Life electric

The jolt of juxtaposition brings daily joy to the owners of an eclectic chateau in Australia's south.

- SARAH WORMWELL

For discerning collectors of contemporary Australian art, a French-inspired chateau was not an obvious choice of home, yet the sophisticated gardens, expansive block and opportunity to create a unique aesthetic proved too strong a lure.

On settlement in early 2021, the owners (a couple embarking on a new chapter as empty nesters) consulted interior designer Meryl Hare of Hare + Klein, who had worked on their previous family home.

The chateau, built in 1920 by an avowed Francophile, retains its original structure replete with architectural hallmarks: elegant facade, imperial staircase and porte-cochère.

With six bedrooms, five bathrooms, an office, study, multiple living and dining areas, media room, bar and billiards room, as well as hidden gardens and a pool, there is ample room for visiting children, extended family and friends.

The task for Meryl and her team was to refresh the interiors in a style suited to the owners’ personality and taste as well as showcase their exquisite art collection.

“The gallery-like proportions of the house attracted the owners, however their overwhelming desire was to humanise the space with an interior that was both ‘comfortable and relaxed’ as well as ‘sophisticated and elegant’,” says Meryl.

And rather than take their design cues solely from the art or architecture, the Hare + Klein team created interiors that thrive on balanced contrast: sharp and sculptural, ornate and minimal, dark and bright, old and new.