Malvern Residence

The Malvern II Residence by Studio Tate transforms a modest home in Melbourne’s inner city into a country cottage, seamlessly melding old and new. The lush greenery of the established garden is framed and celebrated through enormous black-framed glass doors, and inspires the interiors – think muted greens tones, complementary marble, and floral soft furnishings set against a natural backdrop of Tongue & Groove solid engineered European oak floorboards in Hekke. “When considering the flooring, we envisaged an engineered board in either a chevron or herringbone pattern,” says Liz Ride, Associate at Studio Tate. “Scale was an important consideration as we were working with quite modest-sized spaces. Ultimately, we selected Hekke in a chevron pattern as it offered the perfect tone and structure, elevating each space while also complementing our clients’ love for the colour green.” This is perhaps most spectacularly achieved in the kitchen, which features an oversized island crafted from intricately veined marble that acts as a hub for the extended family to come together. An impressive butler’s pantry – which was the starting point of the project – and a bar with statement brass detailing complete the kitchen. This twist on classic style is also seen in the carefully restored original features, such as the ornate timber and plasterwork. And, treasured furniture has been given a new lease of life with new upholstery in bold florals and richly textured fabrics that evoke the natural landscape and celebrates the couple’s life together.