Modern Country
ARCHITECT NOMA* • BUILDER Buckingham Re-Development Co • INTERIOR DESIGNER Malvina Stone • PHOTOGRAPHY Jody D’Arcy • WORDS Elizabeth Clarke
Wide plank European floorboards complement the home’s original architecture; open plan living spaces provide pared-back contemporary living.
European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber; rattan mirror, Empire Home; vintage sideboard, client’s own; blanket, Tartan Blanket Company; sofas, upholstered in Warwick Fabrics fabric; leather armchair, Good Wood Antiques Guildford; cushions covered in Hermès fabric; rug, International Floor Coverings; wall lights, The Montauk Lighting Co. Subiaco
For Perth interior designer Malvina Stone, transforming the barest of bones into inspiring, warm spaces is an obsession. “I simply can’t be in a room that isn’t done right,” she tells Havenist. “I have to fiddle with it and imagine what it could be. I can always see the potential.”
Malvina grew up Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney, right next to the National Park and across the road from the hardware store and library. “Every few years I was allowed to choose a new bedroom wallpaper, so I would spend days in the library flicking through books and studying the works of famous artists,” she recalls. “Afterwards, I would head to the hardware store and standing on a stool, select my new wallpaper. I loved flowers too and Mrs Appleby the florist was just around the corner. She inspired the bouquets I made from our garden. It was a wondrous childhood.”
Devil is in the detail, from artwork and lighting to the perfect accent mirror.
Lights, The Montauk Lighting Co., Subiaco; rattan mirror, Empire Home
Horse artwork, clients own; European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber; lights, The Montauk Lighting Co., Subiaco
Tactile materials like timber, stoneware, aged brass and abundant white give the kitchen a relaxed, rustic feel.
White vases, M2 Tiles Claremont; painting (behind vases) by Jana Papantoniou; stoneware vessels, Trish’s Place, Fremantle; basin, Belfast Sinks; tapware, Astra Walker; cabinets, BF Cabinets, Baldivis
After studying home economics at East Sydney Technical College, Malvina and her family moved to Perth. Whilst working in a retail position in Claremont, she met interiors maven Judith Barrett-Lennard who helmed iconic design business Puritan Man at the time. “Meeting her saw me literally stumble into interior design,” Malvina laughs. “She took me under her wing. She must have seen some potential in my aesthetic.”
Working on projects with Judith’s team, that included top designer Christian Lyon, Stone collaborated on high end residential and commercial projects. “I was like a sponge,” she recalls. “I worked hard from the ground up and Judith taught me the beauty of custom made, which Christian and I still do today. We are not shoppers – we are creators. It’s a very old school approach to interior design.”
The simple yet eclectic interiors echo the home’s architecture. In the dining room, ladder-back chairs surround a large circular communal table.
Table and chairs, client’s own; European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber, hooks, The Society Inc.
When Malvina started her own business, she was quickly in-demand, working on residential projects as well as contributing to publications like Vogue Living, Belle, The Sunday Times and Inside Out. It was these experiences, she says, that inform her projects today.
“I am very inspired by French interiors and tend to have very eclectic taste rather than a set look,” she says. “I believe a house tells you what it needs so it’s important to be adaptable. I hunt, gather, and fossick for the different and unusual. I adore imperfections. It’s what makes a space look effortless.”
For Malvina, this old horse stud in the Swan Valley has been her dream job. “Collaborating with a client who has a great aesthetic makes it a fantastic experience,” she says. “The location is gorgeous too. It’s not far from Perth and surrounded by horses and lush green paddocks. It’s divine.”
An original white Aga oven provides warmth and style to the country kitchen.
Aga oven, client’s own; table and chairs, client’s own; European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber
Natural light bathes the formal dining space that sits beneath crisply painted shingles.
Dining chairs covered in Westbury Textiles by Casa Villa Upholstery, Malaga; rocking horse and basket, Empire Home; vases, Trilogy Furniture, Nedlands; lights, Alti Lighting, Claremont
The double-height formal dining area is furnished with a long communal table and freshly upholstered chairs. A rocking horse watches from nearby.
Dining chairs covered in Westbury Textiles by Casa Villa Upholstery, Malaga; basket and rocking horse, Empire Home; vases, Trilogy Furniture, Nedlands; lights by Alti Lighting, Claremont; European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber
Malvina joined the project after Noma Architects had completed the groundwork and together with the client, got to work paring back the home and “filling it with details.” “I usually have a vision for projects very quickly and can create the concepts swiftly before pulling the key elements together,” she says.
Approximately 500-square-metres with an additional wing containing two bedrooms and guest house gave her much to work with. Reusing the barn vernacular but with simplistic sensibility, Malvina applied a palette of restrained elegance and crisp tones alongside wide European oak floorboards.
Collectables, both useful and decorative, fuse for a warm lived-in space.
Coffee table, Empire Home; sofas covered in Warwick Fabric fabric; custom lampshade, St Johns Lamps; rug, International Floor Coverings; fan, Beacon Lighting; cushions covered in Hermès fabric
A place to sit, take stock, and breathe in the details.
