Photography: Lisa Cohen
Leafy landscapes are never far away in this three-bedroom Victorian cottage, a Melbourne retreat for two empty-nesters. The rooms, including a green lounge room, were transformed by interior designer Lucinda Kimpton of Kimpton Interiors. The home is nestled between two parks as well as the Botanic Gardens, and as such verdant greenery provided inspiration. “The house had a wonderful foundation, with classic architecture and a layout that only needed a touch of modern refinement. Our task was to enhance its beauty through a thoughtful cosmetic makeover, refreshing the furnishings, updating the wall treatments, and adding bespoke joinery for a contemporary, yet timeless feel,” Lucinda says.
Inside the green lounge room
The green lounge room, which also functions as a study, is the wife’s special place. “It was designed as a sanctuary for the wife – a place where she could retreat to read, relax and recharge,” says Lucinda. The upholstered window seat, bathed in daylight and taking in the leafy canopy, is a favoured spot. But, reflecting its versatility, this is not just a sitting room and a work space. The room trebles as a guest room for friends and the owners’ children and grandchildren, who visit often, with a cleverly integrated sofa bed that provides flexibility.
Custom joinery in Porter’s Paints Bayleaf is the hero of this green lounge room. The vibrant hue is offset with neutrals in the form of Kimpton ‘Bali Sisal’ grasscloth wallpaper as well as Dulux Natural White. Colefax and Fowler ‘Fernshore’ fabric in Leaf Green from Domus Textiles is reprised in the Roman blind and a cushion. This green colour theme echoed in another cushion, custom made in Seemakrish ‘Napa’ fabric. The Arthur G ‘Babe’ ottoman is upholstered in Chelsea Textiles ‘Cupid’ fabric in Antique Blue, from Tigger Hall Design, reprised in the custom shade on the Barbara Barry ‘French Cuff’ sconce from Cromwell. Also from Cromwell are the ceramic lamp and the ‘Maarten’ Bobbin chair. Tying it all together is the rug from Behruz Studio.
How to decorate a green lounge room
Drawing inspiration from the lush flora and fauna of the nearby Botanic Gardens and two parks, Lucinda curated a selection of botanical prints that breathe life into the home. “These prints, chosen for their vibrant yet harmonious colours, serve as a visual thread that ties the spaces together, infusing each room with natural beauty,” she says. The Colefax and Flower ‘Fernshore’ print in Leaf Green is repeated in the blinds, cushions and window seat, creating unity throughout the room. And it’s highlighted by the luscious joinery in Porter’s Paints Bayleaf. “I grew up with colour in the 1980s. It brings joy to spaces,” she says. And this green lounge room is certainly joyful.
Use a well-chosen artwork to anchor themes of patterns and colour throughout the room.“I love this – it sets the tone,” says Lucinda. For a relaxed look, lean an artwork against the wall.
Designer’s tip
Bespoke joinery
Given the room’s generous dimensions, Lucinda created a sense of intimacy and character by lining the walls with custom joinery, transforming it into a cosy, inviting space that feels both personal and luxurious. And its intricate, hand-crafted detailing is in tune with the era of the original cottage. The joinery also helps demarcate the spaces, such as the desk and study in one part of the room and the sofa bed in another part.
For the study area, an artwork by Alexander McKenzie depicts a pastoral scene. The ‘Brooklyn’ Antique Brass desk lamp from Emac & Lawton is dignified beside a Windsor desk chair, which is the clients’ own. The Hycraft ‘Luxury Living’ carpet from Don Currie Carpets adds a necessary neutral in this green lounge room.
“Use a bookshelf to bring instant charm and character to a room. Books add warmth and intrigue. You can tell lots about a person from their bookshelves,” says Lucinda.
Designer’s tip
The blue sitting room
Blue takes centre stage in the sitting room, where Lucinda embraced the clients’ desire to repurpose existing pieces. She gave their sofas a new lease on life with smart fabrics and trims. These include Pepe Peñalver Charme collection ‘Tuile’ fabric from Westbury Textiles and Colefax and Fowler ‘Appledore’ fabric in Blue from Domus Textiles. “To complement the existing seating, we introduced a perfectly proportioned armchair and ottoman, adding both comfort and style while maintaining the room’s balance,” she says. This custom ottoman, in GP & J Baker ‘Rockbird Signature’ fabric in Teal from Elliott Clarke, sets the tone, both colour-wise and mood-wise.
