The Carlisle by Penman Brown

Designed to embody ‘rustic futurism’, The Carlisle by Penman Brown draws inspiration from the iconic 1980s film American Gigolo. This influence imbues a tangible sense of character and warmth into a four-storey residence overlooking Tamarama Beach.

Penman Brown was tasked with reimagining the home’s existing floor plan while maintaining its stunning oceanfront sightlines and enhancing its ability to offer a more immersive living experience. “Day to night, informal to formal was the brief – flexible, laidback, playful yet sophisticated,” explains Megan Brown, principal at Penman Brown. “We sought to recreate the same sexy grittiness [of American Gigolo] with a romantic innocence – the ‘it’ factor that this iconic oceanfront property needed and that would encapsulate the lifestyle the clients wanted.”

“Day to night, informal to formal was the brief – flexible, laidback, playful yet sophisticated,” explains Megan Brown.

To realise the building’s full potential, Penman Brown removed the existing interiors, unveiling a blank canvas of glass, aluminium and steel. The studio then introduced a series of carefully curated, layered finishes and fixtures, transforming the constraints of the boxy 2000s structure into opportunities for enhanced sensory experiences.

Throughout the home, including its expansive, ground-level communal room, Penman Brown utilised vertical and horizontal planes on existing surfaces to reshape the perception of space. Elongated panelling and smoky mirror appliques subtly expand areas that initially feel constrained, while various surface treatments gently delineate zones without creating rigid boundaries.

Despite the neutral tones, Penman Brown injects a raw, rustic allure by arranging familiar materials in innovative ways.

The Carlisle’s interiors showcase a predominantly monochromatic material palette that evokes the cool sophistication of 1970s and ‘80s California. Despite the neutral tones, Penman Brown injects a raw, rustic allure by arranging familiar materials in innovative ways. The interplay of natural limestone, clay, wool, grass weave and oak finishes creates rich, textural distinctions, enhancing the home’s understated sensuality.

Sculptural forms and playful colours introduce dynamic contrasts to the project’s subdued elegance through both fixed and movable elements. Folded and forged metals are crafted into soft, organic fixtures, evoking a sense of futurism and reinforcing The Carlisle’s timeless, evolving character.

“Refinishing floors, removing glass balustrades and introducing diverse finishes and sculptural elements distract from architectural junctions,” says Brown.

In the communal room, hard edges are softened by subtly extending joinery beyond their typical boundaries. This includes a stepped window system framed by off-white ceilings and expressed structural beams, which blend seamlessly into the space. “Refinishing floors, removing glass balustrades and introducing diverse finishes and sculptural elements distract from architectural junctions,” says Brown. The indoor and outdoor areas merge through meticulous exterior hardscaping, featuring pebbled wall cladding, timber battening and striking colour reveals.

During the renovation, incoming sunlight from south-facing clerestory windows was preserved, allowing it to highlight bespoke joinery, such as a faceted rangehood that hovers above the kitchen and sculpted tubular handles along the benchwork. These deeply considered details take on a gleaming, artistic quality, transforming the interior forms with the shifting daylight and creating a radiant interplay with the stunning sea views beyond.

Interior design by Penman Brown. Styling by Claire Delmar. Landscape design by Secret Gardens.