We take a look inside Edwina Glenn’s Toorak project, where ornate details define a far from ordinary home.
Local designer Edwina Glenn was approached by the owners of this Toorak home, originally designed by Rob Mills, with A3 folders of inspirational imagery. Affirming no lack of vision, the owners were in search of interiors that spoke to their affinity for fashion and contemporary design. They were hungry for bold and brave accents, looking to leave behind the detailed, dark oak joinery and floors of their previous home.
Enter Edwina Glenn, who worked closely with the client to articulate their visual language from the myriad of ideas and imagery. Where the kitchen takes centre stage, Edwina Glenn’s renovation makes for a glamorously-assured home, embellished with brass details and gentle, polished finishes.
The kitchen features Signorino Calacatta Gold marble, the Icona Classic Sink Set in British Gold by Fantina as well as Miele, Ilve and Liebherr appliances.
In keeping with the home’s already regal atmosphere, steel windows, brass details and parquetry flooring were all non-negotiables. These three key elements shaped Edwina Glenn’s intervention, who replaced bulky timber fenestration with full height steel-frame windows. Edwina also replaced the existing polished beige stone floors with warm oak parquetry and introduced internal steel-frame doors.
Edwina says the lavish use of brass was by far the greatest challenge of the project, but equally the most rewarding. “The client was desperately keen to embrace the visual beauty of brass but did not want the material to patina, scratch or tarnish,” says Edwina. “The design process itself was unique as I was constantly fighting and designing against the inherent nature of the material itself.” Edwina credits the collaboration and craftsmanship of both builder Visioneer and metalworker Ox Finishes to achieving a successful result.
The living space features the brass ICF Lamp by Michael Anastassiades, a Flexform Groundpiece sofa, Kidd Side Table and Flexform Magi Chaise, available from Fanuli.
The dining space features the Concorde Table by Emmanuel Gallina for Poliform, Tulip Chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll Studio and a John Pawson bowl.
Brass details are not only revealed through the island bench joinery, but the brass sinks, brass shelf and joinery hardware. To complement the brass, Edwina selected Signorino honed Calacatta Gold Marble for its deep rich gold veining and the Icona Classic Sink Set in British Gold by Fantina, available from Rogerseller. Black accents are embraced through the Zip Hydro Tap Arc C, and Miele and Ilve appliances, letting the black steel framing feel right at home.
The Trapeze 10 pendant by Apparatus is one of the client’s favourite features, weaving the brass into the adjoining dining space and in the good company of a Concorde Table by Emmanuel Gallina for Poliform, Tulip Chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll Studio and a John Pawson bowl. Other feature lighting includes the brass ICF Lamp by Michael Anastassiades. A Flexform Groundpiece sofa ensures a comfortable place to retreat to after dinner, alongside the Kidd Side Table and Flexform Magi Chaise, all available from Fanuli.
This Toorak home wouldn’t be complete without a grand staircase, complete with the Vibia Algorithm pendant by Toan Nguyen from Koda Lighting – or a clever space to store the client’s wine collection. Edwina also brought this sense of glamour into the bedroom through black-painted doors and an old-timely chandelier.
Hailed as one of Edwina’s most collaborative projects to date, this Toorak Home unveils a confidently contemporary aesthetic, grounded by enduring materials and designer favourites.
Absolutely stunning. One of my favourite posts.