For Paul Gauguin, colour is the language of dreams; for Le Corbusier, it’s the daughter of light – a way to feel as much as perceive architecture. For Yasmine Ghoniem, an Egyptian-Australian interior designer known for her instinctual approach to design and adventurous palettes, colour is also a powerful tool for storytelling, as this renovation of a classic Victorian weatherboard home in Melbourne’s Fitzroy North evocatively exemplifies. The project, the first completed by her eponymous Sydney-based studio’s in-house architectural team, thoughtfully blends colour, pattern, and texture into a visual symphony conceived to reflect the dynamic personalities of its owners. One a Danish minimalist, the other an Egyptian-Australian creative with a love for pattern and hue, YSG Studio has ingeniously managed to harmoniously fuse their contrasting aesthetics into a visually striking home.
The exterior, mostly preserved in its Victorian form, was refreshed with a warm, creamy tone, while splashes of apricot and gem-coloured leadlight glass around the entrance providing a hint of the surprises within. Upon entering, a deep peach-toned corridor lined with terracotta floor tiles leads to the newly built extension at the back of the house, an expansive, light-filled, open-plan living area where playful layers of colour and texture emerge.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the renovation is the owners’ colour-blindness, which allowed YSG Studio to take bold creative liberties with the palette. Vibrant hues that might overwhelm a more traditional home were used to dramatic effect, with rich textures enhancing the scheme's appeal. Garnet-red, peach, and baby-blue floor tiles anchor the space, while natural lime wash on the walls provides a tactile, earthy finish. Light Queensland Maple timber joinery adds warmth in the spirit of Scandinavian interiors throughout the home, contrasting beautifully with the kitchen’s apple-green birch cupboards, tangerine pulls, and turquoise granite fruit vessels cleverly integrated into the island. Garnet-red upholstery enlivens the breakfast nook, which is designed as a curvaceous alcove inspired by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy’s mud-brick constructions, blending traditional influences with contemporary flair.
The rich tapestry of diverse colours and textures is complemented by YSG’s eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage furniture and lighting pieces that further enhance the dialogue between distant cultures and époques. Iconic pieces by Scandinavian designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Eero Saarinen, and Erik Ole Jørgensen can be found throughout the property mingling with new creations by contemporary luminaries like Jaime Hayón, Paola Navone, and Thomas Coward. Bespoke Middle Eastern-inspired elements, as seen in an organic-shaped, straw marquetry-topped dining table by Egyptian designer Shewekar, and a Louis Barthélemy-embroidered bed runner featuring Egyptian iconography, further enrich the narrative.
2024, 22.10
