A Delightfully Kooky, Mid-Century Inspired Melbourne Home

Kitchen & dining. Wiggle stool by Frank Gehry for Vitra from Living Edge; Diiva dining chairs from Grazia&co; vintage Super Elliptical table by Piet Hein, Arne Jacobsen and Bruno Mathsson for Fritz Hansen from Leonard Joel; ceramic vessel from Jess Graham; Splugen Brau pendant light by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos from Euroluce; steel staircase designed by Studio Doherty in gloss spray applied painted finish. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Kitchen. Island, splashback, and benchtop in DTILE tiles in Pigeon from Mondopiero; cabinetry designed by Studio Doherty; Scala horizontal sink mixer from Sussex Taps; bowls from Mud Australia; other ceramics by Vanessa Lucas from Craft Victoria. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Kitchen. Island, splashback, and benchtop in DTILE tiles in Pigeon from Mondopiero; cabinetry designed by Studio Doherty; Scala horizontal sink mixer from Sussex Taps; bowls from Mud Australia; other ceramics by Vanessa Lucas from Craft Victoria; ceiling in silvertop ash shiplap cladding. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Living room. On The Rocks sofa by Francesco Binfare for Edra from Space Furniture; Baxter Bauhaus armchair from Criteria; vintage Geometric coffee table by Niels Bendtsen from Leonard Joel; Hay Slit side table from Cult; ceramic sculptures (on table, from left) by Jan Vogelpoel Ceramics, Kirsten Perry, Belle Thierry and Kaye Poulton; USM Haller storage system from Anibou; Berber Plain rug in Olive from Behruz Studio; Universal 1050 Low Low gas fireplace from Jetmaster; Dtile wall tiles in Pigeon from Mondopiero; Ghosted terrazzo floor tiles from Fibonacci. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Living room. On The Rocks sofa by Francesco Binfare for Edra from Space Furniture; Berber Plain rug in Olive from Behruz Studio; Universal 1050 Low Low gas fireplace from Jetmaster; Dtile wall tiles in Pigeon from Mondopiero; Terrazzo floor tiles from Fibonacci. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Living room. On The Rocks sofa by Francesco Binfare for Edra from Space Furniture; Baxter Bauhaus armchair from Criteria; vintage Geometric coffee table by Niels Bendtsen from Leonard Joel; Hay Slit side table from Cult; ceramic sculptures (on table, from left) by Jan Vogelpoel Ceramics, Kirsten Perry, Belle Thierry and Kaye Poulton; USM Haller storage system from Anibou; Berber Plain rug in Olive from Behruz Studio; Universal 1050 Low Low gas fireplace from Jetmaster; Dtile wall tiles in Pigeon from Mondopiero; Terrazzo floor tiles from Fibonacci. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Steel staircase designed by Studio Doherty in gloss spray applied painted finish. Terrazzo floor tiles from Fibonacci. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Study. Storage system designed by Studio Doherty; Arflex Elettra fur armchair from Space Furniture; custom Arflex Elettra armchairs from Space Furniture in Timorous Beasties Graffiti Stripe Velvet fabric from South Pacific Fabrics; French mid-century modern tubular chrome coffee table from Castorina & Co; round velvet rug in Midnight Blue from Halcyon Lake; sculpture (on second shelf, from left) by James Lemon, vessels by Tara Shackell, pink bowl by Kate Rohde; vase by ACV Studio; vase (on third shelf, towards right) by R L Foote Design Studio, vase by Amanda Dziedzic; vessel by Caro Pattle (on desk, from far left); vessels by Alison Firth, vessel by Owen Rye. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Rumpus & study. Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia from Space Furniture. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Study. Storage system designed by Studio Doherty; Arflex Elettra fur armchair from Space Furniture; custom Arflex Elettra armchairs from Space Furniture in Timorous Beasties Graffiti Stripe Velvet fabric from South Pacific Fabrics; French mid-century modern tubular chrome coffee table from Castorina & Co; round velvet rug in Midnight Blue from Halcyon Lake; sculpture (on second shelf, from left) by James Lemon, vessels by Tara Shackell, pink bowl by Kate Rohde; vase by ACV Studio; vase (on third shelf, towards right) by R L Foote Design Studio, vase by Amanda Dziedzic; vessel by Caro Pattle (on desk, from far left); vessels by Alison Firth, vessel by Owen Rye. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

