Tatler+ Kay & Burton
A culmination of some of Melbourne’s finest luminaries in residential design
True luxury endures from generation to generation, and transcends the constructs of time and space. What distinguishes and elevates the extraordinary is masterful craftsmanship and thoughtful design.
This belief has set the foundation for Craig Easton’s work for the past four decades. His firm, Easton, specialises in high-end residential, retail & commercial developments, and is recognised for setting the benchmark in designing exceptional luxury properties that last.
This philosophy is epitomised in Easton’s latest residential achievement, The Penthouse at Palais Toorak in Melbourne, Australia. In many ways, Palais Toorak heralds Easton’s 40 years in the business, and is a home that “offers the highest possible level of design, fit out and construction” according to Easton. Created, he says, “to stand the test of time”. Situated in Melbourne’s most prestigious suburb, The Penthouse at Palais Toorak has all the enduring qualities that will arguably be appreciated for generations to come.
Recruiting award-winning architect Robert Mills and renowned interior designer Andrew Parr to collaborate on the concept, the project marks the first time the trio has worked together, along with acclaimed landscape designer Paul Bangay. The partnership has proven to be inspired.
Spanning across two levels atop Palais Toorak, a boutique collection of just seven luxury residences, The Penthouse blurs global boundaries and transcends eras with its worldly sensibilities. Melding New York’s cutting edge Style Moderne with Parisian Art Deco undertones, the design eloquently tips its hat to history whilst retaining modern-day glamour. The interior inspiration took seed, Parr says, in the aesthetic of classic Parisian hotels of the 1930s, “specifically, the Plaza Athenee,” he reveals, “formal, yet luxurious.” That seed sprouted to encompass something greater, budding into an exquisite expression of luxury all of its own.
“Some elements period, some elements contemporary and others Avant Garde,” is how Parr describes the interior’s influences. Stone and silk dress the walls of The Penthouse’s entrance, while inbuilt bespoke cabinetry crafted from patinated brass and timber flourish the living areas. Notes of timber veneer also weave in throughout the space, bringing a sense of richness and warmth, and faceted glass is incorporated for a touch of Art Deco.
