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Mood Shift: Inside a Bold Reimagining of an Essendon Home
Twostyle transforms this family home into a considered study in contrast, where colour and materiality shape the experience from room to room.
When Melbourne interior design studio Twostyle was tasked with the interiors of this four-bedroom family home, the vision was bold, curated and timeless, with the added challenge of ensuring practicality remained at its core. The result is a home that shifts effortlessly between light and dark, bold and understated—proof that, in the right hands, multiple palettes can coexist without ever feeling disjointed.
Co-Director of Twostyle, Alanah Giuliano, explains that the deliberate use of contrasting palettes allowed the team to ensure each room offered a different experience. “Rather than repeating a single formula, each space has its own identity, mood, and level of drama, making the home feel layered, dynamic, and full of discovery,” she shares.
Ensuring each space remained cohesive came down to a consistent material palette, sculptural forms and layered textures.
Just as the tones of the home rely on the interplay of contrast and cohesion, so too do the textures. “We focused on balancing sculptural, expressive pieces with softer, calming elements to ensure the home felt both visually engaging and effortlessly liveable,” adds Alanah.
“Rather than repeating a single formula, each space has its own identity, mood, and level of drama, making the home feel layered, dynamic, and full of discovery. — Alanah Giuliano
“The architecture already had a beautiful softness to it, so we wanted the furniture to continue that language. Curved silhouettes help balance the stronger architectural elements while creating a sense of comfort and flow. From the rounded sofa to sculptural dining chairs and organic occasional pieces, every curve was chosen to enhance flow, softness, and visual interest,” shares Alanah.
She continues, “With such a bold architectural foundation, the main challenge was ensuring each room felt unique without the home becoming visually overwhelming. We focused on creating moments of impact while maintaining consistency through materials, colour, and form, allowing each space to feel exciting individually yet cohesive as a whole.”
The Sitchu Edit: Shop The Look
Maison Balzac Chilli Goblets
Coco Republic Oryan Occasional chair
Fenton & Fenton Bonnie Vase
“The existing finishes throughout the home were already incredibly bold and statement-driven, so our furniture and styling selections were designed to complement and elevate that vision rather than compete with it,” she adds.
In line with Twostyle’s philosophy of crafting highly curated spaces, the team selected furniture based not just on its comfort but also on its ability to serve as a functional sculpture, and at times this required something custom.
“The custom dining table is a standout, featuring statement burl timber pedestal legs paired with a natural travertine stone top, creating a striking focal point in the dining space. We also designed a custom chocolate velvet bed frame by Create Estate, which brings warmth and a luxurious richness to the master bedroom.”
The Sitchu Edit: Shop The Look
Est Lighting Rolo Medium Table Lamp
Coco Republic Pegasus Console Table
Ikos Home Chocolate-Burgundy Wall Art Sculpture
Being a family home, however, this renovation wasn’t purely aesthetic.
“The architecture already had a beautiful softness to it, so we wanted the furniture to continue that language. Curved silhouettes help balance the stronger architectural elements while creating a sense of comfort and flow.” — Alanah Giuliano
“Practicality was just as important as aesthetics. The children’s bedrooms were designed to reflect their individual personalities while allowing them to evolve with the space over time. Throughout the rest of the home, we selected durable finishes such as PU leather dining chairs and performance fabrics for key upholstered pieces, ensuring the home could withstand everyday family life without compromising on design.”
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The perfect marriage of Twostyle’s design philosophy and their client’s personality and needs, the project’s successful use of contrast proves you can have it all. As Alanah puts it, “It’s bold without feeling overwhelming, layered without feeling cluttered, and every space feels considered.”
Project Credits
Interior Design and Styling: Twostyle
Photographer: Simon Shiff
Loved touring this restored home and looking for more inspo? Have a look at this home, designed to highlight the history of the building, as well as these bold and beautiful holiday apartments.
