We enter three spaces designed by Studio Esteta in collaboration with Laminex which call attention to the arresting appeal of decorative wall panelling for the home.
Melbourne-based architects Studio Esteta have established a recognisable approach to colour and texture through their modern Australian portfolio. As leaders in manufacturing premium decorative surfaces, Laminex have teamed up with Studio Esteta to bring their range of decorative wall panelling, Surround by Laminex, to the fore of Australian residential interior design.
With a brief to be “wholly unique” to previous Surround by Laminex campaigns, Studio Esteta have created three distinct spaces – a bedroom, living room and study nook – each conforming to a different colour palette. Reflecting Studio Esteta’s core design values, the campaign prioritises bespoke details, contrasting tones and a layered, honest approach to materials, forging three distinct design resolutions that are refined, rich and functional. “At Esteta, we embrace the understanding that beauty – often raw and unpredictable – has many facets,” co-director Sarah Cosentino says. “Often these can be found in the bespoke details that elevate a design; a decorative wall panelling being one example.”
Surround by Laminex, in collaboration with Studio Esteta, reflects the versatility and arresting appeal of decorative wall panelling, represented in a way that inspires authenticity and, in Sarah’s words, “pushing the boundaries”.
In the bedroom, Studio Esteta try their hand at a custom application of Surround by Laminex in the form of a bedhead and integrated bedside tables. The Surround by Laminex Scallop 135 and Scallop 45 profiles were specified in this space.
The Bedroom
Sarah and studio partner Felicity Slattery saw the potential in Surround by Laminex to be more than just wall cladding. “So much of our work is custom, and we wanted to show how versatile the product can be; pushing the boundaries and showing how it can be used in different settings,” Sarah says.
“In the bedroom, we really wanted to approach the use of Surround by Laminex like joinery,” Sarah says. This intent is revealed in the custom bedhead and integrated bedside tables, which materialise in the new Surround by Laminex Scallop 135 profile, painted in Dulux Sienna Stone, and are anchored by the Scallop 45 profile above, painted in Dulux Cat Mint. This palette of minty green and deep rust is bold yet welcoming, crafting an unexpected place of rest.
Textural elements along with local fittings and fixtures are the focus in the green-oriented living room, where Studio Esteta have opted for the Surround by Laminex Classic VJ 100 profile and Laminex Danish Walnut timber laminate.
It was important to the Studio Esteta team to support local makers, artisans and suppliers in the campaign, resulting in an Australian-dominated lineup of lighting, styling pieces and furniture items.
The Living Room
“We strived to imbue a sense of calm into the living room and realise a timeless and functional design,” Sarah says. An olive-green feature wall in the Surround by Laminex Classic VJ 100 profile and exposed Laminex Danish Walnut woodgrain laminate shelving creates an earthy, meditative space. Studio Esteta chose Dulux Olive Leaf on the wall panelling to achieve this effect. A light-toned concrete rendered hearth and mantle creates contrast and further accentuates the minimal and refined palette.
The Study Nook
Warm mustard tones characterise the study nook, where Surround by Laminex French Stripe, painted in Dulux Alluvial Inca, meets Laminex Danish Walnut woodgrain laminate. The striking profile of the French Stripe is balanced with bespoke details and textures, such as the terracotta-coloured cork backboard. The study nook is the perfect companion to Studio Esteta’s bedroom and living space, evoking focus and comfortability.
Combining the Surround by Laminex Classic VJ 100 profile and Laminex Danish Walnut woodgrain laminate creates a warm, cosy study nook elevated by Studio Esteta’s confident grasp of colour.
“With a focus on longevity and timelessness, these spaces reflect our design approach, which proposes equal bearing on beauty and function.”
– Sarah Cosentino, Studio Esteta
