Touch & Texture: Burnley House in Melbourne by Fiona Lynch.

Sculptural arched forms and hyperbolic manipulations of scale enlarge the modest 154sqm frame of this three-storey townhouse located east of Melbourne’s CBD into a softly luminous sanctuary. Designed by Fiona Lynch, lighting is exploited to expand spatial parameters as the taut tension of Burnley House’s polished plaster walls dissolves into a velvety pastiche befitting the tactile nature of the furnishings.

Touch and textures are paramount throughout the interior. Plush carpets and nubby soft furnishings bolster soft serves of cushioned comfort. The home’s material advantage comes via the use of luxe elements including marble, solid timber, velvet, bamboo silk rugs and carpets plus leather; all used sparingly to avoid density.

The central staircase balustrade is lined with a crisp layer of Calacatta marble, following through to the en-suite framing the Elba integrated mirror and shelving unit.

Lightweight brass and metal accents fuse industrial strength and practicality with an opulent finish. A custom lighting sculpture by Brenton Angel illuminates a shelved corner within the study. Tethered to ceiling and floor, the thread-like brass fixture with elongated neon tube’s casts a glowing warmth upon the pale citrus lemon plaster wall, instantly expanding the confines of the room.

Related: St Kilda Apartment by Fiona Lynch Office.

Opening into the entertaining area on the third level, perforated steel armatures float above the central kitchen and stairwell to support potted greens, with kitchen joinery relegated beneath bench height to enable open sightlines across the lounge area.

Walls lay bare to emphasise this airiness, concealing integrated storage. All the usual suspects can be spotted from a Faye Toogood Roly Poly to a Lynch signature FLOS Snoopy Lamp. Their playful shapes distinct amongst the restrained fixtures. Adjoining the lounge’s fireplace, black ash open shelving enables the corner to recede into undefined depth.

A lithe folded curtain of pale green fibreglass matches the shade in the dining room (also custom created by Angel) rustles on the other side of the fireplace, counter-balancing its recessive nature. Strategically positioned in an upright, angled position, it gently glistens in the sunlight.

The master bedroom’s densely mottled fibre cement sheet walls usher a sense of utmost quiet. Countering the sun-bathed light from the adjoining courtyard, shadows cast upon them providing a deeply calming effect. Inside, a rich sapphire armchair by Eileen Grey glows like an oversized precious stone mined from the site, as does the lounge room’s faceted emerald green electroplated steel pedestal.

With an ease that is anything but easy, Fiona Lynch has intricately designed a home of restrained decadence. While tranquil and sedate, it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

Related: Ottawa Road House in Toorak by Fiona Lynch.

[Images courtesy of Fiona Lynch. Photography by Amelia Stanwix.]