Coffee table, Empire Home; sofas covered in Warwick Fabrics fabric; cushions covered in Hermès fabric
Refurbished sofas reimagined in Warwick Fabrics fabric and peppered with Hermès upholstered cushions relate to the surroundings. A central stone fireplace anchors the space.
Coffee table, Empire Home; sofas covered in Warwick Fabrics fabric; cushions upholstered in Hermès fabric; dining chairs covered in Westbury Textiles by Casa Villa Upholstery Malaga
A leather saddle and polo trophy masquerading as a vase provide simple but beautiful embellishment.
custom lampshade, St Johns Lamps; European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber
In the open plan living space that includes a living room, two dining areas and a cavernous kitchen, an old mezzanine was removed to reveal stunning shingles Malvina painted white. An original stone fireplace provides a stunning focal point and separates the informal eating area and dining room that accesses an outdoor terrace. “In the kitchen, we simply reoiled the timber tops, repaired the cabinetry and added neutrals,” she says. “The windows frame the view and provide the space a beautiful backdrop.”
Bathed in the northern sun, the home’s vast original verandas allow the interior spaces abundant light and breezes. Outside, a couple of original horse carriages greet visitors, whilst at the back, an enviable outdoor entertaining area includes large pool, 10-metre outdoor kitchen and barbeque, and chic grey topped pool table. “With family and guests coming and going, I wanted the home to look and feel comfortable, but with a level of sophistication,” she explains.
Simplistic lines and classic colour palette mesh with refined antiques. A cushion covered in tiny black and white horses by Hermès, is a nod to its owners.
Armchair, Good Wood Antiques Guildford; cushions upholstered in Hermès fabric; artwork, clients own
A custom window provides the perfect framework for a vintage trophy and bridle.
Windows, Cockburn Joinery, Myaree; side table, clients own
Generous spaces are provided warmth thanks to lush materials, luxurious window dressings and cosy detailing.
Curtains, Westbury Textiles; armchairs and ottomans, Casa Villa Upholstery Malaga; throw rug, Tartan Blanket Company; screen, Good Wood Antiques Guildford; rug, International Floor Coverings; white stool, Empire Home; bed cover, Warwick Fabrics fabric; plaid wallpaper, Ralph Lauren at Décor Design Centre West Perth; custom cushions in Velluto Di Cotone, Anne Bailey Agencies Nedlands; feature stone fireplace, Bernini, Subiaco.
Devil is in the detail and for Malvina, the old and interesting provide true integrity to a room. “I don’t like anything shiny or perfect,” she admits. “I like history and imperfections.” The client’s garage filled with treasures was a delight for Stone, who found everything she needed, including an old butcher’s block she reimagined as a bedside table. “I loved rummaging through the family’s antiques, bric-a-brac and collectables,” she says. “We recovered old furniture in beautiful new textiles and found objects we thought could work. By setting them against a simple backdrop, they look current and fresh again.”
Against a backdrop of plaid wallpaper, the master bedroom pairs natural elements with cosy elegance.
Ralph Lauren plaid wallpaper at Décor Design Centre West Perth; bedhead and valance, Casa Villa Upholstery Malaga; lampshade lined in gold, St Johns Lamps
A vintage wardrobe sits effortlessly alongside an antique French screen.
White stool, Empire Home; custom cushions in olive Velluto Di Cotone, Anne Bailey Agencies Nedlands; screen, Good Wood Antiques Guildford; armchairs, Casa Villa Upholstery Malaga.
Vintage tennis racquets adorning the walls catch the eye.
European oak floor, Woodpecker Flooring installed by Art of Timber; doors, Cockburn Joinery, Myaree
Vibrant and comfortable, Malvina’s exquisitely styled bedroom is a modern take on classic country style.
Ralph Lauren plaid wallpaper, Décor Design Centre West Perth; custom made bedhead, Casa Villa Upholstery Malaga; bed cover and cushions, Warwick Fabrics fabric; bedside table, Good Wood Antiques Guildford: rug, International Floor Coverings; curtains – Westbury Textiles; custom cushions in Velluto Di Cotone, Anne Bailey Agencies Nedlands;
From the placement of the fireplace to the positioning of the furniture, all elements coexist harmoniously.
Table and chairs stained in Palm Beach Black by Porters Paints, Trilogy Furniture Nedlands; outdoor sofa and striped cushions covered in outdoor linen by Westbury Textiles; bowl and vases, Empire Home; feature stone, Bernini, Subiaco.
To maximise views, an open paved terrace with rafters suffuses the space with sunlight.
Table and terracotta pots, Trilogy Furniture Nedlands; basket and plant, Empire Home; stone, Eco Outdoor; plants, Benara Nurseries
A contemporary country home, surrounded by running horses and towering trees, is the perfect antidote for the hectic city life.
A vast selection of saddles, all from the clients personal collection.
A modern interpretation of the idyllic country home.
Stone, Eco Outdoor; terracotta pots, Trilogy Furniture Nedlands; plants, Benara Nurseries
The horse stud continues to be a work in progress for Malvina, as she prepares for new projects in the coming months. “I have jobs in the southwest and western suburbs, a couple with Phillipa Mowbray Architects, a boutique hotel, and I am design consultant for Government House!” she gasps. “I’m always itching to try different things. It’s my job to look outside the box and take it next level. It’s frantic, but I love it”
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