Few names are as synonymous with timeless elegance as Coco Chanel. Her iconic language of black and white, punctuated with gold, became the inspiration for our Mount Pleasant project, where classic femininity and sophistication were reinterpreted through a distinctly residential lens.
Set within a heritage home, the primary bathroom presented one of the most complex design challenges of our career. Heritage homes are rich with character, but that character often comes with complicated geometry. On the upper floor, dramatic sloped ceilings created a beautiful architectural envelope and a functional puzzle, particularly with a client standing 6'2". Every inch had to be carefully considered to create a generous shower experience while preserving the integrity and elegance of the room.
The result balances technical precision with unapologetic beauty, although we are fairly certain the process took a few years off our lives.
As with many renovations, not everything went according to plan. Sometimes, that is precisely how something extraordinary emerges. The original vision called for a vinyl wallpaper, but when the sample arrived, its creamy undertone felt completely wrong against the crisp black-and-white palette.
Enter local artist Connie Jean.
In place of wallpaper, she hand-painted delicate cherry blossoms across three walls, carefully composing their scale, movement and colour specifically for the room. The result is more than a decorative finish. It is a bespoke work of art that brings softness and movement to the graphic architecture of the space.
What began as a material disappointment became one of the project’s defining moments, proving that the most memorable interiors are often shaped not by a perfect plan, but by the creativity that emerges when the plan changes.
Designer: Huong Nguyen
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
