Energetic and Tonally Rich – Prahran Residence by Flack Studio

Words by Bronwyn Marshall
Photography by Sharyn Cairns
Interior Design by Flack Studio
Art Direction Marsha Golemac

As an enriching home that creates a connection and engagement with its owners, Prahran Residence is the densely colour-rich and textural reinvigoration of a late 1800s house. Flack Studio combines a highly energetic and contemporary approach to enliven the home and celebrate its history.

Inspired by colour and a deeply deliberate warmth, Prahran Residence reflects the personalities of its owners while allowing them to create unique and identifiable narratives within its many spaces. This 1889 home is steeped in its own rich and crafted history, which the owners originally connected to. In wanting to create their own connection to the home and inject their own sense of self and purpose, Flack Studio was enlisted to create key moments and countless immersive spaces that encouraged engagement. Rich in colour and textural variation, the resulting home is both contemporary and respectful of its context, while undoubtably carving itself its own distinct style.

Flack Studio combines a highly energetic and contemporary approach to enliven the home and celebrate its history.

Located in Melbourne’s inner south, the home sits similar-aged Victorian homes and their contemporary insertions. Through a reinterpretation of the home’s original formal planning, the bones are opened up and reflect a more contemporary philosophy to family life. The new works involve the creation of a separate children’s wing and an enlarged gathering family space where the living room and kitchen come together. The clear delineation of spaces internally, and the increasing of the master bedroom and its accompanying ensuite, study and music room for example, all create spaces that better reflect and respond to their unique functions.

Home to a family of art lovers, the clients wanted to steer away from a traditional methodology and be decidedly more daring. The abandonment of anything safe or beige sees the rooms unfold as a series of richly tonal and eclectic experiences. Viewing the home as an opportunity for enrichment and the creation of their own stories, the previous detailing is expressed but not the most dominant feature. Instead, the use of colour and an evocation of energy is felt throughout, balanced with a warmth and an intentional sense of humour for good measure. The combination of materials sees finishes come together in a manner that almost clashes, but through their curation feel balanced and intentional. Furniture, artwork and lighting then add a welcomed personality and create curious moments throughout.

This 1889 home is steeped in its own rich and crafted history, which the owners originally connected to.

The combination of materials sees finishes come together in a manner that almost clashes, but through their curation feel balanced and intentional.

Prahran Residence combines the unexpected with a traditional understanding of space to create a home of intrigue and depth. Flack Studio has injected a new life into the home’s history and in the process created a sense of identity and a new series of chapters.

Flack Studio have injected a new life into its well lived history, and in the process created a sense of identity and a new series of chapters.
Inspired by colour and a deeply deliberate warmth, Prahran Residence reflects the personalities of its owners while allowing them to create unique and identifiable narratives within its many spaces.