A slab of Nero Picasso from G Lux sits atop the island base made with Japanese Tajimi Azuchi tiles from Artedomus. Slung over the Grazia & Co Dita stools is an Abode Living fur throw. Artwork by Clare Miledge. Vitra Akari YP1 pendant. The metallic overhead Aged Brass cupboards juxtapose with the warm Evenex Sincro Bonnie oak.
In Mount Buller, this storybook ski chalet strikes a picturesque pose with its pitched roof and wrap around balcony.
Originally three individual apartments, the charming Alpine residence was merged to create one large lodge. Jointly owned by three children and their parents, the idea was for a multigenerational home that could cater for numerous families to stay at any one time. Designer Lisa Buxton and Pandolfini Architects gutted the interior of the building and, most significantly, excavated the earth below to increase the height of the timber beamed ceilings.
Ground floor access to the lodge is via an entry foyer with adjacent storage and drying rooms. At the heart of the house is the open-plan kitchen, dining and living zone which is divided by a timber batten wall that signals the shift from the public area to the private bedrooms, bathrooms and rumpus room behind. On the first floor, there’s another generous living area and two more bedrooms with en suites.
The cooking area is a central hardworking hub designed for functionality, but not at the expense of sophistication. “It features beautiful oak cabinetry, custom antique bronze overheads, rich black Nero Picasso stone with striking veining, and handmade Japanese Tajimi Azuchi tiles,” Buxton explains. “The tones and textures are reminiscent of the mountains and nearby rivers,” she says of her inspiration.
Buxton specified a range of warm materials and finishes for the walls: soft cream paint, stained Pacific teak battens, floor-to-ceiling oak joinery and silky travertine. Underfoot, 100% New Zealand wool carpets and chocolate European oak floorboards invite cosy intimacy. “The brief was warm, layered, calm and unfussy,” she says. “I wanted every element in the space to have texture and depth, so nothing felt flat or lifeless.”
Hanging over the Myron oak dining table is a Vitra Akari 33N pendant. Seating options include vintage Italian armchairs and a custom banquette which is scattered in bespoke cushions in fabric from de La Cuona.
Regularly a full house, there’s no shortage of places to sit, with a chair or couch never far from reach. There’s chocolate leather stools by Grazia & Co under the kitchen counter, an extended built-in bench by the dining table and, by the fireplace, there’s a low-lying Jardan sofa, a vintage armchair and a couple of casual Mongolian ottomans.
Given the floorplate to people ratio, rooms needed to be multi-purpose. This was executed with two sets of bunk beds in one room, a bathroom that doubles as a steam room, and a rumpus that converts into an additional sleeping area with a bespoke banquette that acts as both a sofa and comfortable bed.
For Buxton, the home’s success lies in its harmonious expression. “As a family property, it was important that the design balance beauty with functionality to suit the needs of a growing family. This house is ready for a whole new generation to enjoy.”
Custom cushions in Lelievre Esterel. Felix floor lamp from McMullin. A cosy throw is draped over a vintage chrome and leather armchair. Jardan Rhys coffee table. Mongolian sheepskin ottoman from CCSS. Apparatus Bowl sconce. Silver travertine plinth with a cast iron Cheminees Philippe fireplace.
Chunky Lauriana stone sink from Artedomus. Gleeze Bianco wall tiles from Earp Brothers. Blown glass Volker Haug Anton sconce in Honey. Rogerseller tapware.
