Luxury stays for your next
stylish escape PAGE 26
Home bar design with mixologists
Michael and Zara Madrusan PAGE 12
04.
A material meditation by A for Architecture
12.
Home bar design with mixologists Michael and Zara Madrusan
18.
Slow, beautiful things with Corey Ashford
24.
Creating the future of First Nations Art
26.
Luxury stays for your next stylish escape
Contents
In our autumn edition of InFocus, we go behind the design
of a stunning bayside home by A for Architecture. With the
resurgence of the home bar, we sat down with renowned
mixologists Michael and Zara Madrusan to uncover their
secrets for crafting the ultimate cocktail corner at home.
We also celebrate the cultural landscape with an inside
look at the artists behind FUTURE COUNTRY, through the
Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions. Whether
you’re seeking your dream home or fresh inspiration,
Jellis Craig is your connection to something greater.
Perry House sits quietly within the coveted locale of Brighton East, where
Melbourne's bayside families seek the balance between coastal ease and urban
proximity. A for Architecture has designed a home that offers something enduring:
clarity, calm, and connection. We sat down with the home’s current occupant
Alex and architect Anna Rozen to explore what makes this house a masterclass in
contemporary residential design.
A material meditation
by A for Architecture
BEHIND THE DESIGN
4 | InFocus Autumn
BEHIND THE DESIGN
BEHIND THE DESIGN
A collaborative vision
For Alex and his family, the vision was clear from the outset. They
sought a calm, highly liveable family home that felt connected to
nature without being overdesigned. "We wanted strong spatial
clarity, natural light, and a sense of retreat from the street," Alex
explains. What began as a fairly conventional brief transformed
through collaboration. "A for Architecture challenged us to
think more deliberately about how we move through the house
and how spaces relate to one another," he says. The result is a
refined design where spaces feel both separate and connected.
We wanted strong
spatial clarity, natural
light, and a sense of
retreat from the street.
6 | InFocus Autumn
BEHIND THE DESIGN
Seamless connection
Central to Perry House is its relationship with the outdoors. The
outdoor space is not an extension, it's the core around which the
entire home revolves. The seamlessness between inside and
outside comes down to alignment and restraint, consistent floor
levels, large openings, and continuous materials. "When the
doors are open, the outside genuinely feels like another room
rather than an 'outdoor area.' Day-to-day it's where we gravitate
naturally: morning coffee, kids doing homework, casual meals,"
says Alex. This adaptability extends through the seasons too,
remaining shaded and cool in summer, then sun-filled and
protected in winter.
Anna Rozen, the architect behind the design, speaks to the
home's dual nature. Following her client’s brief and lifestyle
rhythms, this is a residence designed for a family who loves
to host, where entertaining flows seamlessly from inside to
outside, and day to night. The pool and garden anchor all the
living spaces, with large glass sliding doors that can be fully
opened to completely blur the boundary between realms. Yet
the pool serves as more than entertainment. " The pool gives a
sense of zen to the home, the way the movement of the water
and the light reflects off its surface," Anna explains.
InFocus Autumn | 7
BEHIND THE DESIGN
8 | InFocus Autumn
Material Restraint
The material palette is a signature of Perry House and it’s here
minimalism meets warmth. Anna's selections were deliberate
and restrained. "We used an exposed brick that has a soft tone
and a long, thin proportion, and paired this with natural travertine
stone and warm timber throughout, and all three materials flow
seamlessly from outside surfaces to interior, enhancing the
connection with the garden," she explains.
The facade demonstrates A for Architecture's commitment to
craft. “Through extensive experimentation, several different
brick patterning techniques were selected to give individual
identity to the key built forms that generate the arrangement of
the house,” Anna explains.
Moments of charred timber carefully placed in joinery and
concealed storage, provide visual weight and contrast,
grounding the home's otherwise bright, natural material palette.
Spotted Gum and Italian travertine in the kitchens and bathrooms
were non-negotiable for Alex, contributing to a palette where
nothing feels excessive, yet everything feels intentional.
When we asked Alex what his family's favourite unique or
custom features in the home were, the custom joinery was a
standout. "The way it conceals storage while framing views and
anchoring rooms feels very considered. We're also proud of how
the material palette was resolved; nothing feels excessive, but
everything feels intentional."
The way it conceals storage while
framing views and anchoring rooms
feels very considered. We're also
proud of how the material palette was
resolved; nothing feels excessive, but
everything feels intentional.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
InFocus Autumn | 9
"The beauty of having these three distinct zones wrapping
around the pool is that the house can shift easily between
modes," Anna explains. "It can be fully opened up for entertaining,
or closed down into smaller, quieter spaces for more private
moments of retreat for the family." For Alex, that main living space
overlooking the outdoor room stands out. "It manages to feel
open and expansive while still being grounded and comfortable.
It's where the house reveals itself the most—light, landscape,
and architecture all working together without competing."
Three zones, one vision
Light, perhaps more than any other element, defines the
character of Perry House. Anna was intentional in creating three
distinct living spaces, each with its own relationship to the
garden and to light. In the heart of the home, the kitchen and
dining space is open and bright, with direct sightlines across the
pool. The main family room tucked away at the back, functions
as a calm sanctuary with sliding doors opening to outdoor
entertaining areas and a skylight brings soft light down the
textured walls. A third, sunken living space at the front offers
even more privacy, creating a retreat-like atmosphere removed
from the busier parts of the home.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
10 | InFocus Autumn
Living the design
When asked about his favourite time in the house, Alex describes
late afternoon when, “the light softens, the outdoors becomes
animated, and the house feels calm but alive. It's the moment
where the design really shows its restraint - nothing flashy, just
beautifully resolved spaces supporting everyday life."
