Toorak Penthouse by Heartly

Located in one of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs, Toorak Penthouse by Heartly is a study in spatial refinement and restrained luxury. Designed for clients seeking something more enduring than trends, the result is a home that feels both substantial and sophisticated.

Once a casual residence defined by pale timbers and light materials, Toorak Penthouse now unfolds as a sequence of richly layered spaces. Its transformation was guided by a clear and confident brief: to create a home that feels anchored, elevated and deeply personal. The project began by addressing the apartment’s spatial shortcomings. Though generous, the original layout lacked cohesion. Therefore, a series of thoughtfully implemented – though modest – adjustments has reconnected the floor plan and introduced a new sense of flow.

Its transformation was guided by a clear and confident brief: to create a home that feels anchored, elevated and deeply personal.

A key move in the renovation was the reconfiguration of the apartment’s primary zones. The layout was reimagined to foster stronger connections between the entry and the two living areas, ensuring that movement through the space feels natural, fluid and intuitive. To navigate the balance between openness and privacy, Heartly introduced symmetrical steel-framed doors. Acting as architectural hinges, these allow the living spaces to flow into one another – or, depending on the mood or function required, be closed off to create distinct zones.

In the centrally located bathroom, where natural light is a precious commodity, the design team thoughtfully reconfigured the space to better accommodate an existing skylight and maximise its impact. Despite its interior placement, the room has become a bright sanctuary for daily rituals. The skylight now serves as a focal point, drawing light across the textured surfaces and softening the strength of the material palette.

Heartly approached the renovation with a commitment to depth and intimacy, built through a carefully curated palette and texture.

Once the spatial planning was resolved, the interior expression came to life. Heartly approached the renovation with a commitment to depth and intimacy, built through a carefully curated palette and texture. Two foundational elements – dark oak and natural stone – anchor the design. Custom joinery runs throughout with quiet elegance, while monolithic stone slabs lend grandeur to the kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Select walls were finished in Venetian plaster with a soft sheen, balancing the weight of the darker elements with moments of light and movement. Together, the dark timber tones and rich materiality offer tactile warmth, grounding the interiors with a sense of permanence. These elements create a calm backdrop for the clients’ collection of furniture and objects collected over a lifetime of travel.

Through thoughtful detailing and an elevated palette, Heartly has created a residence that feels composed and confident – attuned to the lives of its owners and the prestige of its surroundings. Toorak Penthouse is a reminder that luxury lies not in excess, but in balance, tone and timeless character.

Interior design by Heartly. Build by Spence Construction Group. Flooring by Tongue & Groove.