DESIGN EDIT ISSUE 39 | DESIGN TOUR
Located on a clifftop on Auckland’s North Shore, this large modern family home was designed by Studio John Irving. Kirsten Ford Design was engaged to assist with the interior finishes selections to complement the bold architectural design and the furniture and furnishings to make this a home for contemporary family living.
THE BRIEF
The bold, architectural masterpiece is unapologetically masculine, a response to the owners love of industrial materials like concrete and steel. Our role was to offset this with lush, contemporary interiors that work together to create luxury, modern family living. We partnered these clients for over three years as their daring dream home became a reality.
COLLABORATORS
The home was masterminded through a strong collaboration between the owners and architect John Irving - who has lovingly likened this cliff top home to Dr Evils lair, with a cliff hanger position and masculine material palette of blackened precast concrete, raw steel and full walls of glass. Lush gardens frame the structure of the house and merge with Pohutukawa framing the stunning view beyond.
“Kirsten gave us confidence to express our ideas and encouraged us to take risks that we would not have been confident in without having her experience and talent to guide us.
She helped us create a stunning home that reflects who we are and how we like to live.”
INSPIRATION
The starting point for this home was the all about the materials - minimising the products used, eliminating unnecessary fuss, ensuring there was interesting textures and then, of course, maximising the views. One of the biggest challenges with these materials was that many of the finishes were instant - when the concrete was laid or put in place that was the finishing done - there was no room for errors!
DESIGN DETAILS
A slatted cedar ceiling, jet black timber cabinetry, concrete look tiles and aged iron tap ware were added to the interior material palette.
We then spent many, many hours with the client meticulously detailing the furniture and furnishings to both complement and soften the architecture. Every detail and item was chosen with care to create a highly personalised, much loved and extremely stylish home. And some of the most special pieces of furniture were hand crafted by the owner - the dining room table and a coffee table being made from materials of the home which originally stood on the site. Woven fabrics and leathers have been paired with a healthy dose of luxe velvets in rich jewel shades. The furniture design strongly favouring strong but clean European lines.
INSIDE EDGE
We relished the challenge of offsetting the masculine materials with luxe, contemporary furniture and furnishings to make it a home for this family. We ‘softened’ the house with beautiful furniture and lush fabrics, favouring considered pops of jewel tones and graphic prints that worked with the strong architecture. We were also careful to select pieces that would practically function in a family home with teenagers and all their friends!
THE RESULT
Unapologetically bold in its architecture as well as its interior design, this is one incredible home that we’re extremely proud to have been a part of creating. The care and attention to detail lavished on this home has resulted in one that is an absolute masterpiece - one that continues to wow its owners (and their friends!) every day.
“Our home has an undeniable wow factor that Kirsten helped us realise. We love that she considered items not only for how they looked but also practically for how they would function in a busy family home - and also how they fitted with our personalities. ”
See the entire project gallery here.
Contact Auckland Interior Designer Kirsten Ford for more information.
Images: Hanson & Daughters Photography
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