Chelsea Villa

Built in the 1850s, this grand Victorian villa was lovingly transformed for an international family whose heritage crossed continents and who sought a “forever home” that balanced beauty, practicality and comfort.

Tollgard Studio worked in close collaboration with architects BLDA, project managers Webster Hart and contractors Bascomb Drew on the project.

The design process began with Tollgard’s Questions of Living, an in-depth exploration of the clients’ lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. The resulting concept celebrates an old-meets-new dialogue, honouring the home’s architectural heritage with traditional mouldings and panelled doors, while introducing contemporary elements in the basement and lower ground floors that include Crittall glazing, refined joinery and a striking, sculptural staircase that links all floors.

There are two connected strands that inform the project’s Red Thread, or design DNA. The first rule is to bring light and life into the house: the southern hemisphere’s pull towards connection, colour and vibrancy. The second is the call for balance, precision and formality, achieved through architectural rigour and an elevated design language.