The Oasis Project by Homes by Touchwood

Situated on a verdant street in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield North, The Oasis Project – redesigned by its owners, the principals of Homes by Touchwood and founders of Touchwood Cabinetry – remains true to its mid-century heritage while thoughtfully embracing the future.

Originally designed in the 1960s or 70s by modernist architect Harry Ernest, The Oasis Project is a home that bridges the past and the future. “The original home featured a strong architectural typology common in the suburb – a flat roof with three large bedroom windows above a garage or carport. Many similar homes in Caulfield and Caulfield North, whether renovated or preserved, follow this same style. We wanted to maintain the mid-century influence, as many local renovations had taken a more minimalist, modern approach,” notes interior designer Roni Blode of Homes by Touchwood, who collaborated with her father, Lior Morsky of Touchwood Cabinetry, to reimagine their family home.

Originally designed in the 1960s or 70s by modernist architect Harry Ernest, The Oasis Project is a home that bridges the past and the future.

The point of departure was reconfiguring the home’s light-starved layout. “Originally, the home wasn’t open plan; the dining area and kitchen were separate spaces, which really limited the natural light,” says Blode, who minimised unnecessary walls, replacing the partition between the kitchen and pantry with a fluted glass wall, and downsized the powder room to free up space. Morsky notes that the kitchen was designed to be the focal point. “The home is always buzzing with friends, partners and family. It was important for it to be a space that worked well for many adults, with sometimes up to six people cooking together when the kids had their partners over,” he explains.

In conceiving the design language for the kitchen, Blode drew inspiration from the beautiful existing archways. “These soft curves were a reference point for us when designing the joinery and the fluted glass pantry wall,” she notes. “The attention to detail in the joinery was absolutely critical. We obsessed over every small detail,” Morsky agrees, whose focus extended to the cutlery dividers in the solid timber drawers in the kitchen. Morsky applied this ethos of craftsmanship to the library, with glamorous drawers featuring black-stained veneer fronts and solid brass bar inserts, as well as to the powder room, which boasts timber walls, organic brass hardware and a custom green Smeraldo stone sink. “It’s the ultimate party bathroom,” he enthuses. A custom timber joinery stain, inspired by rich coffee hues and the warmth of antique wood, was applied to the American oak veneer.

Blode introduced pops of bold colour while keeping one foot in the 1970s.

Blode introduced pops of bold colour while keeping one foot in the 1970s. Additions included a burnt orange Camaleonda sofa in the living room, a deep green mid-century Togo sofa upstairs and warm white Japanese mosaic tiles in the bathrooms, creating a soothing, spa-like atmosphere. Grey tundra marble, broken into crazy pavers, was her material of choice for the entryway and gardens. “The grey complements the blue hues in the pool mosaics,” she says. She also added texture to the wardrobe fronts with rattan wallpaper, evoking the surrounding sylvan tones. Blode also collaborated with Perth-based landscape designer Mon Palmer to transform the garden into a year-round oasis inspired by Palm Springs in the 1960s and 1970s. “The garden is in the north, meaning that even in the peak of winter, when the sun is shining, sitting in the yard feels like a summer getaway,” she says.

The Oasis Project is a richly-hued sanctuary the blends modern and mid-century styles to result in a home attuned to its inhabitants. Blode and Morsky crafted a residence that is unapologetically reflective of their family.

Architecture by Harry Ernest. Interior design by Homes by Touchwood. Build by Adept Construction. Landscape design by Mon Palmer. Lighting by Glowing Structures.