Greg Natale is a maestro of layering, known for his bold use of pattern and colour, and his meticulously curated maximalist aesthetic. But being "a Modernist at heart", as he admits in his latest book, The Layered Interior, Greg relished bringing his layering prowess to a more minimalist canvas with this project.
His friend of nearly 30 years, Michelle, already had a few firm ideas for the Sydney waterfront house she and husband Zack envisaged for themselves and their three children.
Mid-century inspiration, for one, which would dictate many of the furniture choices. Then there were the literal building blocks of concrete and black brick, which would set the scene for a robust mix of materials. They also wanted timber incorporated into the design, and Greg suggested rosewood. "It has such a richness of tone, and transitions really well from indoors to outdoors," he says.
The final element that would define the mood of the house was patterned tiles. "Michelle loved my Corsica cement tiles and wanted them to feature on outdoor spaces of the house," says Greg. "At that moment, my vision for the place crystallised."
For Greg, who refined the architecture as well as taking on the interior design of this build, the patterned tiles and the promise of strong materiality called to mind the Brazilian Brutalist style of modernist architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. "I love the stark beauty of his designs and his bold use of raw materials," he says. "I felt these would work well in our subtropical environment.
The three-storey, five-bedroom house sits comfortably among the greenery in the southern Sydney suburb of Kyle Bay and overlooks the Georges River. Its inverted floor plan suits its cliffside setting, with bedrooms on the top floor, kitchen, dining and living areas on the second floor and a generous bar area on the lowest floor leading out to an expansive pool deck.
Concrete assumes a decorative and structural role. Off-form slabs create an appealing grid effect on the house's exterior and continue inside, where the tie holes, filled with brass, seem to draw their warmth from the American walnut floors.
Above an internal bridge connecting the bedrooms, a ceiling of formed concrete beams creates a striking woven look. Beneath this, Greg's Art Deco-style rug presents an unexpected yet energetic mix of colours. "The clashing colours were another of Michelle's influences," he explains. So was the introduction of blush pink, which brings a counterbalancing softness to the concrete.
Pink appears on several internal walls, as well as in sheer curtains by the bridge and in other locations such as the sunken living area. Here, more plays on colour and concrete take place, with a ceiling of formed beams laid in a diamond pattern that was conceived by Michelle and Zack, and reflected in the Natale-designed rug below.
"This room encapsulates the spirit of the house - Brazilian modernism through an Australian lens," says Greg. A forest green Minotti sectional sofa and a colourful artwork add their hues, with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing water views.
The richness of rosewood is evident in the ceiling panels between the beams, and it comes into its own in the kitchen joinery opposite, on Cubist-style cabinets and the kitchen island veneer, in a hand-cut, mid-century-style starburst pattern. "Michelle was resolute when it came to getting the kitchen she wanted," says Greg. "After six drawings, Zack presented her with a design for the space that satisfied her strong vision."
Green leather stools echo the tones of the living-area sofa, and green features in the marble-top custom table of the adjacent dining area. Surrounded by Saarinen dining chairs in burgundy leather, it's another moment of bold colour and strong materiality.
The kitchen and dining share polished concrete floors and white V-groove timber ceilings, while black granite benchtops and a burgundy-veined marble splashback add further interest. "That mix of materials was another surprise element Michelle wanted," says Greg. "We extended it to the bathrooms - each has its own elements, but the spaces are linked by a typography of design."
Marble benchtops, black tapware and floors of marble or ceramic tiles all feature, with concrete, black brick and timber appearing on different surfaces. Most bathrooms have a terrazzo basin, while colour choices in the ensuites reflect the palette of their respective bedrooms, from pink to mint to teal.
That last shade is another softening element introduced to offset harder finishes. In a French wash on the ceilings of the main bedroom and ensuite, it acts as a delicate linking device, while on a painted wall of joinery in the children's study, it makes for a lively pairing with citrus-toned furniture. On the lowest floor, a large round Milo Baughman sofa in teal velvet plays centrepiece to a bar area that brings together all the materials of the house.
"What allows these elements to work together is the strong, simple modernist design," explains Greg. "A maximalist aesthetic against minimalist lines - that juxtaposition is at the heart of what I do. I have Michelle to thank for reminding me."
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