< PreviousIn the kitchen, the moody palet e gets a lif with warm, book- matched marble and rust velvet Verner Panton stools. Opposite page: Throughout the house, arches create a seamless flow between spaces, with a black-and-white floor uniting them. AD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 10804/10/2022 10:39:37 PMThe designer's Italian roots – Natale’s parents migrated to Australia in the 1950s – mean that he has a pre-disposition for fl amboyance, be that in his personal style (think Versace suits with enough gold safety pins to shame Elizabeth Hurley) or his view on how we should live at home (surrounded by rich colours, patterns, and all man- ner of statement objects). This confi dent visual signature has helped him in building a global name. His latest project, a three-storey, fi ve-bedroom family home on the banks of the Brisbane River in Queensland is a modern interpretation of regal Italian homes, but with a vibrant Natale twist. “Italians have a thing for arches,” he says about the soaring features that, like his parents’ house in Sydney, defi ne the architecture of this home. “The own- ers have personal ties to Florence where they run an art school. When I saw the house, I was instantly drawn to the 109 The world is falling out of love with minimal homes and that suits Greg Natale just fi ne. idea of creating a contemporary palazzo that celebrated their passion for all things Italian.” As a result, arches that line the external façade of the house carry into the interior, creating an impeccably layered sequence of spaces that fl ow from one to the next, off ering beautifully framed glimpses of what lies beyond. Honouring the client’s request for dark, moody spaces, Natale anointed the traversing arcs, vaulted ceilings and walls with a grey stucco – sometimes velvety, at others pol- ished to shine like silver – and complemented them with smooth slabs of Nero Marquina marble or a checkered fl ooring design. Creating this monochrome envelope allowed him the freedom to play with the individual spaces and give each its own character. “I have never shied away from drama in my interiors,” he says. “The trick lies in knowing how to layer, what to layer and when to stop.” Throughout the house, a play of opposites – of warm and cool colours, of hard and soft tex- tures, of glossy and matte fi nishes – creates a sophisticated and rich palette that draws you in. From the central staircase where marble and brass details heighten its sense of grandeur, to the dining room AD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 10904/10/2022 10:39:44 PM120 AD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 11004/10/2022 10:39:55 PMGolden and terracot a hues continue into the formal living room with marble in myriad nishes and brass-lined shelves lending another layer of re nement. Light bouncing of the lacquered ceiling creates an alluring atmosphere. 111 AD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 11104/10/2022 10:40:03 PMA dramatic Gucci wallpaper brightens up the main bedroom, where an arched bedhead and gold accents continue the ar -deco inspired theme. Opposite page: Brass clad arches lead to the make-up room right of the principal suite, smar ly framing the black marble bathtub. ’’The trick lies in knowning how to layer, what to layer, and when to stop’’ swathed in an metallic, art-deco-inspired de Gournay wallcovering and brick red velvet chairs that echo the warmth of the terracotta stuccoed ceiling above, there is a joyful mix of vintage and contemporary design. Black fl ut- ed timber panels run up the walls and across the ceiling, creating a dramatic play of light and shade, within which a vibrant palette of mustard yellow velvet, red and white marble accents, and geometric rugs add layers of interest. On the upper fl oors, the theme continues into the bed- rooms, albeit in it a lighter, more playful manner. A mint green Gucci heron wallpaper sets the scene in the princi- pal bedroom, where a rust velvet bed holds court. In other rooms, Fornasetti’s nature-inspired wallcoverings are paired with an array of fi nishes – velvet, wicker, linen, ter- razzo and fl uted marble – bringing unbridled glamour. “I fi nd working in threes – three colours, three materi- als, three styles, out of which one really stands out and the other two work around it – to be fool proof way of adding oomph to any space,” he says of how everyone can be a bit more adventurous at home. “I think it will bring more joy to people… and confi dence.” gregnatale.com 112 AD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 11204/10/2022 10:40:10 PMAD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 11304/10/2022 10:40:19 PMIn the pool room, a range of materials and nishes – cane, velvet, linen stone and brass – are united by a vintage Moroccan rug and a bold, nature-inspired wallcovering. Natale has mixed-and- matched furniture from GamFratesi with his own creations for a layered look. 114 AD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 11404/10/2022 10:40:25 PMAD_047_106-115_Arena_Brisbane_12607298.indd 11504/10/2022 10:40:32 PMIranian American designer Gabriel Hendifar’s New York home is an ode to imagined histories FUTURE NOSTALGIA Words and photography Mark C. O’Flaher y 116 AD_047_116-123_Arena_New York_12609590.indd 11604/10/2022 10:42:22 PMThe dining room has parti ion walls clad in rich red velve and a bronze-mirrored wall. The able, sea ing and ligh ing pendan s are by Appara us. The Chinese bronze vase on he pedes al is from Naga An iques and he pain ing behind he banque te is by Larry Collins. AD_047_116-123_Arena_New York_12609590.indd 11704/10/2022 10:42:32 PMNext >