration was taken with the open-plan living and dining room in order to make it visually appealing, yet a functional and comfortable space that is versatile in nature.
“When working with an open-plan living and dining space it’s important to create distinction between the two spaces, so that each has its own designated zone. This can be done with the use of rugs that delineate a space visually; as well as with lighting and in particular, pendant lighting,” says Christopher. “This is evident in the dining space with the random cluster of Tom Dixon Beat pendant lights suspended from the mirror canopy. The sculptural shape of the lights are appealing during the day, and at night when the lights are on, the space is bathed in a golden hue. The effect is elegant and luxurious.”
The couple, who enjoy an active lifestyle, needed the design to be one that would suit themselves, but also their large extended family. A versatile, open-plan space was a key element in the design.
“Another consideration with open-plan living is that the space may need to accommodate a variety of different purposes; from causal to formal, and as such the best approach is to opt for a smart casual look – much like clothing,” says Christopher. “This enables the most amount of flexibility from a space; it will look great for those times you are entertaining or hosting an event and feel relaxed and comfortable for everyday living.”
The design from the beginning was a collaborative one, with Christopher and his clients seeing eye-to-eye from the start. This enabled the design to rise to glorious new heights.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Semi-retired couple with a large extended family
Location: Toorak, Melbourne
Size: 350 square metres (3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and powder room)
Designer: Christopher Elliott of Christopher Elliott Design
Photography by Sharyn Cairns
Christopher developed the palette to include this rich blue colour, seen in the dining chairs. The bold blue hue complements and works in harmony with the warm tones of the Eveneer ‘Truffle’ veneer, as well as the solid American Oak dining table in a ‘Grigio’ stain.
Yosi Messiah original oil canvas: Thierry B. Gallery
Yosi Messiah original oil canvas: Thierry B. Gallery
The apartment overlooks a stunning, leafy Melbourne street and is bathed in natural light. The main living room does have a northerly aspect, so heat coming through the windows and causing temperatures to rise within the apartment was a consideration. Christopher installed motorised internal blinds and fitted external motorised louvres to eliminate the potential problem before it became an issue.
Fjord footstool: Hub Furniture
Fjord footstool: Hub Furniture
Part of the design brief meant there also had to be enough room within the design for future decorative elements that they might come across after the penthouse project was completed. The contemporary scheme references the past through authentic vintage designs.
An original Hans Wegner rosewood sideboard is a pivotal element in the living room design, creating a sense of balance between the modern furniture and fittings and Mid-century influences, as seen here with the armchair and overhanging arc floor lamp.
Original Hans Wegner sideboard: Great Dane Furniture; Quiver rug: Rugs of Distinction; B&B Italia Metropolitan armchair: Space Furniture; Foscarini ‘Twiggy’ floor lamp: Space Furniture
An original Hans Wegner rosewood sideboard is a pivotal element in the living room design, creating a sense of balance between the modern furniture and fittings and Mid-century influences, as seen here with the armchair and overhanging arc floor lamp.
Original Hans Wegner sideboard: Great Dane Furniture; Quiver rug: Rugs of Distinction; B&B Italia Metropolitan armchair: Space Furniture; Foscarini ‘Twiggy’ floor lamp: Space Furniture
Texture has been added to the walls with a custom polished plaster finish.
The theme of textured walls is carried throughout the home which, in addition to the open-plan living and dining space, also features a study, main bedroom, two spare bedrooms, and an open-air terrace and balcony.
The theme of textured walls is carried throughout the home which, in addition to the open-plan living and dining space, also features a study, main bedroom, two spare bedrooms, and an open-air terrace and balcony.
Comfort and usability was as much a consideration as style and aesthetics. Much of the furniture was custom made, with several pieces specifically designed by Elliott to accommodate the owner’s specific requests, such as the Blade dining table. The Float side table in powder coated solid steel is by the designer Christopher Elliott.
Artworks and soft furnishings such as cushions and rugs soften the modern space and make it an inviting home you want to relax in, rather than just look at.
Vista lounge: Jardan
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Artworks and soft furnishings such as cushions and rugs soften the modern space and make it an inviting home you want to relax in, rather than just look at.
Vista lounge: Jardan
MORE
Help Your Open-Plan Living Area Become Great at Multi-Tasking
16 Clever Ways to Create Zones in Open-Plan Spaces
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Open-Plan
“The ‘Swoon’ blue has become a very popular colour in both fashion and home decor alike, but when I was trying to source a leather in this colour, I had to search high and low,” says Christopher.
The custom-designed and made mirrored canopy above the dining table, adorned with mounted Tom Dixon Beat light fittings in an array of shapes, provides an eye-catching feature that works perfectly with the space without dominating or taking away from the overall scheme.
Minotti Loving dining chairs: Dedece