Vision Splendid

A grand old mansion in Melbourne has been meticulously restored and now presents as a masterclass in modern Australian elegance

- HOLLY BYRNE

WHO LIVES HERE?

A family of four, with teenage children, who enlisted Belinda Hall and Fiona Richardson of Richard Hall & Son and NTF Architecture to give their stately home a modern makeover. Richardhallandson.com.au | @richardhallandson

IT’S NOT OFTEN you stumble upon an inner-city property that comes complete with a bomb shelter dating back to World War II and an orchard for a garden, but when Melbourne-based interior designers Fiona Richardson and Belinda Hall of Richard Hall & Son were called on for their expertise, that’s exactly what they discovered. “Our client had just purchased this incredible stately home, but it was very dated,” says Belinda. “The rooms were set up in a very austere manner with a 12-seater table in the dining room, and a grand piano in the entry,” she adds. The homeowners recruited local firm NTF Architecture to renovate the kitchen and update the floorplan, while leaning on Belinda and Fiona to reinvigorate the interiors in a contemporary style, with respect to the heritage of the home. “It’s got such a sense of history, you feel like it takes you back in time,” Fiona says.

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