Some homes are found after months of searching; others reveal themselves entirely by chance. For the owners of this St Heliers residence, a drive to a nearby restaurant led to an unexpected encounter with the property, and the connection was instantaneous. Although it wasn’t on the market, the house was theirs within two months.
Tasked with refreshing the interiors, Wonder Group retained the existing footprint and the distinctive features that had first captivated the owners. Rather than tempering the home’s 1980s character, the design celebrates it, using richly veined stone, expressive art and furniture from Ligne Roset to bring its robust architecture into the present.
Ligne Roset’s combination of colour, curvature and strong silhouettes provides an inspired counterpoint to the brick. In the stairwell, Pierre Paulin’s Pumpkin seating, originally conceived in 1971 for the private apartments of Claude and Georges Pompidou, introduces an unmistakably playful presence. Alongside it, the monolithic travertine Apuso Occasional Table adds a smaller sculptural gesture. Elsewhere, the Prado Settee takes a more relaxed approach in the living room. Its expansive platform and freely positioned back cushions allow the room to adapt easily between conversation, entertaining and repose. The walnut-and-glass Ponton Low Table complements it without interrupting the openness of the setting.
The dining area is anchored by Guillaume Delvigne’s solid-timber Intervalle dining table. Its central opening and sweeping, tapered base bring graphic definition to the room, while Peter Maly’s precisely proportioned Bendchair offers a restrained accompaniment. Smaller objects, including the porcelain Pression fruit bowl, Prisme vase, and translucent Buée vase, extend the collection’s artistry into everyday rituals. In the kitchen, the Berretto bar stools by Ligne Roset act as an eye-catching counterpoint to the space’s clean lines.
Outside, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance’s Ottoman outdoor seating sits alongside a vibrant sculpture by Korean-born, Auckland-based artist Seung Yul Oh. Its enveloping, quilted form and expressive colour transform the brick courtyard into a spirited continuation of the interior.
The result is a home that honours the confidence of its original architecture while embracing a distinctly contemporary way of living, with Ligne Roset providing the colour, comfort and personality that bring the entire composition to life.
