Enter a secluded family home located in Park Orchards, Melbourne revived by local residential design practice Chelsea Hing.
Orchard House sees the contemporary facelift of a private home in the leafy Melbourne outer suburb of Park Orchards. It was the second project the client had asked Chelsea Hing to design and through this established relationship, the team experimented with tactile layers and avant-garde art and objects. Receiving an AIDA 2020 commendation for residential decoration, Orchard House walks the line between comfort and aesthetic; an intimate setting characterised by sweeping curves and bold tonal hues.
The living room features the Gazelle Rug by Armadillo, the Salute Table for La Chance and the Flos Luminator floor light.
Smooth polished plaster walls and concrete flooring separate the interior architecture from its quirky decor and focal art. Full-height aluminium windows in the triangular living room open up to the deck and pool, anchoring the garden as part of the home. Glossy emerald cabinetry in the kitchen effectively differentiates itself from the open-plan living space, complemented by gold accents and a leather-finished marble bench.
Sculpturally-sound furniture has been carefully selected to create deliberate tension throughout the home. The curved Criteria Baxter Armchair and Edra On The Rocks sofa intentionally cuts through the rigid lines of the inbuilt fireplace and architectural details; an inviting space for entertaining that was central to the client’s brief.
In the dining room, the Container Table by Marcel Wanders for Moooi is adorned by a handful of Apparatus objects, including the Arrow Pendant and Censer. “We looked to Apparatus for inspiration for their seriously reigned-in colour palettes that feel both masculine & organic at the same time,” studio director Chelsea Hing says.
Design highlights in the dining room include the Apparatus Arrow Pendant, Apparatus Censer and the Container Table, designed by Marcel Wanders for Moooi. Artwork by Alice Wormald.
The formal living room features the Tufty Time Sofa, designed by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, the Habibi Tray Table and the Mate Shelf, both by e15. Artwork by Ryan Hoffman.
The master bedroom proved no easy feat, clad in custom blue plaster from wall-to-wall. “We matched the blue right down to the carpet – including the AC vent. Even the pivot door is two-toned; grey on the outside to match the rumpus outside and blue on the inside to match the bedroom,” Chelsea explains. Photography by Tom Blachford is pictured above the bed, echoing the pool vistas in the backyard below.
The exploration of an unsaturated colour palette and an emphasis on obscure art and objects informs the design of Orchard House, carefully balancing eccentricity with functionality.
The ST04 Backenzahn Stool in Walnut, designed by Philipp Mainzer for e15 pictured in the living room. Artwork by Eunice Napanangka Jack.
The Knoll Mr Chaise Lounge and Laurel Side Table by De La Espada atop an Armadillo rug in the home’s entrance.
The bedroom features the Tufty Bed designed by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, the Vier Side Table by e15, Zig Zag Chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina and the Apparatus Pivot Sconce. Artwork by Tom Blachford.
The outdoor area features the Knoll Schultz Lounge Chair and a custom sculpture by Caleb Shea.
