When Heritage Meets Hue in Fitzroy House

A bright yellow door stands out against Fitzroy House’s weathered bluestone façade, hinting at what lies beyond: a vivid, contemporary transformation balancing playfulness with elegance.

Inside, colour, art and texture come together in surprising yet thoughtful ways, honouring the home’s 1800s origins.

This was no ordinary renovation. The client’s brief to interior architect Lee Dwyer of Leftfield Studio and designer Tamara Hannaford-Maizey of Hannaford Design, both based in Victoria, was clear: contemporary and inviting, but with playful twists and deep respect for the home’s history.

“We wanted to celebrate the original 1800s bluestone,” Lee says. “As the project evolved, we embraced a more natural palette, allowing the client’s impressive art collection to take centre stage.”

The result is a home where bold design meets quiet elegance. One standout piece is a neon sign reading “Turn me on”, which casts a vivid glow down the hallway and onto the street after dark.

The home plays with unexpected materials and moments from hidden bursts of Yves Klein blue in bedroom joinery to a mirrored chrome panelled ceiling in the moody ‘Stone Room’.

“In a room entirely bluestone, we felt the need to introduce a softer element,” says Dwyer. “The panels reflect like water and bring a sense of fluidity to the space.”

Dwyer explains that colour and texture are used throughout the home with purpose and restraint—never overwhelming, always intentional.

For Hannaford-Maizey, the balance of old and new was never a constraint — it was an opportunity.

“It was bold and full of rich history, which made the experience exciting and enabled us to think outside the box,” she says.

“The yellow door was a statement, and a little hint of what might be behind the door.”

And while the home feels distinctly fresh, it’s rooted in enduring design values. “It was important to us to create a space that reflected our clients, yet ensuring elements of timeless design throughout the home.”

While the front of the house maintains its 19th-century presence, a previously added rear extension created the opportunity for something entirely new.

Asked to sum up what Fitzroy House means to them, both were emphatic.

“We made some bold design choices that really paid off… It’s not only beautiful but also functional and purposeful,” says Hannaford-Maizey.

Fitzroy House isn’t just a home. It’s a love letter to art, design, and the power of creative trust — where a yellow door marks the start of a journey into something entirely unexpected.

This story appeared in the latest edition of Kanebridge Quarterly Magazine. To purchase a copy, please visit this link.

Aston Martin’s Vanquish has been crowned overall winner of Robb Report Australia & New Zealand’s 2025 Car of the Year, taking top honours at an exclusive event in Sydney.

Held at the Harbourside Residences Display Gallery by Mirvac, the evening brought together drivers, partners and industry figures for the long-awaited announcement of the 2025 Car of the Year.

Exclusive private member’s club Citizen Kanebridge was among the partners supporting the event, which has become a fixture on the luxury automotive calendar, showcasing the very best in performance, design and innovation across the global car market.

Across a tightly contested field, category winners reflected the breadth of today’s high-end automotive landscape, from traditional combustion engines to hybrid and fully electric performance models.

Among the standout winners, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider took out Best Combustion Supercar, while the Aston Martin Vanquish was named Best Super-GT before ultimately securing the overall title.

Other notable winners included the Mercedes-Benz G580 as Best Off-Roader, the Audi RS Q8 Performance for Best SUV Coupe, and the Aston Martin DBX 707 for Best Super-SUV.

From left to right: Ryan Lewis, Ferrari; Lucy Chesterton, Lamborghini; Peter Crombie Brown, Lamborghini; Nathan Lowe, Aston Martin; Jerry Stamoulis, Mercedes-Benz; Claudia Muller, Audi.

Electrification continued to shape the upper end of the market, with the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray named Best Hybrid Supercar and the Audi RS e-Tron GT Performance taking out Best Electric GT.

The Lamborghini Urus SE was recognised as Best Hybrid SUV and also placed third overall, while the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance secured second place overall in the coupe category.

Guests were also given a first look at a short film capturing the spirit of the two-day Car of the Year program, produced by SONDR, alongside photography that will feature in a dedicated 40-page portfolio in the upcoming issue.

Guests were welcomed alongside a curated group of Car of the Year partners, including Jacob & Co. and La Prairie, with Peter Lehmann Wines and Glenfiddich ensuring the evening unfolded in suitably polished fashion.

The broader program was supported by partners including Citizen Kanebridge, Msquared Capital, Hardy Brothers, Bell Helicopters, Saddles and Spicers Retreats, reflecting the wider luxury ecosystem that underpins the event.

With full results set to be published in the next issue of Robb Report Australia & New Zealand, attention now turns to the next instalment of the program, with this year’s Car of the Year drive scheduled for September.

For those in the room, however, the message was already clear. In a field defined by innovation and performance, the Vanquish still knows how to stand apart.

With full results published in the next issue of Robb Report Australia & New Zealand, attention now turns to the next instalment of the program, with this year’s Car of the Year drive scheduled for September.

When Heritage Meets Hue in Fitzroy House

In Melbourne’s Fitzroy, a bold renovation brings new life to a heritage worker’s cottage, blending playful colour with timeless design and plenty of personality.

A stellar field of performance cars was recognised at Robb Report’s annual event, with Citizen Kanebridge backing the experience alongside leading luxury partners.