Antiques are also vital to the beauty of this room. “Antiques can be surprisingly cheap at auction,” Lucinda says. “They are often beautifully made, so you get craftsmanship for a nifty price. And embrace any imperfections. “Every scratch or nick is part of the past, sign of its long life and with a story to tell,” says Lucinda. The antique armchairs from Found in France were reupholstered in De Le Cuona ‘Duchess Paisley’ fabric in Cool from South Pacific Fabrics. The tray and lamp are from Cromwell while the stool is from Bragg & Co. Rug from Behruz Studio.
“I didn’t want any one strong element to dominate the room, so I balanced them out”
Lucinda Kimpton
The unexpected red theory
The unexpected red theory has made waves in interiors, positing that an unexpected pop of red can elevate any room. It’s a trend that Lucinda used in this sitting room. The original bookshelves had rich red backs, so Lucinda chose the striking GP & J Baker ‘Rockbird Signature’ fabric in Teal on the ottoman as a counterpoint. This is balanced by the blue sofa. “I love red in a room, but it can be too intense and feel overheated, so I use blues and greens to bring in cool and calm. Here there are pops of strength, but they are all in balance,” she explains. She also created light and shade in the room with high points that draw the eye across the space.
Decorating to suit height and scale
Despite the fact this began life as a cottage, these sizeable rooms also have 3.5m-high ceilings. The original crafted details, such as architraves, archways and rather grand ceiling roses, are all lovingly preserved. As such, the huge rug, generous sofas and massive ottoman provide suitable scale. The ottoman cleverly doubles as both a coffee table and spare seating. One addition Lucinda would like to make is a huge pendant from that gorgeous ceiling rose.
The main bedroom
A lilac linen custom bedhead with a slub effect introduces a soft, feminine touch. This creates a serene and elegant space that feels both restful and refined. Elizabeth Hamilton ‘Tupelo’ fabric in Orchid Lavender from Tigger Hall Design was the textile of choice. The colour is a powerful counterpoint to other hues in the room. “Purples, such as magenta and lilac, and browns, because they are made up of combinations of hues, are fabulous bridging colours, drawing all the other hues, such as blues, greens or pinks, together,” says Lucinda.
Existing wall lights were given a new lease on life with custom shades in Chelsea Textiles ‘Cupid’ in Leaf. The artwork on the bedside table is from Lauren Jones while the artwork above the bed is by Alexander McClintock. The bedside tables were custom-made to suit the space.
Grasscloth wallpaper
Gorgeous cathedral-style ceilings immediately catch the eye, but how to bring them down to earth and introduce more intimate scale? “These lofty ceilings were just begging for wallpaper, and we happily obliged, covering the entire room in a Colefax and Fowler grasscloth to add texture and softness to the hard lines of the ceilings,” says Lucinda. The textured ‘Mecox’ wallpaper in Aqua adds depth as well as character. And, unlike a flat surface, it plays with light and shade, changing throughout the day. For teasing texture underfoot, the floor is decked out in Hycraft ‘Luxurious Citrine’ carpet, from Don Currie Carpets. The chest of drawers, from Allpress Antiques, is a nod to the home’s origins.
Green patterns
“My first job in interior design was in a fabric house, so textiles come very naturally to me and are often my
Lucinda Kimpton
starting point for a room”
Botanical prints in various colours and patterns are reprised throughout. This creates unity from one room to the other and pays homage to the leafy location. “I have fallen in love with botanical prints, and being near two parks and the Botanic Gardens, this home was begging for them,” she says. Landscape and botanical prints, such as this one on the wall above the bed, also bring the outside in. Both the bed cushion as well as the antique chair are upholstered in Barbara Osorio Fabrics ‘Gandarinha’ botanical fabric from Boyac.
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