
A bayside Federation home in Melbourne has been beautifully transformed by interior designer Samantha Eisen. The original red brick facade now wears an aged European-style render, while a rear extension opens onto the garden through a wall of glass framed in soft blue, echoing the warmth of the marble fireplace inside. The old porch has given way to a new kitchen and living area, with arched doors leading to the laundry and scullery. Throughout the home, thoughtful design breathes new life into vintage furniture, while custom touches like an aubergine bathtub and a mosaic-tiled loggia add rich character and charm.










Photography by Lisa Cohen.

The Erskine Residence, designed by B.E. Architecture, is set in Melbourne’s heritage-listed Middle Park. Built with white concrete and limestone, it has a distinctive, serene character. Japanese-inspired walled gardens on both levels bring in natural light while preserving privacy. Tailored to its owners, the home features separate studies, wellness areas and a chef’s kitchen for entertaining. BE Architecture is renowned for its extensive portfolio of thoughtfully crafted residences across Australia.












Photography by Martina Gemmola.

Though this beautiful historic Queen Anne-style home is a stunner on the outside and whose facade was not allowed to be changed, the interior was gutted and with the help of designer Nina Farmer, was re-built using period appropriate elements to honour its heritage whilst adding in some modernity for the needs of the current homeowners. It’s elegant and sophisticated but has a real warmth and usability for family life. Photos: David Mitchell; Styling: Mieke ten Have.



















Jennifer Bunsa, interior designer and founder of Bunsa Studio, transformed her cherished family home in Miami with thoughtful, personal touches. Originally built in 1948 and passed down from her great-grandmother, the home was where Jennifer spent her early years. Before moving back from Brooklyn, she updated the space with studio favorites like Marthe Armitage wallpaper, made subtle floor plan improvements, and curated a collection of vintage and custom pieces, including Moroccan rugs and Lindsey Adelman lighting.



















Photography by Nicole Franzen.

At the end of a long and winding driveway through the forest, White Rock is perched above a steep rocky incline overlooking the north bank of the Gaspereau River Valley. White Rock was designed as an escape – not in the traditional sense of a cottage but as an opportunity for solitude high above the valley floor with expansive views above the tree line. The simple form with deliberate, carefully positioned openings is inspired by traditional hunting cabins and duck blinds hidden in the dense forest. The bedrooms are both minimal and raw – lined entirely in smoked oak with raw steel shelving and wall-mounted industrial light fixtures. The bathroom is restrained, lined in a gray terracotta tile with simple stainless steel fixtures to accompany the stainless steel wall-mounted vanity. A full wall of glazing blurs the line between interior and exterior, creating the illusion of showering completely submersed in the surrounding forest. the second floor is expansive and bright. A massive window set within a large cantilevered corten steel hoop wraps the southeast corner, with raw steel benches to sit and take in the view. A wood-burning fireplace anchors the east wall with an antique Arne Norell lounge chair and furniture by Luca Nichetto and Montauk creating a spectacular setting for one or a small group. Along the west wall, the kitchen is composed of a simple series of protruding stainless steel shelves and a bank of stainless steel millwork. A corten steel roof hatch provides access to the rooftop, providing a secluded respite for dining and resting amongst a collection of Japanese maple trees with views across the tree canopy of the Gaspereau Valley below.
This house is spectacular. Moody and restrained, majestically capturing the beauty of the landscape. How could you not relax when retreating here? By Omar Ghandi Architects. Photos: Ema Peter Photography.














