A finalist in the Belle Fanuli Interior Design Awards 2025: Verdant Residence by Mim Design.
This project is a layered and expressive residence that responds to its site, its long-time owners, and the evolving rhythm of daily life.
Nestled among lush established gardens, the home is designed to feel like a sanctuary; private, calm, and intimately connected to its natural surroundings. Inspiration for Verdant House was drawn from the home’s natural sense of privacy and its intimate connection to the surrounding garden.
A meandering path lined with jasmine builds anticipation and sets the tone for the calm, layered interiors within, while the reinstated Victorian-era front door with stained glass sidelights adds a touch of heritage charm and creates a sensory and emotive entry experience.
The clients’ desire for a calming, low-maintenance, and beautifully resolved home guided every decision, from layout and materiality to detailing and flow. A distinctly European sensibility informed the approach, with a focus on refined restraint, quiet elegance, and spaces that feel intentionally composed rather than overtly styled.
IDAs 2025: Readers’ Choice
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Engaged partway through the project, Mim Design was tasked with reimagining the interiors to reflect the clients’ next life chapter: downsizing while retaining a strong sense of comfort, beauty, and individuality.
The brief called for considered planning, intuitive flow, and a refined atmosphere with a rich play of materiality and colour.
Spatial design was carefully calibrated to maximise light, connection to the garden, and ease of movement.
Custom joinery conceals storage and functional elements to maintain clarity and visual calm, while sightlines and floor transitions were manipulated to make the long, narrow footprint feel expansive and inviting.
Colour was used as a storytelling device, each room offering a distinct mood, from deep greens in the study to pastel pinks and botanical wallpapers in the living spaces and bedrooms.
Furniture and styling selections were equally personalised, with custom pieces designed to suit both the scale of the home and the style of its owners.
Heritage details were retained or reinterpreted to honour the home’s past, while new insertions offer texture, personality and delight. Verdant House is ultimately a celebration of balance, between past and present, bold and subtle, practicality and emotion, crafted with precision, warmth, and intent.
