Armadale Residence by Pleysier Perkins and Sanders & King

Pleysier Perkins and Sanders & King teamed up to restore and extend on a stately Victorian-era mansion and stables in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale. When they were first introduced to the heritage-listed home and former stables they were in need of a full renovation. Together they set out to bring the home into the present day, realising its indoor-outdoor potential and functionality for a family through design that speaks to the home’s longevity. 

The project brief centred on enhancing the home and former stables through embracing traditional forms and reinvigorating them in the renovation. The original buildings were firmly grounded in their bygone era, evident in the traditional floorplan and segmentation of spaces. Both Pleysier Perkins and Sanders & King worked hard to create a distinct function in each room that was inferred and not physical, like in the original layout. The existing architectural archways reverberate through the curves in new openings, windows, glazed steel doors, skylights, joinery and ceiling coves.  

Sanders & King director Elissa King says the transition spaces adjacent to the modern extension are defined by ceiling height, colour use and material changes, shaping the journey from old to new. “Doorways were heightened, archways that were existing were increased in depth and thresholds were accentuated with marble inlays,” Elissa says. “These marble thresholds not only added to the drama of the deep door frames but defined the change of floor finish; solid timber floors in the existing home, to encaustic tiled floors in the scullery or the polished concrete floor in the new extension.” 

Both the architecture and interior design teams worked towards reusing and rejuvenating existing materials. Pleysier Perkins integrated the red brick with concrete and zinc cladding to design the rear extension. Like the exterior, traditional materials informed the interior palette of marble, poured concrete, timber, polished plaster, custom-encaustic cement tiles and steel, as well as a tonal paint palette. Elissa maintains materials were chosen for their authentic, classic quality and longevity such as marble for the flooring, wall cladding and joinery. Poured concrete was selected in the extension for its inherent solidness and the way it patinas with age. 

Polished plaster walls in the rear living area inject warmth and softness to the subtle curved wall of the fireplace. As the stairs ascend to the first level, Sanders & King also decided on delicate graduation in carpet colour. Once at the top landing, the carpet changes in colour, with silk floral inlays. “Colour is important throughout this home,” Elissa says. “Tonal paints define spaces and add drama and grandeur to the existing rooms. Deep thresholds are also painted in deeper tones to accentuate the passage through,” she adds. 

The bathrooms and powder room stand out in the effort to retain existing features in the project. The powder room off the dining room has a vanity set into an old fireplace, where the existing brickwork was painted but left imperfect to reveal its character. “A marble vanity was fitted within the opening of the chimney and Moroccan mosaics with similar imperfections were used as the splashback to compliment the rawness of this area,” Elissa says.

In the Victorian era, the kitchen was usually unseen and the smallest part of the home. Sanders & King turned this notion on its head with their dignified kitchen space for the family of five. “Both the kitchen and dining retain the original high ceilings and cornice features and are bathed in deeper colour tones,” Elissa says. “Walls were removed with openings increased so the spaces interact and flow with the modern rear living, but also keep a separate feel and function.”

The kitchen is a delectable palette of navy and walnut cabinetry, buttery tan leather, marble and white tiles. A highlight in this space is the curvaceous kitchen island, cupped by navy Beetle Counter Chairs by Gamfretesi for Gubi. The clients requested on a cafe-style nook which Sanders & King introduced in the corner of this space, featuring the Series 430 Chairs by Verpan and Lumi Wall Sconce by Articolo Lighting. Just off the kitchen and honing in on the old-time aesthetic is the scullery with a classic tap and ceramic sink from The English Tapware Company.

Pleysier Perkins and Sanders & King’s brave intervention marks a historic new chapter for this Armadale mansion and former stables. The collaborators have heedfully reckoned the family of five’s every need without sacrificing the building’s inherent august charm.