A light-filled home in Melbourne inspired by a designer’s love affair with marble

Simply marble-ous! That sums up furniture designer Adele Cotruzzola’s early adulthood, which she spent surrounded by the natural stone in this family home in Melbourne’s east. It inspired her passion for the classic material and made her appreciate not just its beauty but its functionality.

A trip to Milan and Tuscany, in 2019, underlined the epiphany. Adele found herself smitten by Milanese architecture: “I’ve always been drawn to Italian architects’ composition, which is bold, mixing colours and patterns,” she says. “There’s no holding back, marble is everywhere. I wanted to create the feeling of Italy in Australian homes, so we can adopt Milanese style.” Just Adele, specialising in marble furniture, was born.

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The Elba stone island, with its subtle markings and shadowy veining (opposite), is also loved by Adele.

The seeds were sown years earlier by her mother when renovating this luminous family home, which Adele, shared with her parents and two sisters. “Throughout the design process, Mum was discussing what she wanted with stone suppliers, including in the kitchen and the fireplace, and it made me love it even more,” Adele says.

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Kitchen cool Elba marble from CDK Stone is used not just on the island, it continues all the way up the splashback to the ceiling and even embraces the rangehood. The special wall finish in polished plaster, which wraps around the corner into the hallway, echoes the marble in the kitchen to striking effect. Viccarbe ‘Last Minute’ stools from Hub Furniture.

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The Jardan sofa (discontinued, but their Hudson style is similar), with its chunky yet simple lines, is the perfect complement to Adele’s plinth coffee table – which, she says, is one of her most popular lines.

“She wanted something bespoke and crafted, tailored to our family and lifestyle.” Mim Design devised a modern, light-filled addition that celebrates natural materials – such as hardwood floors and ceilings, a marble kitchen with an entire wall in the stone, and marble bathrooms.

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Adele’s Carrara marble plinth in the living room is the ideal backdrop for a collection of ceramics and plays off the pattern of the custom rug.

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The floor doesn’t need reinforcing as the table is hollow in the middle. Ceramics from Humble Matter and Modern Times. Island fantasy The Elba stone island, with its subtle markings and shadowy veining, is also loved by Adele.

“This house prompted my love of marble and showed just how practical it can be,” Adele says. “And, living here, I could see how well these finishes keep on keeping on, while they exude a luxurious feel in smaller as well as bigger pieces.”

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In a corner of the kitchen, dark timber veneer lends a contrast to the Elba marble splashback in pattern and palette, with the expanse of stone neatly broken up by the floating shelf. Ceramics by Criteria Collection.

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Dark-stained oak on the custom dining table and matching chairs provides a grounding counterpoint to the light marble. As in nature, timber, in its infinite tones, and stone make great companions. The painting on the shelf above the splashback is by Zoe Young.

Starting with a burgundy side table, Adele’s business evolved into substantial coffee tables and plinths. And more recently, this home showcases her work. The most striking piece is the Carrara plinth that grounds the living area and, in a similar, er, vein, discreet side tables and a marble-framed mirror.

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Making a splash In the powder room, Super White Dolomite stone from CDK Stone lends drama to a small space. It shares the same veining as some marbles but is denser, less porous and less likely to chip. Brushed nickel taps offset the stone to great effect. Towel from Loom.

“It’s a light and breezy home suited to entertaining, and we spend a lot of time together,” says Adele, quickly adding, “and it still feels new and timeless.” That makes it a perfect fit for her furniture.

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Welcoming sightlines beyond the original front door show the high ceilings and cornicing typical of the house’s original section. A custom console sports a concrete top, which is a departure from the marble but just as effective. Flos ‘Aim’ pendants from Euroluce.

3 ways to make marble work for you

1. Team it with timber, like this lime-washed oak, for a classic look. While equally organic, it adds warmth. Other timbers, in their myriad tones, also pair well.
2. Take your decorating cues from marble’s signature veining, with a special wall finish or patterned rug – both of which are used in this living area.
3. Play your marbles – Carrara and Calacatta offer cool whites and blue-greys. Carrara is a deeper grey with softer veining and Calacatta is whiter with chunky veins.

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The traditional-style fireplace in a front bedroom reveals marble’s versatility. The artwork by Christopher Vine and black-and-white vase from Modern Times are excellent accompaniments. The other vase was found on travels in Greece.

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Style Tip: The rounded side table in terracotta travertine is a soft counterpoint to the crisp Carrara marble elsewhere in this room.

Just Adele at justadele.com.au and @just_adele

Mim Design is at mimdesign.com.au and @mimdesignstudio