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Issue 66 - Kitchen & Bathroom Issue

Issue 66

Kitchen & Bathroom Issue

Kitchens and bathrooms are, arguably, the most consequential rooms in the home — and almost always the first to be considered. Whether approached through renovation or new build, their design has the power to recalibrate how a home is lived in and experienced. For this issue, our guest editor, Mardi Doherty, principal of Studio Doherty, explores what it truly means to transform these pivotal spaces — and why thoughtful design in kitchens and bathrooms delivers dividends far beyond the purely functional. Her insights both as an architect and as her own client give an open and honest account of the thinking behind creating a home.

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A home catering to both heritage and modernity
HomesHabitusliving Editor

A home catering to both heritage and modernity

Australia

Design

Sally Caroline

Photography

Timothy Kaye

Balancing conservatism and exuberance, Botticino Place by Sally Caroline transforms a heritage-listed residence in Melbourne’s Middle Park into a joyful family setting.


Botticino Place by Sally Caroline is a blend of calmness and bold risk-taking that reflects the homeowners’ distinct personalities. In collaboration with long-standing partners Powell & Glenn – designers of the home’s concrete, brutalist extension – Sally Caroline has crafted a personalised interior designed to strike a harmonious balance between heritage and modernity.

Ornate skirtings, cornices and period fittings honour the original detailing, while the refined language of the extension, anchored by a sunlit winter garden, offer a contemporary counterpoint. Layered over this architectural foundation, rich stylistic references reflect the creative, fashion-forward client, imbuing the home with depth and individuality.

European oak floors breathe new life into the entry foyer, framing views through the full length of the site. A deep ’sea squash’ tone saturates the front sitting room, complete with an original bay window overlooking the garden. The remaining original rooms are skilfully reworked to accommodate an ensuite for the lower-level guest bedroom, with a laundry, powder room and scullery nestled around the stair – seizing every available inch to maximise amenity. 

At the end of the hall, the floors dramatically transition from timber to tumbled Botticino marble crazy paving, articulating a marked threshold between the home’s old and new volumes. This crafted floor finish seamlessly extends through the winter garden and kitchen, where an elemental, marble island bench crafts an intuitive place to gather as a family.

Beyond, a dining and living volume, opening onto a rear terrace, playfully combines contemporary and vintage furniture, art and décor, crafting a relaxed and welcoming sensibility conducive to family life.

Related: More from Sally Caroline at Dutch Quarter

Upstairs, playful accents enrich the home’s private spaces, combining green carpets, chequered stone floor tiles, periwinkle blue cabinetry and vintage wall lights. Alongside bespoke, detailed cabinetry, Botticino Place is enlivened by pieces from Sally Caroline’s own SC collection, including Lunetta Perch stools, Saint-Marc and Marley rugs.

The interior also features new designs currently under development by the studio, including a brass-trimmed mirror and circular coffee table, which mediate between the home’s composed yet daring spirit. Timeless yet filled with individuality, Botticino Place aims to impart a timeless and artistic impression to serve the young family for many years to come.

Description provided by designers.


About the Author

Habitusliving Editor

Tags

AustraliaBotticino PlaceBrutalistconcretefurnituregardenheritageHeritage RenovationHome ArchitectureHouse Architecture


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Issue 66 - Kitchen & Bathroom Issue

Issue 66

Kitchen & Bathroom Issue

Kitchens and bathrooms are, arguably, the most consequential rooms in the home — and almost always the first to be considered. Whether approached through renovation or new build, their design has the power to recalibrate how a home is lived in and experienced. For this issue, our guest editor, Mardi Doherty, principal of Studio Doherty, explores what it truly means to transform these pivotal spaces — and why thoughtful design in kitchens and bathrooms delivers dividends far beyond the purely functional. Her insights both as an architect and as her own client give an open and honest account of the thinking behind creating a home.

Order Issue