Hazel by The Stella Collective
Decked in 70s-inspired minimalism, Hazel by The Stella Collective, is the peak of glamorous opulence.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson | Photography: Derek Swalwell
Photo: Derek Swalwell
Photo: Derek Swalwell
Found down Melbourne’s Flinders Lane, Hazel sets out to capture awe, excitement and love at first sight. To do so, they employed interior designers The Stella Collective to pay homage to the 1970s in a paired-back colour and material palette that serves as a backdrop to the food.
Taking form over three levels in a 100-year-old building, Hazel was a complete design overhaul. The project came together after a long relationship between the Melbourne-based designers and owners, The Mulberry Group. As such, The Stella Collective director, Hana Hakim, set out to build an iconic restaurant for Melbourne and make it thrive.
The firm used a deliberate minimal aesthetic that relishes in the details. A raw materiality of soft metals, leather, timber accentuates the vibe and open atmosphere. “We killed our darlings, so to speak and focused our design intent of showcasing the food and hospitality the centres around Hazel,” Hana shares.
Hana employed a selection of ornate light fittings from Byron Bay’s Lighting Collective in bronze, chrome and glass. This attention to detail is complemented by the neutral colour scheme with American oak floorboards, pale-leather banquettes, hazelnut-coloured bentwood chairs and pink-stone benchtops.
The inspiration is based around a great soundtrack and a 70’s goddess muse,” says Hana Hakim, The Stella Collective director. Photo: Derek Swalwell
“There’s a fine balance of being an elegant minimalist and playing the maximalist card every now and again.”
“When you climb the stairs and see this heavenly kitchen sitting front and centre proudly showcasing beautiful cuisine, open fire pits, produce, it truly congers awe, excitement and love at first sight,” says Hana Hakim, The Stella Collective director. Photo: Derek Swalwell
To ensure the food was at the centre of Hazel, the kitchen is open to the diners, welcoming in the excitement and anticipation of the dishes. “Our minds met with the decision to create an open kitchen the length of the building and right in the window line on the first floor overlooking Flinders Lane,” Hana reflects. “Most operators would reserve this for patrons, but this is what makes the venue unmistakably The Mulberry group.”
This approach ensures the cuisine, produce and open fire pits are the design focus. Paired with off-white walls, Hana focused on interior design that was accessible, minimalist and smart.
“The inspiration was cultivated more from a feeling; in the sense of we wanted to create a world of making people feel powerful, sexy, and at ease,” the designer explains. “We did not want it to feel expensive; as to be honest restaurants should always be about the food and not an expensive interior to mask the restaurant experience.”
With this in mind, the limited budget kept the project focused on a minimalist sensibility with maximalist touches. French antique mirrors, custom chandeliers, and Radford Royal fernery wallpaper add to the decadence in intimate spaces, like the corner spot or the restaurant’s bathrooms.
With every decision centred on 70s glamour in a clean palette, The Stella Collective ensures Hazel operates as the jewel of its historic home, but also a local’s favourite to sink into the vibe and enjoy the sumptuous cocktails and moreish dishes.
Immerse yourself within Hazel by tuning into The Stella Collective design inspiration soundtrack.
Photo: Derek Swalwell
Photo: Derek Swalwell
“In a scene of over design, it was imperative to create an interior that was accessible, minimalist and smart—considering proportion, material and context”
