Newly built as a luxurious escape from the daily grind, this Camp Hill stunner takes risks and celebrates femininity.
“He mentioned he would love it if his house could feel like a hotel.” Ashley Maddison, creative founder and interior designer of AM Interior Studio, explains this as one of the driving forces behind this showstopping home’s brief.
For the client, that sense of quiet sophistication, a direct contrast to his rather demanding career, was the bar to reach. Home needed to be a hideaway, but one where every convenience was considered. “Our client wanted it to look feminine, light and warm with a soft palette,” says Ashley. “Given full creative freedom, I went about designing an interior that both inspired and took risks.”
The full creative team behind the project worked in tandem to create a space with gently undulating curves, inspired by the movement and character of natural stone. Builder Aurelien Berson of Aurelien Berson Construction brought Craig Webster’s (of Monster Ideas Architects) vision to life; he was fully involved during the design stages, so was the perfect fit in realising this dream. “We wanted to transform this average, sloping block into a very livable house with a great outlook across the bushlands and city,” says Aurelien. Ashley continues: “We wanted to present a luxurious home, so chose materials and designed the interior to best represent that.”
And what a stunner this home is: you’d assume that stone would make a place heavy, bold, possibly a little too masculine for such a brief. But the team demonstrates that with just the right pieces, just the right lines, you’ll capture that elusive sense of grace. While each stone is pastel-toned, it’s not as though they are, in any way, bland. Instead, they tie each room together with a gossamer thread of peaches and creams. The kitchen bench is finished in Austaron’s ‘Ocean View’; thanks to its sandy tones, it looks like it’s been plucked from the earth and lovingly detailed just for this space. “The curved profile at the front of the island was intended to break up the large structure and give a sense of softness, while also creating two sitting zones,” says Ashley.
Each space is a celebration of the natural world. Stone meets timber, then quartz adds the final accent; it’s a motif repeated as you climb up the stairs, peek into the master bedroom, or spend a lush winter’s afternoon soaking up rays on the alfresco living space.
Luxury abounds in the tiniest of features. Copper tap fixtures look as though they were designed just for this space, while V-ZUG and Miele appliances tucked away in the kitchen ensure the client can effortlessly cook up a storm should the whim arise. In the bathroom, a deep fluted tub from ATS Tiles & Bathrooms coaxes you to have a soak — go on, light the candles too, because you deserve a little me-time. A wine bar, glowingly lit with curved pendants and backlighting, completes the staycation feel (the wine is climate-controlled, too, thanks to a cellar by Fondis.)
It’s not merely soft and understated — it, like femininity itself, takes a risk or two, and adds a bold splash of colour every so often. Take the guest and primary bathrooms, clad in Opus Rosso stone. “It was capable of making a strong, dramatic statement on its own,” says Ashley. “We kept this stone to the less-used rooms, and paired it with the soft tones of the porcelain travertine-look tile.”
And it’s this style that we love in the home. It’s equal parts bold and gentle, but never overwhelmingly one way or another. Where you think there might be one element ready to overpower, there’s another to smooth that feeling away — even harsh summer sun will have its bite removed with soft linen-textured drapery. Straight timber lines, cladding the kitchen cupboards, could feel strict on their own, but only steps away are caramelly arches and curves.
Bringing this aesthetic through to the furniture was a particular highlight for Ashley. “The inspiration behind the furniture selections came from the natural stone within each zone,” she explains. “For example, the bold agaves and burnt caramel tones in the wine bar zone were found within the green Cristanza stone. We carried this notion throughout.”
The finished home invites relaxation and comfort — and this was the team’s end goal. “For the owner, coming home to a mix of gentle curves and organic forms settles stress,” says Ashley. “This home is an escape from the everyday.”
Words: Natasha Pavez // Photography: Brock Beazley, Mitchell Guy Kemp & Jacob Jon
