Graphic Modernism in Melbourne
In her mission statement published on our site last week, Grace touched upon one of my biggest beliefs when it comes to home design: no rules. There are a number of reasons why this particular principle rings true to me, but the strongest rationale I can think of for it is the simple fact that no two people see the world in the same way. Here at Design*Sponge, the homes we feature typically belong to creatives in a variety of fields, each one with different impulses, different passions, and different ways of looking at their surroundings. As with all forms of art and aesthetics, it is a matter of interpretation.
When it came to decorating their Melbourne house, graphic designers Suzy Tuxen and Shane Loorham applied their own unique vision and expertise to create a home that, in many ways, is an extension of the aesthetics and principles that guide their own work. Like a piece of printed graphic design, items within this 1970s single-story home read as punctuations, pieces of a larger puzzle that are informed by the spaces between them and the rooms they inhabit. In the kitchen, a polyhedric sculpture interrupts an expanse of white; in the living room, thoughtfully placed elements of vibrant color catch the eye and guide it throughout the space. Everyday objects become design and decor elements—a vintage Olivetti typewriter hangs on the wall above a desk; a row of espresso makers provides rhythm on a shelf.
The four years that the couple have occupied the home have been filled with experimentation and self-exploration, things that have allowed them to arrive at this point. Colors have been tested, motifs have been taken for a spin. Suzy’s company, A Friend of Mine, touts itself as a holistic design practice, something that seems to carry through to this living space. Each element of the home seems to inform the other, their relationships creating a cohesive, personalized whole. “We’ve painted walls and repainted over them again,” Suzy notes, “Owning a home is great as you can be as playful as you like with it!” —Max
Photographs by Sarah Anderson.
