Full colour spectrum: Matlock House is not for the committed minimalist

Bold blocks of colour play a starring role in this irresistibly cheerful house inspired by the New York apartment of a fashion legend.

From the swathe of bright magenta carpet to the vintage chairs upholstered in emerald velvet, the Victorian-era weatherboard in the leafy enclave of Camberwell in Melbourne’s east is not one for the committed minimalist.

But the project has attracted its fair share of admirers, earning a place as a finalist in this year’s Dulux Colour Awards and garnering international media coverage in the likes of Elle Decor Italia and UK Architectural Digest.

The owners, a couple with children in their late teens, wanted to refresh their house and create a more adult space that reflected their changing lifestyle and showcased their art and vintage poster collection.

Richard Misso, creative director and co-founder of The Stylesmiths, the interior design firm that carried out the makeover, says the client felt their existing furnishings, surfaces and fixtures had dated since their last renovation and wanted to inject a fresh sense of style and personality into the interior.

“The young family are a dynamic and worldly couple – they have two grown children, one is currently finishing high school and the other has just started university,” he says.

“The clients had renovated the rear section of the house, including a kitchen, bathroom, laundry and family room, as well as adding a second storey with bedrooms to the house, about 10 years ago.

“They were happy to minimally update the kitchen and bathrooms with new tiles, taps and lights, but wanted to fully revamp the rest of the home.” At the clients’ request, the starting point for developing the overall aesthetic was the home of octogenarian model and one-time muse of Salvador Dali, Carmen Dell’Orefice.

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“Her apartment walls are painted aqua green and the space is filled with art, sculptural objects and eclectic furniture – it has a Parisian and artisanal feel and is extremely chic, without being precious.

“Our clients love colour, so they were very receptive to a palette that incorporated a broad spectrum of colour throughout,” Misso says.

The result is a house that combines delicate shades of shell pink and soft powdery violet, with rich, deep blue and green tones. The disparate effect is tempered with glossy, dark floors, black bentwood chairs and a circular dining table finished in Japanese lacquer.

Touches of peach and brass lend a further sense of cohesion to a project that takes plenty of risks but, in the end, feels perfectly resolved.

In keeping with the history of the building, each room is decorated with its own monochromatic theme, giving every space a unique atmosphere, an approach that honours 19th-century decorating principles.

The layering of reflective glass surfaces alongside opulent velvets and earthy wool/linen blends and leather adds textural interest and a sense of luxury.