Dekton® Sirius Makes a Bold Impression in this urban barn
“The clients encouraged us to think outside the square. They wanted a home that had an edge to it; one that bravely challenged norms,” says Mikayla Rose, director of Heartly. We spoke to Mikayla about the design of this house, where Dekton® Sirius makes a bold impression in the kitchen.
This Melbourne house is the home of Steve and Belinda and their two children and dog, Gilbert. Steve and Belinda engaged Heartly to design a contemporary home for a young, vibrant family that reflected their lifestyle and personalities. “They love entertaining and wanted a home where visitors feel welcome and where there are ample and varied spaces for gathering,” says Mikayla.
The clients’ love of old barns inspired the gabled roof and soaring 9-metre-high ceiling, and their desire for a pared-back, striking interior informed the strong and contrasting material palette. “The design developed around the juxtaposition of a barn-like structure in an urban setting,” Mikayla explains. The rear of the house has an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area that connects to the outdoors, while a timber-clad box in the centre of the house incorporates the walk-in pantry, cupboards and concrete bench, as well as stairs, bar and powder room.
Belinda and Steve often host casual gatherings, with the kitchen being the primary place of gathering. “The island bench is intentionally large and deep to encourage people to gather around it rather than line up on one side, and the concrete bench seat is another space where friends and family can sit and connect with people in the kitchen,” Mikayla says.
The kitchen island is clad in Dekton® Sirius, which provides a striking and ultra-durable surface for family and guests to gather, eat and drink around. Heartly selected Dekton® Sirius for its colour and finish. “We love the texture and contradiction of Dekton® Sirius. It is strong and intense yet there is also a softness to its aesthetic with its subtle textured leather-like surface,” Mikayla says. Durability, functionality and profile also informed the choice as hot pots can be placed directly on the bench and the thin profile contrasts with the chunky site-poured concrete benches.
Dekton® Sirius is also used for the kitchen bench and pantry, where its dark colour is a striking complement and contrast to the solid American oak and blackened American oak veneer for joinery. It also makes a high impact, along with the concrete floor and perforated steel balustrade around the mezzanine above. “The mezzanine creates a vast backdrop to the kitchen and is a place to observe the hub of the home from above,” Mikayla says.
Photography: Martina Gemmola
Building Design, Interior Design and Styling: Heartly
