Set in a historic building with an intriguing past, Melbourne’s stunning Park House is giving us some serious interior inspo

Interior Design — Mim Design
Architect — Pleysier Perkins
Photography — Sean Fennessy

Set in a historic building that was once a Presbyterian manse, this distinct, monolithic home in Melbourne has undergone a meticulous restoration, transformed into a tour de force of contemporary design. 

A stunning testament to architectural innovation, Mim Design’s Park House is an extraordinary residence that artfully juxtaposes the grandeur of a former Presbyterian manse with a striking, modern extension.


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Drawing inspiration from the house’s historic but rough-and-ready bluestone facade, Park House boasts a captivating, textural material palette, where brutalist concrete (reminiscent of industrial minimalism) creates bold juxtapositions against the softer living areas inside. Rough-sawn cut and chiselled stone, echoing the home’s heritage, instils a sense of rugged elegance throughout the residence, while the prevailing palette of dove grey and charcoal alongside details like timber panelling and aged accents infuses every space with a moody, almost gallery-like ambience, laying the perfect foundations for a collection of visually-arresting, sculptural artworks. 

“Park House boasts a captivating, textural material palette, where brutalist concrete (reminiscent of industrial minimalism) creates bold juxtapositions against the softer living areas inside.”

In fact, Park House offers a series of enchanting moments and moods, elevating the living experience to unparalleled heights. The front rooms, for instance, are cosy, private and intimate. Here, organic forms and more gentle tones create a calm oasis, inviting occupants in to take solace from the outside world.

In contrast, the rear extension of Park House introduces a deep, tonal inversion, striking in its dramatic allure and monochromatic furnishings. A double-height fireplace, clad in domino quartzite, commands attention, engaging in a sculptural dialogue with the surrounding environment — embraced by Edra Design’s Standard sofa. The grand, modern spiralling staircase, finished in blackened metal, serves as an enchanting focal point, weaving sinuously through the space. While the adjacent kitchen, a harmonious symphony of materials, combines chiselled and hammered grey marble, black-stained American oak cabinetry and gunmetal detailing. A charming dining nook where the Gallotti&Radice 0414 chair accompanies a sweeping custom booth seat adds to the atmosphere that is inviting, albeit intimidating in its composition and scale. 

Ultimately, Park House exemplifies the art of balanced design, skilfully intertwining the home’s devout past with contemporary elements. Its masterful execution by Mim Design showcases the stunning effect that can come from the fusion of rugged materials and refined architectural gestures. The harmonious balance here, between restraint and textural detail, offers a captivating journey through evocative spaces that will leave a lasting impression and creates a grand home befitting of its holy origins.

Get The Look


Edra Standard sofa by Francesco Binfaré from Design55
ClassiCon Sol side table by OrtegaGuijarro from Matisse
Waxing Gibbous to 
Waxing Crescent, 
November 2022 VI
by Kate van der Drift from Sanderson Contemporary
Resident Passenger chair from Simon James
TASCHEN Peter Lindberg Dior book from Selfridges
Fountain coffee table by Glas Italia from ECC
ED049 Light
by Edizioni Design
from Dawson & Co.
Stories of O by David Walshe Book from Booktopia
Gallotti&Radice 0414 chairs by Studio G&R from ECC
Cloud bowl by Tom Dixon from ECC
Poliform Wallace armchair by Jean-Marie Massaud from Studio Italia
Mass Coat stand by Tom Dixon from ECC
Serax Surface Casserole Dish Cast Iron from ECC
Moroso Gogan sofa by Patricia Urquiola from Matisse
Arflex Infinity coffee table by Claesson Koivisto Rune from Studio Italia 

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