Project Overview

Nestled in Melbourne’s serene south-eastern suburbs, lies Ivory House. Crafting a home that would become a sanctuary for her family was a uniquely personal experience for Romy Dankner, director of Homeroom Studio. It was imperative that the space could facilitate daily life whilst ensuring an idyllic and calm interior experience.

Organisation

Homeroom Studio

Team

Interior Design, Furniture Procurement and styling by Homeroom Studio - including Romy Dankner (director) and Natalie Fryar (Interior Designer).

As this project was the home of Romy Dankner, the Homeroom Studio team worked in close collaboration with the architects of the home - Tecture.

It was important that the interior design felt like an extension of the architecture, that the home in it's entirety felt crafted by one hand.

Project Brief

Harnessing the abundance of natural light was crucial in curating an interior experience that fosters tranquillity whilst maintaining a strong connection to the verdant surroundings. Inspired by the site’s luminosity, Homeroom Studio selected a muted palette, enriched with texture.

The connection between natural light and the interior experience is pivotal in fostering a sense of peace in the bustling nature of family life. Throughout the day, moments of intrigue unfold as light dances through the space, illuminating the clean and lineal interior detailing.

To ensure connectivity, it was crucial that the understated design language permeated every aspect of the design, from integrated joinery to sculptural lighting, textural window furnishings, and refined furniture selections.

By seamlessly integrating external materials into the interior spaces, a restrained yet refined contemporary aesthetic was achieved. Meticulous detailing and precise articulation ensured a smooth transition between the external and internal environments, ensuring cohesion and balance.

Concealed behind a façade of brickwork and timber, the ensuing home provides the family a place of peace. The stillness is reflected throughout the entirety of the design, seamlessly framing the landscaping that echoes the interior’s tranquil form.

Project Innovation/Need

The requisite of a truly tranquil and calm space required a home that was paired back in nature. The design of the Ivory House provides this harmony and excels through the incredible balance achieved.

A perfect symmetry is established through a muted palette which is offset with moments of strength through bold stone selections, as well as injections of colour through furniture and artwork.

Sweeping ceiling heights are softened with textural sheer curtains. Harsh lineal forms subdued with external landscaping, flowing with the wind. The Ivory House creates an equilibrium, tying together several aspects that without each other would not achieve the same outcome.

Design Challenge

The site conditions was the driving force behind the entire floor plan, and room orientation. The site offered abundant natural sunlight, and it was essential to harness it effectively. Orientating the main living spaces towards the north, and including large openings ensured ample light filtration and also created a sense of connectivity between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Whilst the interior cuts clean and refined lines, the external landscaping was curated to feel quite whimsical and provide layers of softness.

Sustainability

The floor plan orientation, the choice of window treatments, and the placement of openings all played a role in creating a home that maximized natural sunlight, reducing the reliance on heating and cooling systems throughout the year.

In terms of materiality, Homeroom Studio ensured reduced wastage for stone and joinery by working closely with their trades and working within standard slab/panel sizes. All excess stone and joinery offcuts were utilized where possible within door detailing and additional shelving throughout the home.