Creating a Modern Rustic Retreat in Melbourne
In the social media age of home makeovers and being bombarded with many different interior design influences, it can be difficult to discover and identify which style suits your personality and home. From the common modern look to scandi, hamptons and many more, how do you know which style is right for you?
Recently we got the opportunity to journey with a young corporate professional and help discover what her dream home style was and bring it to life in the suburbs of Melbourne. Our client was too busy to even think about completing the home makeover herself and she didn’t feel comfortable making big design decisions without expert advice. Luckily, we have plenty of experience helping people in this exact same situation and we were very glad to take the pressure off this busy client.
Keep reading to find out how we transformed an empty and lifeless property into a modern rustic escape!
1. Project Brief
“She asked that it be as visually pleasing as possible yet also practical enough for everyday living.”
We first met our client during a site consultation at her property in Noble Park. Prior to the meeting, we asked her to compile a few images of interiors that she liked, to better understand her style and discuss it in more detail. Even though our client had no idea that she even had a preferred style, as soon as our Interior Stylist saw the Pinterest board she’d put together, it was obvious that she had a clear direction. We were then able to take her ideas and inspiration and turn it into reality.
Our client required her full home to be furnished and styled, with the aesthetic flowing through the entire property. She asked that it be as visually pleasing as possible yet also practical enough for everyday living. She wanted her home to feel comfortable and to give the impression that it was much more spacious.
We had several months to work on this project as our client didn’t need the work done by any specific deadline. This allowed us to perfect the design which included creating moodboards of each room and a detailed floorplan.
2. Choosing the Right Furniture
“It was important to look carefully at all the measurements all furniture items to ensure they all fit well into the space together and didn’t make it feel overcrowded.”
Typically, this modern rustic style focuses on larger scale items (think Studio McGee!) however, because this was a small townhouse we needed to find ways to achieve the same look but on a smaller scale. This required us to look at a range of different furniture options which would give off that modern rustic charm whilst also being a suitable size for the space. The design style also incorporates lots of natural materials and colours along with cleanliness and simplicity.
There were a couple of key areas that required us to be very careful when selecting the right pieces of furniture. In the entrance, our client wanted a buffet with artwork above to make good first impression for guests. This was one of the trickiest items to source though as the area was quite small and buffets typically come in much larger sizes than this. We managed to find a beautiful timber piece which fitted into the space perfectly and incorporated a decent amount of storage for our client too.
We had to be careful in the living area to not block any passageways with furniture. Due to the orientation of the room and location of tv points, we needed to position the furniture a certain way to make it functional. It was important to look carefully at all the measurements for the sofa, coffee table and entertainment unit to ensure they all fit well into the space together and didn’t make it feel overcrowded. There still needed to be room around the furniture to comfortably walk and achieve that spacious feel the client was after.
When it came to materials, we used a variety of natural finishes like timber, stone, and linen. The colours of these items kept the overall palette neutral and their warm tones provided a level of comfort throughout the home.
3. Styling the Space
“The focus is kept on neutral tones that complement the furniture and architectural features.”
Choosing the right furniture is incredibly important, but it’s also vital to choose the right styling items to complement everything and make the space feel truly unique. Not only is styling a great way to uplift the appearance of a space, it’s also an opportunity to add personality.
There’s no real use of bright or bold colours in modern rustic design, the focus is kept on neutral tones that complement the furniture and architectural features. Along with whites, browns and beiges, we incorporated soft green and blue tones throughout with brass accents.
We added lots of layers to the sofa and bed to create softness by adding cushions and throws. Visual interest was added through different textures and very subtle patterns and colours.
The décor items were kept quite simple, however, they still needed to achieve the desired aesthetic. We added some realistic artificial floor plants to the home and filled vases with branches and greenery.
Artwork was a huge priority for our client and she wanted all the pieces to create an impact. We went through a few options with her, as finding the right artwork can be quite a personal thing. Our favourite artwork in this home are the series of two prints in the entry hallway which create a connection from the front door all the way through to the kitchen.
4. The Finished Product
“All the furniture and styling came together to create a really calming space for relaxation…”
When our client returned home to find her home completely made over, she fell in love with it. Not only did we relieve her of the pressure of trying to do all the hard work herself, but we also helped her to achieve something that would transform how she felt arriving home every night.
All the furniture and styling came together to create a really calming space for relaxation and also provided what she needed for functionality every day. The modern rustic aesthetic made our client extremely happy and she now has a dream home that she is excited to show off and be proud of.
We really enjoyed working on this project for her and look forward to helping many more busy professionals create their dream home sanctuaries.
If you’d like a PDF copy of this modern rustic moodboard or would love to begin your own dream home makeover journey, click on the link below to contact us.
You can also complete our Style Quiz to find out what your personal interior design style could be!
