Led by Silvia Roldan, Principal Interior Designer at Studio Esar, Tudorlea honours the romanticism of the home’s heritage façade while reshaping its interiors for contemporary family life.
Here, we speak with Roldan about balancing heritage and modernity, the emotional weight of materiality and the moody green room that became one of the project’s defining gestures.
Please tell us about the site context.
Tudorlea is the reimagining of a 1930s Tudor residence in Balwyn North. The home sits within a quiet, tree-lined suburban street defined by established gardens and generous allotments. While the original dwelling possessed charm and proportion, its interior was compartmentalised and disconnected. Our response respected the romanticism of its heritage façade while reworking the interior to embrace light, openness and a stronger relationship to the modern way of living.
What can you tell us about the clients and their brief?
Our clients, a considered and design-literate family, sought a home that honoured the character of the original architecture while supporting contemporary family life. They were drawn to depth, mood and materiality, requesting a balance between softness and structure. Above all, they wanted longevity: a home that felt timeless, immersive and deeply personal.
What are the key material and structural choices?
A robust upper addition forms a private sanctuary for the principal suite and secondary bedrooms. Below, reconfigured openings and improved sightlines allow natural light to filter deep into the plan. Materially, we layered warm timbers, veined stone and aged brass to evoke permanence. The Green Room, drenched in enveloping pigment, introduces drama and intimacy, anchoring the palette with confidence. Joinery strikes a balance between traditional and contemporary.
What key functional requirements does the design address?
The design resolves the tension between heritage and modernity. Open-plan living supports family connection, while considered joinery integrates storage seamlessly. Zoning between public and private spaces ensures both retreat and togetherness.
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What are your favourite parts or moments in the design?
The Green Room remains a defining gesture: moody, cocooning and unapologetically dramatic. We also cherish the threshold moment, where a curved batten wall, which conceals a lift, defines where old becomes new.