The main en suite. Inax Hacienda tiles from Artedomus; vessels by Georgina Proud from Craft Victoria. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

The main en suite. Inax Hacienda tiles from Artedomus; Kaldewei Classic Duo oval bath from Bathe; bath sheet from Baina; vessels by Georgina Proud from Craft Victoria; window designed by Studio Doherty and produced by Ore Designs. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

The main en suite. Inax Hacienda tiles from Artedomus. Mirror and framework designed by Studio Doherty. Sussex Taps tapware. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

The main en suite. Inax Hacienda tiles from Artedomus; Tall vase by Ella Reweti from Craft Victoria; Small vase by James Lemon. Towel rail designed by Studio Doherty. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Bathroom. Agape Nivis pedestal basin from Artedomus; Scala floor-mount bath mixer from Sussex Taps; cabinetry and ceiling in high-gloss spray applied paint in Dulux Summer Waters; Dtile tiles from Mondopiero with blue grout; powdercoated steel and fluted glass door with terrazzo handle designed by Studio Doherty and produced by Ore Designs. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Sitting room. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Guest en suite. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Main bedroom. Unit designed by Studio Doherty and produced by Ore Designs with doors in Admira Bella Linen laminate from Bench Top City, steel benchtop and upstand in powdercoated finish in Dulux Duralloy Berry Grey; Modular stool by Verner Panton from Great Dane. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Landscaping by Mud Office. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Rumpus. Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia from Space Furniture; vessel by Tara Shackell from Craft Victoria; stairs in Polarity tiles from Fibonacci; Escape Twist wool carpet in Poppy from Supertuft; walls in stucco finish by builder Fort Building Solutions; ‘It’s only you down there sleep with the tides’ artwork by Rosie Mudge; landscaping by Mud Office. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Terrace. Sam Son armchairs in Curry by Konstantin Grcic for Magis from Dedece; Circula coffee table from Bludot. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Entry. Spindel pot by Willy Guhl for Swisspearl from Robert Plumb. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

Landscaping by Mud Office. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Sarah Weston

The clients of this Doncaster East, Melbourne project came to Studio Doherty and Enth Degree Architects requesting a tailor-made home for entertaining. Large living spaces (including a conversation pit capable of seating up to 20 people) were the priority, with a focus on capturing northern light and views of the garden.

Materiality was at the forefront of the design process. The clients (the owners of terrazzo stone company Fibonacci) were naturally interested in using terrazzo, but on the condition this wasn’t the hero material. Instead, they were excited by the prospect of a diverse range of finishes, giving Studio Doherty the freedom to design and apply these materials in unconventional, unexpected, and ‘kooky’ ways.

The architecture by Enth Degree draws on mid-century principles and the floorplan of a 1960s/1970s home previously on site. These influences carry through to the communal living areas showcasing a predominantly neutral palette—terrazzo floors, timber ceilings, and white textured stucco.

Studio Doherty were also inspired by these modernism (the main bedroom joinery in particular is informed by mid-century design, both in scale and materiality), but sought to expand on these through deliberately bold, carefully infused colour.

Mardi Doherty, director of Studio Doherty, explains, ‘When designing the interior spaces, we were mindful of avoiding an aesthetic that boarded on the pastiche… The challenge was to reinterpret and reimagine these sources of inspiration in a way that felt very contemporary and unique.’

The clients made the uncommon request to now include any natural stone in the home. Instead, Studio Doherty were able to explore a range of more playful materials, such as a DTILE tile system, Japanese mosaic tiles, and powder coated steel.

The bathrooms are particularly daring, from the main en suite almost entirely clad in green mosaic tiles, to the bright blue bathroom. ‘It’s close in proximity to the conversation pit and outdoor pool, so it needed to make an impression, says Mardi of the latter. ‘We loved that people would be completely surprised and possibly taken aback when entering this space.’

A blue mesh curtain and portal window to the outdoor pool add a final dose of frivolity.

Gloss House succeeds in referencing mid-century design without bordering on imitation, or lacking in unique personality. Mardi credits the result to the seamless collaboration with Enth Degree, Fort Building Solutions, and the clients.