Marmelo by Mitchell & Eades
Hayley Mitchell and Sam Eades of Mitchell & Eades walked a fine line in their work on a new Portuguese restaurant in central Melbourne’s historic Russell House. While making sure to honour the heritage of the Victorian-era building, the interior designers wanted to pay homage to Portuguese culture without crossing over into pastiche.
“Our starting point was sitting down with [the restaurant owner] Ross Lusted and talking about what he loves about Lisbon,” recalls Mitchell. “That ranged from the cobblestone pathways and ceramics to the restaurants and the colours inherent in the architecture. We then looked at the history of Russell House and came up with a series of pillars that we thought reflected both aspects.
“From the Portuguese side, these were natural, convivial and rambunctious [elements],” she says. “And from the heritage perspective, the things we wanted to embrace were the handmade, bold, dramatic and eclectic.”
These concepts are beautifully resolved in the 90-seat Marmelo – Portuguese for quince – which inhabits a lofty, light-filled space in the bustling Melbourne Place precinct. Stairs framed by vibrant chartreuse walls lead to a host station lined with Miniature Fregio tiles from Academy Tiles, which echo traditional Portuguese azulejos.
“They have a feeling of being handmade, eclectic and imperfect,” says Eades. “There is an effortless sophistication about something that’s not perfect. I think it makes you feel immediately comfortable and welcome.”
Both the bar space and main restaurant feature large-scale, double-height glazing, offering views of the bustling streets and laneways below. The guests within are ensconced in a rich materiality, including timber panelling, fluted glass, marble and exposed-brick walls, each of which give a sense of refined comfort. A bold custom-made light snakes its way through both of the spaces, a unifying element that is emblematic of the elevated lighting curation throughout.
Mitchell & Eades kept furnishings understated, selecting classic Ton 811 chairs, timber- and marble- topped tables, and a long banquette upholstered in a subdued Saxon Épinglé fabric from Schumacher. “We felt that the interiors could sit a little bit more quietly and let the food be the hero,” says Mitchell.
The exception to that philosophy is the private dining room. Encased in steel-framed fluted glass, the zone has a distinct richness about it, created by plush carpet, Jobs’ Giotto chairs in plum leather and South Drawn’s striking Tideline slumped- glass light. The dramatic high point of the room is Londonart’s Murgese Horses wallcovering, a nod to Portugal’s long history of equestrian and famed Lusitano horse breed.
The private dining room perfectly represents the way in which the traditional and contemporary meet at Marmelo and its subterranean sibling, the bar and supper club Mr Mills, also designed by Mitchell & Eades. “In crafting Marmelo and Mr Mills, we tried to create spaces that reverberate with history, vibrancy and community,” says Eades. “[They are] places where the past and present collide, inviting guests to share in the rich narrative of Russell House.”
Architecture by Kennedy Nolan. Interior design by Mitchell & Eades. Build by Chroma Group. Lighting design by Studio All. Artwork by Ben Mazey and Lucy Roleff.
