A refreshing new Melbourne home, designed in vibrant colours

When designing and building her home in Brunswick East, Nicole Van Ross hoped to evoke a feeling.

As she puts it, she wanted “a place that people, whether young or young, would want to come back to again and again.”

After years of living in a single-fronted terrace, Nicole was also keen to try a more generous and open scheme with the ability for residents to come together and withdraw at will.

She hired Empire Interiors to help realize her vision, which led to the construction of the two-story home you see today.

Close collaboration with Belarte throughout the construction phase allowed for rapid changes, such as improving the overall joinery to make everyday living easier.

“The owner had a clear vision and wanted to improve the details as the project progressed, which required flexibility and adaptability from the entire team,” explains Chris De Stratis, a builder from Bellarte.

“Although it presented challenges, it also pushed us to be creative and resourceful and, in the end, contributed to a result we are all proud of.”

The main interior spaces feature predominantly neutral tones but across a variety of materials including wood over joinery; Tile on splashback, ringhood, and liner of sunken lounge; And blush paint on the kitchen wall.

White terrazzo floors flow from the living area to the pool to bring the outdoors inside.

The consistent use of curves throughout the interiors – as seen in the archways, joinery details and sunken lounge walls – softens the overall feel of the house.

Vibrant colors are increasingly being used in the bathrooms – one a peach and the other a dark green – which showcase contrasting tiled surfaces and marble bench tops.

“Nicole is a creative person and I enjoyed collaborating with her during the casting process. Some bold choices were made, and they all came together beautifully,” says Chris.

“I love the experience of visiting each space as it’s finished and how it all feels together.”

The home is designed from top to toe with playful Fenton & Fenton furniture, decor, and artwork that elevate the mostly neutral base.

Sumptuous furniture pieces blend into the interior’s curvaceous accents, while relaxing pool furniture encourages owners to “vacation at home.”

Nicole couldn’t be happier with the result!