In this issue of our newsletter, it is our pleasure to introduce Paul Kilburn of Kilburn Joinery. Paul and his team have been an integral part of developing all manner of solid timber details for our projects over the years, in particular, a new skirting detail that has been designed specifically for an upcoming period home renovation in Armadale.
When appreciating a finished product, interior, or home, one isn’t always aware of the creative problem solving that has occurred in order for things to turn out the way they did. That is to say, things aren’t always as simple as they appear to be… Such was the case when designing the custom water feature or ‘spout’ if you will, for the St Vincents Place Residence. Continue reading to find out more…
Through designing the Enkei Table, we embraced the more challenging aspects of designing a piece of furniture from scratch and created a very special piece for some very special clients. When making a round table from timber, it’s not as easy as glueing together sheets or blocks of timber together and cutting it in a circle. We worked closely with the guys at Charles Sanford Woodturning who were able to bring together hundreds of wedges with a mirrored grain direction into a large circle, which was then turned by Charles himself. We then, entrusted the remarkable timber creations to Ray at Hawthorne Furniture Polishers to achieve a look that is not only technically difficult but artistic too. Click through to see the process and a video of the woodturning!
The Hopetoun Road Residence was designed for a prominent Melbourne photographer with a passion for entertaining. With this in mind, B.E designed a series of custom lights to illuminate the large concrete dining table (also designed by us) and feature as part of the many occasions held in the dining room thereafter.
When a project calls for a very particular component be it furniture, joinery, lighting, anything – because each project is unique and what you need isn’t always available on the market at any given time, more often than not it requires said item to be custom made and so we make things. This concrete table is one of those things we made.
Elevated three levels above Albert Park, the rooftop terrace at the St Vincents Place Residence overlooks views to the Melbourne city skyline. Tucked inconspicuously onto the roof is a feature spa, custom designed in bluestone. The initial drawings for the design were deceptively simple, but the execution proved to be more than a little challenging. The spa itself was constructed off-site and craned onto the roof. Complex curves were carved from solid pieces of stone in order to create the continuous form in bluestone. The steps leading into the spa are formed by three overlapping cylinders of solid bluestone. The spa is positioned to make use of the city views and is surrounded by a landscaped terrace with a BBQ and refrigerator to create a self-contained entertainment area.
Vogue Living’s Melbourne Editor, Annemarie Kiely referred to the custom-designed patchwork leather bedhead as “deserving of Abba’s Agnetha Faltskog, circa the 1970’s”. Her observations are in line with the original design intent, which is a reference to the patchwork style clothing popular in the 70’s. The idea was sparked on a routine visit to the Arthur G factory, when our Design Director, Broderick Ely came across the mountains of leather off-cuts. He was naturally inclined to imagine the opportunities to design upholstered furniture that could make use of this resource.
In wanting the furnishings to add something new, we sometimes look for something with interesting, inherent qualities that can lead to a piece that has a strong narrative of its own. The Elm Slab Table is one such creation. The piece was not so much a design to be drawn and then built but a process between the material itself and a series of slow interventions by talented tradesmen to bring the idea to life. Through that process, the table itself is an exploration of that particular tree and a celebration of the craft required to fashion that story into a dining table. It is a substantial and essential component that sits comfortably within the context of the room and provides a meaningful point to gather around.
The B.E Architecture designed round mirror is deceptively simple, concealing several functions into one sleek shape. An integrated light illuminates around the mirror to light the face for makeup application and shaving. Tucked behind the mirror is a discrete compartment which replaces unsightly medicine cabinets. With the aim of improving the daily rituals of life, the round mirror design streamlines the practicalities of a bathroom mirror and enhances the experience.
Typically in a new house, the landscaping is also new and takes more than a couple of years to establish. On a recent period restoration, we were faced with needing to use more established plants to contribute to the feeling of age through the project. Fortuitously, B.E Architecture’s design Director Broderick Ely noticed a mature ornamental grape vine in a suburban back yard while driving through Vermont. Standing taller than Brod, the vine was craned into the central courtyard of the inner city property. A custom stone planter was designed by B.E Architecture and crafted from a steel frame and shards of stone and covered in moss. The branches run the entire length of the terrace along the fence and are supported by custom hand-forged wrought iron brackets. The vine is now budding in its first Spring, as if it has always been there.