By Beatrix Rowe
The Dressing Room, Como House.
Location: South Yarra, VICTORIA
Photography: Shannon McGrath
BEATRIX ROWE was one of 26 leading Australian Interior Design studios invited to take part in the Como By Design three-day design event at Como House, Melbourne in October 2018. The studio was engaged to rethink a Dressing Room in the historic mansion, inserting layered, sculptural elements into the space that reference the rituals of dressing in a conceptual rather than literal context. The interpretation, although abstract, clearly expresses and plays on the notion of a ‘dressing room’ and the feminine nature of the room’s past inhabitants.
An ingenious changing area complete with flowing linen curtains is created (with a nod to the Victorian circular shower screen) that allows for complete privacy during the dress/undress process. A perfectly placed round feature mirror sits ready for detailed examinations of the outfits in question. Whilst the pieces are clearly contemporary in material and colour palette, they coexist with the strong Victorian bones of the room.
The romance of clothes and dressing is captured in the life-size copper knitted sculptures by Shelley Hannigan and the essence of a woman’s curves celebrated in the soft forms of the selected furniture and objects.
We are a Melbourne-based interior design studio. We design authentic, contemporary interior spaces that respond to place, function, light and form. We are inquisitive, understated and considered in our design approach. We remain a consciously boutique interior design practice that values personal involvement and oversight of all projects.
We love to know, interpret and understand our Clients’ living and working patterns. We use the power of design to solve problems and through our design approach, find better ways to live, work and connect. We carefully think through the way people really like to live, behind closed doors; and how to work optimally in retail, hospitality and other commercial spaces.
We are rigorous and pay great attention to every detail of the spaces being created – the natural materials selected, the custom detailing, the relationship to light and the needs of people who will inhabit the spaces. We value beauty and longevity.
We love custom features, carefully curated natural materials and inspired furniture, art and objects. We believe aesthetics and functionality should work hand in hand. We are detail driven and value well executed solutions to create a cohesive space.
We bring to each project more than 25 years’ experience across materials, furniture, art and interior possibilities as well as space planning, construction knowledge and design thinking expertise. We are collaborative. We draw upon a vast network of local contacts to build and craft our interiors and bring our projects to life.
The product design arm of BEATRIX ROWE is a natural extension of the studio’s work and values. We design and produce mirrors, furniture and sculptures, teaming up with Australian makers.
(Interiors) [email protected]
(Products) [email protected]
(General) [email protected]