Located just off Elstwick Street, Victoria, Australia, Seymour House is a heritage-listed building and modernist gem and an open embrace of its surroundings. When creating her own home, Lani Fixler creates a space that is both private and personalized, while also conversing with the streetscape.

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Lani seizes this opportunity to incorporate her family's personality and history into her own residential design and draw inspiration from existing architecture in the area, making personal and environmental reactions inseparable. “The design of the house reflects our appreciation for modernist architecture,” she says. “The design of each space is purposeful and rigorous, reflecting the needs and lifestyle of our families.” Set in a narrow neighborhood, Seymour House strikes a balance between natural light and a sense of protective closure between established neighbors. Respecting these nearby heritage homes, the proposal draws on common formal principles and presents itself as a home that belongs naturally to its surroundings rather than back to the street. “The house adapts to the characteristics of the street, which is very important,” Lani reflects. “It requires humility but still having its own confidence, respecting the trees and heritage homes of the area, and making sure everything has a purpose.”

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Create a unique sequence of inputs then set the tone and drive planning from this point, with areas naturally formed and arranged according to functions. The combined living, dining, and kitchen space leads to the garden, and the staggered transition expresses the change in the area from the front yard originally entered, without the need for physical walls or barriers. On the upper level, a viewing window is connected to a prominent walkway tree that overlooks the park below. In this carefully arranged site, the goal is to create a home that “makes you feel warm, calm and timeless,” says Lani, “It's important to enable flow and communication between open family spaces, while providing private space for different family members.

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A layered curation of lighting, artwork, and furniture enriched the space with thoughtful depth and features, based on cool décor. Combining family antiques with the wealth of pieces Lani and her husband have collected over the years, she hopes the home will provide a backdrop to life that reflects her family's passion. “These spaces pleasantly accommodate our diverse collection of furniture and art, including works with sentimental value such as two [1950s] Sciolari branch chandeliers.”
Lani focuses on what she describes as “beautiful and practical”, and her work revolves around thoughtful design. Driven by a concerted attention to detail, a glimpse of unexpected elements expresses a sexiness that adds an extra layer of color to the originally austere home aesthetic. Seymour House is very sensitive to the history and characteristics of the surrounding community, gracefully allowing the narrative of the past to continue as the new chapter unfolds.
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