Once reserved for Federation-era homes, stained glass and leadlight windows are enjoying a resurgence in contemporary interior design. A relic of yesteryear, the luminous panes bring a sense of artistry and permanence to the homes they occupy, all the while instilling an air of timelessness and grandeur into its interiors.
In this edit, we step inside 11 showstopping homes where stained glass takes centre stage. Whether you’re restoring a period home, or are simply drawn to its charm, these spaces prove that stained glass is as relevant as ever.
From lovingly restored heritage homes to reimagined interiors, discover 11 homes that embrace the enduring appeal of stained glass windows.
Spectacular homes with stained glass windows
A single-storey 1900s Queen Anne property
The owners of this 1900s Queen Anne property in Melbourne’s Kew approached interior designer Fiona Lynch with a challenge: how to partner the traditional characteristics of their home with a more contemporary, pragmatic extension. Taking inspiration from the striking stained glass in the original leadlight windows, the palette here is expressed in hues of midnight blue, tobacco and marigold.
A vibrant Federation-era home
Arent&Pyke has the knack of mixing styles and eras with the greatest of ease, as evidenced by this inventive re-imagining of a Federation home for a vibrant young family.
An 1880s Victorian property
Kathryn Robson and Chris Rak were selected to blend an ultra-modern pavilion with an 1880s Victorian property in Melbourne. “It was a challenge,” says Kathryn of the brief that also included increasing the natural light and a functional plan that would stand the test of time as their toddlers grew to adults. “We didn’t want a house that felt as if it had two styles. There had to be a sense of cohesiveness.”
A heritage Edwardian family home
The clash of eras and styles is now the dominant feature of this Edwardian home in Melbourne’s Glen Iris courtesy of architect Michael Jan and interior designer Chelsea Hing. From Belle August/September 2018.
A charismatic Federation home
When the owners bought this charming heritage home, it bore the less desirable results of a 1980’s renovation. They hired Sarah Jane Studios and Liskowski Architects to restore it to its former grandeur while giving it a modern twist, incorporating some of its 80s renovation quirks.
A horse stud homestead with edge
Interior designer Greg Natale has brought his city sensibility to an 1880s bluestone homestead, balancing glamour and earthiness. Drawing inspiration from the eclectic boutique hotels of New York’s SoHo, Greg gave them the decorative layering they sought, with comfort and generous spaces for entertaining.
A revived Edwardian home
Looking beyond the faded exterior, a family saw the potential to open up a bright new future for this Edwardian-era beauty. Updated by architecture firm BayleyWard, the home opens into an inviting reception vestibule with a chequerboard floor and decorative leadlight windows.
A family home with a feminine touch
A delicate feminine aesthetic prevails in this family home in Melbourne, where delicate, subdued features are perfectly suited to the female owners and her two daughters. “This house was a real girls club,” says designer Simone Haag of the collaborative project she worked on with interior designer Angela Harry. “Femininity is definitely a recurring motif in this house.”
A whimsical Sydney federation home
While this Federation home on Sydney’s north shore had previously been renovated in 2014, the owners hired Thomas Hamel & Associates to design a house with a nod to English country homes. With a pretty pastel colour palette and floral wallpapers aplenty, this grand Federation house evokes English style in a very Australian way.
A grand Gothic revival home
This Sydney home by Hancock Architects was full of amazing hidden features just waiting to be revealed by the right owner. Its core was overlaid in the Gothic Revival style with Tudor echoes, de rigueur at the time, with stained-glass windows, timber-framed roughcast render, bay windows, steep roofs with slate tiles and castle-like parapets.
A glamorous Italianate mansion
This Sydney house designed by Dylan Farrell and Thomas Hamel & Associates displays a definite Continental drift that takes you on an enchanted journey through seemingly disparate styles and eras. Yet they all combine beguilingly in their own European union.
