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.
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 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.
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A 30-metre masterpiece unveiled in Monaco brings Lamborghini’s supercar drama to the high seas, powered by 7,600 horsepower and unmistakable Italian design.
A 30-metre masterpiece unveiled in Monaco brings Lamborghini’s supercar drama to the high seas, powered by 7,600 horsepower and unmistakable Italian design.
When Lamborghini takes to the water, subtlety isn’t on the agenda. Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show, the Tecnomar for Lamborghini 101FT is a 30-metre superyacht that fuses Italian automotive theatre with cutting-edge naval engineering.
The model builds on the collaboration that began in 2020 with the Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63, a sell-out success that celebrated the marque’s founding year.
This new flagship pushes the partnership between Automobili Lamborghini and The Italian Sea Group to a grander scale, designed to deliver the same adrenaline rush at sea that drivers expect behind the wheel.
“The Tecnomar for Lamborghini 101FT redefines the concept of nautical luxury,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.
“It is not only a yacht, but an affirmation of Italian excellence. The Italian Sea Group and Automobili Lamborghini share an exclusive clientele who are passionate about beauty, technology, and extreme performance.”
Design cues are unmistakably Lamborghini. The yacht’s sharp exterior lines echo the Fenomeno supercar revealed at Monterey Car Week, complete with Giallo Crius launch livery and signature Y-shaped lighting.
Inside, the cockpit and lounges mirror the DNA of Sant’Agata supercars through hexagonal motifs, sculptural seating and dramatic contrasts. With accommodation for up to nine guests and three crew cabins, indulgence meets practicality on every deck.
Performance is equally uncompromising. Three MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines and triple surface propellers generate a combined 7,600 horsepower, driving the yacht to 45 knots at full throttle, with a cruising speed of 35 knots. Two 35 kW generators provide additional efficiency and reliability, ensuring the yacht’s power matches its presence.
Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s Design Director, said: “With the Tecnomar for Lamborghini 101FT, we aimed to create a product that embodies the main design characteristics of our super sports cars. All the details, from the exterior to the colour, to the interior areas, recall and are inspired by Lamborghini’s DNA.”
Presented in scale at Monaco, the definitive Tecnomar for Lamborghini 101FT is scheduled to hit the water at the end of 2027. For those who demand their indulgence measured not only in metres but in knots, this is Lamborghini’s most extravagant expression yet.
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