On the sofa with Bea Lambos, stylist of The Boulevard House.

Interior stylist and decorator Bea Lambos of Bea+Co worked her magic at The Boulevard House, an alteration and addition to a home in Ivanhoe East, designed by MODO Architecture. We spoke to Bea about her favourite DOMO brands, choosing pieces for The Boulevard House and how to create interior settings that showcase the architecture and furniture for photography.

What was MODO Architecture’s brief for The Boulevard House, and what did you want to achieve?

The brief was to style the house in a neutral and calming tone. The garden is the main outlook from the house, especially from the new addition, so I wanted to retain the sense of open, uncluttered space and to have a calm feel inside. I’ve used pieces sparingly; ones that are punchy and give some life, while still being very mindful of the beautiful architecture.

What is your favourite brand at DOMO and why?

There are so many! Ligne Roset is definitely a favourite. Their colour choice is playful, and the pieces have clean lines and a good sense of scale. They command some attention in a space, and it doesn’t matter in what kind of home they find themselves in. It can be a high-end house or a mid-century cottage. A classic is a classic and will always make a home special.

The brand also has a long history and has stood the test of time. A lot of the pieces have been around since the 1960s and ’70s and they still work beautifully in a modern house today. 

Bea Lambos, you mentioned the long history of Ligne Roset, and similarly de Sede and Wittmann, which both feature in The Boulevard House, have a legacy of craftsmanship too. Why is this attention to craftsmanship, quality and detail important for the pieces you choose?

These pieces are detailed, but not heavily adorned. When you look at them and touch them, you realise how amazing the workmanship is. That’s what we’re trying to portray and highlight in these images. I am always careful to place the furniture in areas with natural light so details like the fabric folds, the stitching and the colour takes the imagery to the next level. Photography picks up this craftsmanship and preserves the beautiful detail for the viewer to enjoy too.

What was your approach to selecting furnishings for the living area in The Boulevard House, and to choosing colours and materials that work together?

The living space is large and open – the light is incredible no matter what time of day, and the window and opening to the garden isgenerous. The furniture had to respect that the outlook to the garden was the hero of the space, so it needed to be subtle. I selected neutral tones and materials that are cohesive with the finishes and would create that calm feel inside.

You selected several modernist pieces: Wittmann’s Fledermaus chair and de Sede’s DS-80 Day Bed and DS-144 Armchair and Footstool. What appeals to you about modernist design?

Modernist pieces have a purposeful design and are made to be used. They are a beauty to sit on, look at and touch, and when you have furniture like this in your home, you are reminded of the beauty of it every day.

The materials are simple and the lines have a clean, strong aesthetic. I love the beautiful workmanship – they are not overly adorned or decorated so you can use them in any type of setting. And they also have a sense of fun. Especially the Wittmann chair, which has a sense of whimsy about it.

How do you select furniture for a photography shoot?

I do have in mind where things are going to go before the shoot. When they are in the house, it’s about finding their best side – where and how they look the best, creating a setting and telling a story. There is definitely some serendipity on set and this is where the good things happen!

DOMO has so many different brands and versatile pieces that there are endless ways I can use the furniture in the houses I style. And every house is different to style so I can mix their brands and pieces to create new looks and inspiring settings rather than it all having the same look.

For more information about the selected pieces, visit a DOMO showroom in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Credits:

Architecture by MODO Architecture @modo_arch

Bea Lambos: Styling by Bea+Co @beaandcostyle

Photography by Derek Swalwell @derek_swalwell

Building by Dimpat @dimpat__