Victoria-based designer Sally Knibbs of Sally Caroline utilises natural stone and the versatility of mixed metals in this playful seaside residence, located on the fringes of Melbourne’s leafy Middle Park.
Sally Knibbs of Sally Caroline‘s directive was clear when tasked with reimagining a bayside Melbourne residence — optimise the view and soften sharp edges for a young family of four. Yet Knibbs’ approach throughout the 760 square-metre Middle Park home is anything but simplistic. Layered textiles, hand-rendered stonemasonry and molten metals collide, bringing depth and dimension to a previously angular and otherwise restricted architectural home.
The interiors atelier paid close attention to the heart of the home — the kitchen — reworking the floor plan in a bid to herald the horizon line and better highlight the home’s spectacular outlook, a calming combination of cityscape and coastal views.
The result? A masterclass in nuanced, natural materials (think sheets of warped stainless and solid blocks of green veined marble) all while ushering in the coastline.
In the kitchen, Knibbs reoriented the focal point to face the bay. The space, now anchored by a monastic kitchen island hand-crafted from solid blocks of Arebescato, Brescia Green and Menta marble, speaks to both the designer’s penchant for natural stone and the necessity of modern family living. The stainless steel cabinetry is finished with bronze pulls, adding both artistry and warmth.
Upstairs, Knibbs looked to the light, removing heavy banquette seating in favour of a whimsical lounge setting, now positioned toward the bay to offer unobstructed views of the water. The dining den — now located to the northern side of the split level property — opts for warmth and convivial togetherness over fuss and formality. The designer leaned on materials wherever possible, cladding custom pieces in leather, bronze or stainless steel, to better reflect the home’s unparalleled outlook.
Custom pieces by the designer’s own studio decorate all three floors — leather-clad or hammered in bronze — in keeping with Knibbs’ own design sensibility. A whimsical perspex artwork by Sydney-based Dale Frank, a sourced rug by California core Kelly Wearstler and a tattooed credenza by Tyler Hays of American design studio BDDW all feel ultimately at home in a space that finely balances coastal calm, creativity and craftsmanship.
