Past Romance — The Stylesmiths
Taking inspiration from its heritage features, Past Romance offers calm and tranquillity to a light-filled inner-city retreat.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson I Photography: Nicole England
The star of the show in the apartment are the three bay windows, the one in the dining space and another in the main and second bedrooms. Photo: Nicole England
‘A clean, paired back palette of stone and fabric, ensures the apartment never feels overcrowded,’ says the Stylesmiths. Photo: Nicole England
‘Bronze fixtures and fittings have been dotted throughout adding an element of warmth to the tranquil space,’ says the Stylesmiths. Photo: Nicole England
Quietly brooding on its heritage elements, Past Romance by the Stylesmiths focuses on restoring and honouring its architectural history while maximising on the inner-city skyline and capturing light. The building’s original use was the Princess May Pavilion at the Carlton Royal Children’s Hospital—built in 1902—before being turned into apartments years later.
After the Princess May Pavilion’s conversion into permanent residencies, the apartment lacked the lustre its heritage underlay deserved. A rickety spiral staircase was removed, the Stylesmiths adding a new version complete with wide plank vintage timber flooring seen throughout that connects to the extended mezzanine level.
In this new cosy space, a structurally engineered built-in desk offers a counterpoint to the newly built library, full of the client’s extensive book collection. Cromwell swing brass arm sconces are joined by custom-made soft wool tartan Wills and Sons armchair and footstool ensure this room is often retreated to.
Though located in Melbourne, the Stylesmith London team came on board for the renovation. ‘Led by design duo, Kirsten Dahl-Feathers and Carlie Ng, the Stylesmiths London worked to maximise every inch of the home’s interior by crafting spaces that not only hero the original build but allow for modern contemporary living,’ says the team.
Repeatedly, the designers considered every use and material palette, amplifying the small square footage with custom pieces and using crisp whites and grey surfaces. The result adds a calm and classic backdrop to the lived-in opulent features—such as the bronze tap wear and marble counters. Expansive white walls join soft timber flooring and amber furnishings in the living quarters to help light travel upwards to the mezzanine level.
‘Downstairs in the communal area, the kitchen is highly detailed yet simple and classic with panelled joinery, curved marble bench tops set on top of a custom designed fluted base,’ says the team. ‘Radically estranged from the dark and constricted zone that existed prior, now our clients can entertain at ease with a new island bench that allows for flow from one end to the other.’
‘French tapware, chic kitchen handles, Cromwell swing arm wall sconces in the library and even the bumble bee door knocker by Cox & Cox on the front door collectively tie the home together.’ Photo: Nicole England
‘Swing arm sconces are attached to the joinery for warmth and ambience, complete with a custom armchair and footstool, the soft wool tartan beckoning to be sat in with a cuppa.’ Photo: Nicole England
‘The luminous home is filled with a luxuriously simple combination of linen whites, burnt orange, earthy green and neutral auburn browns, building upwards from Armadillo & Co rugs in each space.’ Photo: Nicole England
The open plan kitchen connects to a casual living space and dining area, set into one of the three bay windows. Photo: Nicole England
“With such rich history comes a level of architectural detail that cannot be replicated, and in this case we chose to honour the original built environment when approaching the design intent.”
The Stylesmiths turned to a calming sage tone in the bathroom and bedroom. Photo: Nicole England
‘A compact space with oodles of character, this newly completed project saw Blakey Apartment redesigned to within an inch of its life.’ Photo: Nicole England
The calming tones have been extended throughout the spaces, including the bedrooms. Photo: Alicia Taylor
‘The key to an effective home interior is consistency, found in the bronze fittings and fixtures that have been dotted throughout the apartment, adding warmth and ambience.’ Photo: Alicia Taylor
The open plan kitchen connects to a casual living space and dining area, set into one of the three bay windows.
A tan leather banquette recesses into the curve, with a walnut bell table from The Woodroom, Gubi dining chairs, and overhead antique glass cloche pendant inviting a calming ambience for relaxed dinner parties.
‘Two, custom straight back sofas from Brownlow Interior Design border the communal area, complimented by Just Adele marble plinth that draws attention into the centre of the room,’ the Stylesmiths add.
In the bathroom and bedroom, the Stylesmiths turned to a calming sage tone (similarly seen on the front door), injecting a dash of country charm to the inner-city Melbourne apartment. Linen whites, burnt orange, and neutral auburn browns continue the chic aesthetics.
‘At alternating ends, the bedrooms share the same European style joinery that makes use of the apartment’s height, both fit with a rolling library ladder that sits on purpose-built rungs to provide access right to the top,’ says the team.
However, the star of the show in the apartment are the three bay windows, the one in the dining space and another in the main and second bedrooms. In the main bedroom, a sunbathed custom-built seat with underneath storage peers out over the city—an MCM House Owan pendant hangs overhead, with tan and white striped roman blinds evocative of the mellow, dusty colour palette.
Throughout the apartment, the Stylesmiths followed the philosophy of ‘less is more’ with elegant and minimal touches. The team conclude, ‘From French tapware to chic handles, even the bumble bee door knocker as you walk in, all add to the overall charming interior that welcomes peace and serenity.’