Virtual-Narrative Tour
Seeing as the house is located at the intersection of two streets, entrance is possible from two sides. One can either approach it from the parking spot and reach an open space – the pool – followed by the terrace, or use the entrance that leads to the front door. Upon entering, one finds the entrances to two bedrooms to the right, while the doors to the left lead to the living room and dining area. The two rooms are open-plan and face each other, and the kitchen leads to a small summer terrace (winter garden), which then takes one to the sauna. A chandelier casts ornamental shadows in the sauna, a quaint reference to the ancient art of shadow play.
The sauna leads to the first bedroom, which is the only room with direct access to the pool. The room is decorated in grey tones, with features such as an antique chest of drawers, lamps, wallpaper and wardrobe. I would describe the room as refined shabby chic, with the wardrobe, nightstands and dresser all polished to a high shine. Within the interplay of grey and white, one can find peace, a feather chandelier, and silence. So perfectly close to the pool, one drifts back to sleep easily.
The two points of entrance make the concept of the house rather interesting and break down the invisible boundary between the exterior and the interior. The L-shaped walkway makes the walk through the house intriguing. The house has a total of four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and a living room, kitchen, dining room and sauna. There are seven rooms in total, with the exterior serving as a separate unit.
The interior is dominated by the colours white, black, burgundy, brown and grey.
The front door opens into the hallway with its antique chest of drawers, whose white colour and lavish details make it my favourite item in the house. Above it hangs a gold-coloured mirror. To the right, there are small plaster holders/clothes racks shaped to resemble locks. There is an antique chest on the floor. The hallway should be a meeting place, while remaining aesthetically pleasing and spacious/free of objects to ensure its permeability. The chest of drawers is curious not only for its carved details, but also for the fact that its upper part serves as a mini bar, the perfect spot for some welcome drinks. The chest is a firm favourite of mine for another reason: it is opened by a uniquely crafted key that can no longer be duplicated. It’s hard to find the right measure when it comes to aesthetics and practicality, but isn’t life itself too practical? Personally, I would always opt for charm in small details that will add variety to everyday life. It’s one of Floreat’s many features that bring me joy, the fact that there’s always some new detail to be discovered, to tickle one’s fancy, remind one of something or make one laugh. Everything has been carefully chosen without the intention of fitting into existing standards and rules.
The two entrances to the right lead to the remaining two bedrooms.
The first of the two contains a bed made of wrought iron with curling motifs and a canopy draped over it. There is also an oak wardrobe, a custom-made item. The console is an antique, and the sofa can be made into a bed – a new item, although none of the items listed here belong to the modern age. There is a unique carpet on the floor, and the room also features custom-made nightstands with imitation banker’s lamps. The lamps are a combination of old gold and white, and together with the canopy they create a romantic summer atmosphere. There is a portrait of my grandparents on one of the walls. The room tells the story of a connection and of the voyage of two souls through life.
The room next door is ochre-coloured and features a variety of wooden objects in various shades of brown. This room is an ode to travel, exploration and sailing, but also waiting. These are all subjects that have inspired any number of artists, and we ourselves are very much unlike trees, we only really get to know ourselves through travel. The new items in this room include a large brown leather bed, lamps and nightstands, with the wardrobe the resident antique. It was love at first sight. However, I don’t have the key for it. There is a map of the world on the wall, with an old handmade model of a ship, a mirror and a picture of a woman all stood opposite the map. I imagined the curtains to match the sails, a little on the heavier side and beige in colour. We don’t know if this ship is sailing or waiting, but the wind is in its favour. Despite the eccentricity of the colour ochre, the walls of the room contribute to the atmosphere and provide a pleasant stay.
Most of the rooms are located on the ground floor, with a single bedroom and bathroom in the house’s attic, to which there leads a flight of stairs that snakes right next to the pool and garden. This is the fourth bedroom in our house and it is completely open, so there is no barrier that separates the bedroom from the bathroom. Both the bed and the bathtub are in the same room, separated only by a small corridor. The design was inspired by chinoiserie, and the room is dominated by exquisite decorative details inspired by scenes from Chinese art, such as a hand-painted mural on the wall that invisibly separates the bedroom from the bathroom that stands opposite it, cold and elegant, in black and white marble. The most spectacular detail is the large bathtub that captures the attention of the room, too dignified in its beauty to beg for privacy. The room is another example of the now familiar blend between the modern and the antique, where skilful sophistication in combining the finest details, even those that appear incompatible at first glance, can lead to the creation of a new sphere –
the sphere of timelessness.
Tina Bikić, Interior stylist and Brand Storyteller