Perth Street
In Prahran, on a compact inner-suburban site, Perth Street is a contemporary family home defined by bold curved architecture and an easy connection between inside and out. Everything in it was chosen to be lived with rather than looked at, and nothing in it is superfluous.
Curved geometry drives the design. A sculptural staircase is crowned by a circular skylight, arched windows and curved glazing soften the envelope, and a curved feature window opens the kitchen and dining spaces to light and flow. Charcoal vertical battens and soft grey brickwork give the street frontage its weight, while inside, light surfaces are warmed by timber joinery.
Running consistently throughout is Alta from our Habitat collection. A decision that grounds the whole house and creates flow from space to space. It is the kind of detail you feel rather than notice.
A striking street frontage at Perth Street, where the attention to detail can be lost in the subtlety and soft grey brickwork.
The vision
The brief here was for a home that was warm, refined, effortlessly liveable, and quietly luxurious.
“We wanted a space with genuine soul, where quality and craftsmanship spoke quietly through the detail rather than shouting for attention.”
— Anthony Mancini, Mancini Made
The style follows from that intent — refined and contemporary, grounded in natural materials, with warm timbers, soft tones, and honest finishes chosen to age well.
“We’re drawn to interiors that let natural materials do the talking, where texture and tone create depth without the need for anything ostentatious.”
— Anthony Mancini, Mancini Made
The result is a home that reads as calm and considered rather than trend-driven.
The kitchen at Perth Street, where the stone island and timber joinery are complimented by Alta underfoot.
The details
The rule applied to every selection was that a material had to earn its place. Natural, honest finishes were favoured for how they feel to live with, not how they photograph, and nothing was chosen in isolation, each material was assessed inside the broader palette, balancing texture, tone, and warmth.
Flooring was treated as the exception that proves the rule.
“Quality matters most with flooring — it takes the most wear while setting the tone for every space above it. That’s why we chose Alta: the warmth and character we wanted, with the quality to last.”
— Paul Mancini, Mancini Made
That is the correct read. The floor is the largest continuous surface in the house, the hardest working, and the one every other finish has to sit against.
Styling the space
Styling was a collaboration. The client led furniture and artwork selection, and the design team ensured everything sat harmoniously inside the home they had built.
The logic is one of restraint creating room.
“When the architecture and materials are calm and cohesive, warm timber floors, honest finishes, a restrained palette. The furniture, artwork, and decor have room to breathe and make their statement.”
— Anthony Mancini, Mancini Made
That thinking extends outdoors, with a primary courtyard and pool connecting directly to the kitchen and living spaces.
The challenges
The site set the terms. A compact inner-suburban block had to accommodate curved structural elements, dual courtyards, and a pool, while meeting Special Building Overlay and flooding requirements.
The response was coordination rather than compromise. Design and construction sit under one roof at Mancini Made, with Home by MM as its in-house architecture studio.
“Because we manage design and construction under one roof, we tend to catch potential issues early, before they became surprises on site.”
— Paul Mancini, Mancini Made
The Architects Registration Board of Victoria notes that early collaboration between designers and those with trade intelligence is likely to deliver the best results from design-and-construct procurement — precisely the arrangement here, with the architect never contracted away.
Reliable suppliers were the other half of it.
“When you’re moving fast, you need suppliers who deliver on time and to standard — no chasing, no surprises.”
— Paul Mancini, Mancini Made
Lessons from the journey
The lesson from Perth Street is that the quietest design decisions carry the most weight.
“For us, the most powerful design elements are often the quietest ones. The creativity is in the restraint, knowing what to leave out is just as important as what to put in.”
— Anthony Mancini, Mancini Made
Their advice on flooring is worth reading twice.
“See and feel it in person. Photos never do timber justice; view samples in your own light and at scale where you can. Think about the whole home, not the floor in isolation. And choose for longevity over trends. Natural materials age beautifully, while trend-driven choices tend to date.”
— Anthony Mancini, Mancini Made
Working with Kustom Timber
Perth Street was a rewarding home to supply.
“From the moment we walked into the showroom, the process was easy. The team took the time to understand what we were trying to achieve and guided us to the right product for the project. Knowledgeable, genuine, and no pressure.”
— Paul Mancini, Mancini Made
The installation ran to programme, which on a project moving at this pace mattered as much as the product.
“The flooring went down beautifully and became one of the defining elements of the home. We’d happily work with them again, and we do.”
— Paul Mancini, Mancini Made
Planning your own build? A visit to our Melbourne and Mornington showrooms is the perfect place to begin.
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