It’s been almost 10 years since the founding of Flack Studio — the Melbourne-based design practice renowned for their instantly recognisable interiors embodying drama, glamour, and magnetic energy.
The personal home of the studio’s founder and principal David Flack channels this signature style, within an unassuming single-fronted Victorian worker’s cottage in Richmond, Melbourne.
This house was first purchased by David’s partner, Jason Olive, who works as chief marketing officer at Ovarian Cancer Australia.
‘The character and front door appeal of this home was like something I hadn’t seen from other properties I was looking at,’ says Jason. ‘The house is standalone — rather than a terrace — so the abundant light was impressive, as you don’t get this with many homes of this size. I also loved the quiet garden.’
These features were previously added to during a 1990s renovation, that also introduced cathedral ceilings above the kitchen and living space.
All that was needed was a little more personality in the interiors. Enter David Flack!
When David moved into the home last year, he set about designing a renovation. Adding an upper storey was initially discussed, but this idea was eventually scrapped in order to maintain the existing proportions of the home, including its generous ceiling heights, and to prioritise quality of materials.
‘We didn’t want to cut corners,’ explains David. ‘We wanted to keep the beautiful northern light from the clerestory windows that we may have lost in the process of going up, too.’
After deciding to preserve the proportions and general layout of the home, David’s design focused on updating cosmetic elements only. That being said, almost every surface in every room has been touched throughout the project, from the floors to the walls, bench tops, and lighting! The kitchen and bathroom were fully transformed, and a new furniture scheme was also introduced.
‘Jason owned this house for several years. It’s a beautiful house and it was so fun to work on something so personal,’ says David. ‘While I’m not one for words, it was my love letter to him.’
The outcome is a home that feels warm, inviting and ultimately, it feels lived in.
Throughout the space, David has expertly balanced restraint and exuberance, layering understated details with bold design moments, such as the bathroom, which was reimagined as a dark and moody oasis.
‘The over-scaled marble bathing pod is pretty bloody extra. It’s a bit of a pinch me moment when you sit there and think we created this,’ says David.
As you might imagine, Jason and David don’t sit still for very long. The couple recently purchased a new home together, in Brunswick. Stay tuned for an even bigger renovation to come — it’s bound to be another brilliant project!
Jason is nervous… and David has already conceptualised the whole thing!
