Kaleidoscope: A Heritage Home Reimagined in Colour

Aptly named Kaleidoscope, the interiors of this historic Melbourne residence radiate joy. Set within the city’s south-eastern suburbs — an area known for its established gardens, wide streets and early 20th-century homes — the project responds to heritage architecture with fearless colour and a richly layered collection of art, sculptural furniture and custom lighting. The result is not simply a decorated home, but a vibrant, living gallery shaped by narrative, craftsmanship and personality.

The original house, a grand Federation residence built in 1912 and designed by church architect Augustus Fritsch, offers a dignified architectural canvas. Soaring 3.6-metre ceilings, ornate plaster cornices, stained glass and generous proportions establish a formal rhythm. A later renovation opened the rear into a contemporary extension, creating a fluid dialogue between historic rooms and a relaxed, light-filled living zone. That contrast became the interior’s driving force.

“The interplay between old and new became the foundation for the interior direction,” says Swee Lim, founder of Swee Design, who led the interior curation. “The challenge was to balance the formality of the original rooms with the expressive, contemporary tone the clients wanted.”

The home belongs to a family of five — parents and their three young adult children — whose openness to colour sets the tone. The brief was a space elegant enough for entertaining, yet warm, practical and welcoming. As Lim explains, “In this home, nothing is precious for the sake of it; everything is meant to be used, sat on, and lived with.”

Colour unfolds like a journey. In the heritage rooms, an elegant warm grey respects original proportions, providing a calm, quietly luxurious base. Moving into the contemporary wing, the palette intensifies. Oceanic blues drawn from the kitchen joinery deepen through velvet upholstery, while accents of pink, burgundy and bronze introduce richness and playfulness. “Colour here is not trend-driven — it is purposeful, linked to artwork, materiality, and mood. Each room has its own colour personality,” Lim says.

Materiality adds further depth. Dolomite and pink marble catch shifting daylight. Cast bronze and brass glint against lacquered joinery in saturated blues. Softness arrives through velvet, linen, leather and quilted textiles, while handwoven tapestries and artisan fabrics bring soul and tactility.

Art and design objects were sourced across Australia and internationally, including a large-scale textile work by Mexican studio Caralarga. Custom lighting, hand-built ceramic totems and bespoke furniture from local makers form a network of creative collaborations. “I love curating homes that have personality and a point of difference,” Lim says. “Collaborating with clients, artists, and makers to create unique art commissions and furniture pieces brings me immense joy. The style of this home is dynamic, elegant with a touch of whimsy.”

The double-height entry foyer sets the tone immediately. A spectrum-like Slinky rug radiates colour beneath a sculptural Den Holm console. Handwoven fibre wall sculptures and reflective works by Cordon Salon layer texture, light and movement, establishing the home’s immersive visual language.

In the formal dining space, a bespoke glass pendant floats with precision above the table, while blush ceramic totems by Clementine Maconachie punctuate the living room. In the contemporary zone, deep blues from the kitchen inform Stephen Glassborow’s graphic horse-head artwork. Downstairs, a 100-kilogram bronze sculpture — craned into the basement courtyard — anchors the games room and bar with quiet gravitas.

Spanning three levels, the layout allows the home to shift effortlessly between daily life and large-scale entertaining. Heritage rooms house formal living, dining and the main bedroom; the extension contains open-plan living areas that spill into covered outdoor zones and garden. Bedrooms, offices and retreats are distributed across floors, balancing intimacy and openness.

Throughout Kaleidoscope, history is not preserved under glass — it is energised. Colour, art and craft do more than decorate; they animate the architecture, proving that heritage homes can be both reverent and radically alive.

Credits

Interiors (Furnishings and Art): Swee Design, Instagram @sweedesign

Architecture and Build: Long Contracting

Photos: Shannon McGrath, Instagram: @shannonmcgrath7