INTERIOR DESIGN | BUILDING DESIGN | PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Evergreen
Project Location: Canterbury, Victoria​
Set in the quiet, leafy Melbourne suburb of Canterbury, Evergreen transforms a near-derelict 1930s residence into a refined, narrative-driven home. Guided by the client’s single prompt—evergreen—the design draws on the precinct’s mature tree canopies and the home’s original proportions to create a series of rich, atmospheric spaces.
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The interior was stripped back to its shell to allow for a complete re-composition. Preferring formal rooms over open-plan living, the client inspired a sequence of linked, compartmentalised spaces. At the centre sits the galley kitchen, conceived as a transitional chamber between the dining and breakfast rooms, connected through an enfilade of arched openings. A new picture window and a garden-facing bay window introduce generous light and views of the English-style grounds.
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A proprietary green saturates the walls and bespoke oak cabinetry, complemented by Verde Aver marble, travertine tiles, patinated brass, and dark hardwood flooring. The floral ceiling wallpaper crowns the room, subtly echoing the project’s theme and unifying the surrounding palette.
Stepping into the breakfast room reveals a fresh and uplifting shift in palette. Bathed in a buttery yellow conceived to echo the warmth of early morning light, the space offers a joyful counterpoint to the deeper greens of the kitchen while still retaining subtle references to its colour story. As with the adjoining rooms, colour drenching is used to powerful effect, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and quietly radiant.
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The newly constructed bay window forms the heart of the room, opening generous views to the English-style garden. Its depth allowed for a built-in seating nook, upholstered to harmonise with the room’s sunny scheme and intended as a tranquil spot to begin the day. The result is a space that feels at once cheerful, composed, and deeply connected to the home’s overarching evergreen narrative.
The powder room is the project’s most flamboyant and exuberant expression of the evergreen theme. Conceived as a playful subversion of the classical detailing found throughout the home, the space revels in deliberate contrasts and layered ornament. A riot of florid exotic botanicals sweeps across the mural wallpaper, set against boldly turquoise wainscotting and cornice work, heightening the room’s jewel-box intensity.
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At its centre stands a bespoke vanity, framed in brass with rosewood-inlaid drawers and a Carrara marble top—handsome, tailored, and richly crafted. Above it hangs an original gilded Second Empire mirror, flanked by malachite and brass candelabras that add a touch of theatrical symmetry and glamour. Underfoot, diamond-checked marble flooring reinforces the room’s classical eccentricity, while a seemingly weightless Art Deco chandelier provides the final whimsical flourish.
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The result is a compact yet opulent space where historical references, exuberant colour, and finely crafted details collide in a spirited, luxurious composition.
