AGE OF ELEGANCE

HE OWNERS OF THIS VICTORIAN COTTAGE wouldn’t be the first to fall for an historic home’s storied architecture and charm even though it didn’t meet their needs. But what makes this case unique is that the owners, Samantha and Daniel Mazzei, run a custom home Built in 1891, the cottage’s old layout wasn’t cut-out for the family-of-five’s dynamic lifestyle. Catt Architects were engaged to develop a large extension and restructure the floorplan in order to add space, create flow and enhance natural light. “The biggest challenge was ensuring the transition to the new addition was seamless and that the design of the new build stood up to the integrity of the existing architecture,” Catherine says. To achieve that integrity, she hand-selected quality materials to ground the interiors and anchor the new build to the old. “The refined palette of marble and solid timber is complementary to the ornate period features and modern details in the extension,” she says. Functionality was paramount, too, and every room has been designed to accommodate the growing family’s present and future needs. When Simone arrived on the scene, the family were settled in and Samantha had purchased key pieces of furniture. “Many of the client’s selections erred on the side of caution and we had to bring some theatre to the spaces,” says Simone, who aimed to “add impact while maintaining a sense of harmony with the existing pieces”. She uplifted the chic palette of finishes with pops of colour and offset the restrained decor with contemporary items and geometric rugs. It’s a decorative dance-off between old and new that feels both understated and expressive, but always elegant.