Darley House
As far as projects go, Darley House was pure joy. Its redesign occurred at a turning point in the client’s life – which is why we were so determined to ensure she was a very involved participant in the design process from beginning-to-end. Since completion, we have remained in close contact with her and frequently hear how the home continues to enrich this new chapter in her life.
- Scope
Interior Design and Decoration
- Photography
Anson Smart
Principally inspired by fine craftsmanship at every turn, our design response plays with delicate forms, balancing this with confidence in colour, pattern and textures slowly modulating between Darley House’s various spaces. The kitchen, particularly, is a real trick of the eye because we were initially met with a long and narrow galley kitchen layout, which was prohibitive to comfortable relaxation. Now, built-in banquette seating and a floating island work together to give the space a sense of casual stillness, without compromising on the supreme functionality required of compact kitchens
This was an existing home oriented around a small courtyard – a characteristic detail of heritage houses which often presents a number of design challenges. A heritage envelope can impose narrow parameters across the floorplate, leaving sometimes outdated moments of inflexibility. Darley House was no exception: the heritage structure occupied a deep and narrow land parcel, with separate rooms laid out in a one-by-one sequence rather than emanating from a central hub. Our first action was to find ways in which we could expand these spaces, and to make the interiors feel generous and open without losing that all-important scale of intimacy.
Through reconfiguring the floorplan, we were able to introduce new features for high usability: generous custom joinery, concealed, incised or streamlined drawer pulls, built in furnishing and shelving. Of course, this is all offset with the characteristic Arent & Pyke layer of feminine embellishment.
Arent&Pyke acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respects to them, their culture and traditions. We recognise their connection to the land and honour their elders, both past and present.