For those seeking a home of architectural integrity and everyday
liveability in one of Melbourne's most sought-after pockets,
Perry House represents an opportunity to step into a vision
already realised.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
When the doors are open, the outside
genuinely feels like another room
rather than an 'outdoor area.'
Day-to-day it's where we gravitate
naturally: morning coffee, kids doing
homework, casual meals,
Architecture A for Architecture – Owner Builder – Photography by Timothy Kaye .
8 Perry Street, Brighton East is on the market with Jellis Craig Bayside. Contact
Nick Renna for more information.
InFocus Autumn | 11
TRENDING NOW
The built-in home bar is having a
serious moment. At Jellis Craig, we're
seeing
high-end
properties
with
beautifully considered bar spaces
designed for entertaining, tucked
seamlessly into kitchens, living and
dining areas.
To find out how to bring world class cocktail making at home,
we caught up with Michael and Zara Madrusan. The pair are the
founders behind some of Melbourne's most beloved cocktail
destinations – The Everleigh, Bar Margaux, and Heartbreaker
Bar – as well as Bartender's Choice Consultancy, which has
shaped the bar programs at the Ritz Carlton Melbourne and
LB's Record Bar. Now, through their new book The Madrusan
Cocktail Companion, they're bringing their expertise from the
bar to the home. Here, they share their advice on creating your
own elevated bar experience at home in your own residence.
Home bar design
with mixologists Michael
and Zara Madrusan
12 | InFocus Autumn
TRENDING NOW
InFocus Autumn | 13
1. Designing your space
Home bars can become a moment of unexpected delight in
contemporary interiors, transforming underutilised spaces into
design statements. Niches, walk-in pantries, or custom joinery
can all be reimagined as intimate cocktail making corners.
The Madrusans keep it simple. "Don't over clutter your space.
Aesthetic trinkets demonstrate your style, but don't let them get
in the way of functionality," they say. “The goal is a space that
feels both beautiful and effortless to entertain in.”
At 58 Christmas Street, Northcote, a concealed home bar is
seamlessly hidden within kitchen cabinetry. The doors open
fully to reveal an illuminated entertaining centrepiece, delivering
discreet everyday functionality and dramatic impact for when
guests arrive.
Think of your home bar as a jewel box moment: a space where
you can embrace vibrant colours, dramatic wallpaper, or eye-
catching splashback that you might hesitate to use elsewhere.
At 28 Mayfield Avenue, Malvern, designed by Flack Studio, this
idea is taken to stunning effect. A full gold-leaf finish wraps the
intimate space in warmth and richness, while floor-to-ceiling
mirror and glass shelves create depth and light.
58 Christmas Street,
Northcote
28 Mayfield Avenue,
Malvern
TRENDING NOW
For those without built-in options, a bar cart
offers a flexible alternative. At 118 Canterbury
Road, Middle Park, a simple yet elegant bar
trolley displays a curated selection of spirits
and glassware, anchored by a gallery wall full of
personality.
14 | InFocus Autumn
TRENDING NOW
2. Setting the mood
Lighting transforms a functional bar into an inviting retreat. "Soft
warm lights help people relax. Avoid spotlights and opt for lamps
and candles," the pair advise. Decorative pendants or built-in
cabinet lighting can highlight your glassware and bottles while
maintaining a moody atmosphere.
At 114 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, warm timber cabinetry
conceals a sophisticated home bar that becomes a glowing focal
point when revealed. A built-in wine fridge and generous storage
completes the symmetrical design.
Display matters too. "Show off some of your favourite bottles, or
products you intend to pour on the night, to give guests a flavour
of what to expect. Some fresh cut garnishes or fruit are always
a visual delight."
114 Victoria Avenue,
Albert Park
InFocus Autumn | 15
TRENDING NOW
3. The essentials
Building your first proper home bar doesn't require breaking the
bank. The Madrusans recommend starting with quality weighted
shakers, a mixing glass, a stirring spoon, graduated jiggers, and
cocktail strainers. "There's no need to buy into all the fancy
tools, unless that's your preference. One of our most used tools
behind the bar is a plastic chopstick," they reveal. "Basic tools for
handling ice include a fork-tipped bar spoon and a three-tonged
ice pick. For lovers of the Whiskey Sour and her associates, don't
look past the wired egg separator for dividing the whites from
their yolks."
Beyond that, it's about getting your glasses right. "A coupette
or cocktail glass is essential for your citrus drinks – shaken and
served up – Champagne cocktails, Martinis and Manhattans,"
they say. "A nice heavy set of quality rocks glasses will house
your Negronis and Old Fashioneds, and a Highball or Collins glass
can be used for mixed drinks and long refreshers like the Tom
Collins and relatives. We love Riedel glassware, and the iconic
whisky glass from Denver & Liely.”
Curated by Interior Decorator Simone Haag, Red Crest House
features textured whisky glasses and cocktail coupes from
Maison Balzac. The miss matched pairing adds functional
personality within this built-in bar.
4. Creating atmosphere
Beyond the physical space, the Madrusans emphasise the
importance of presence. "Don't underestimate how important it
is to be present when your guests arrive," they say, “Get them
settled in with a drink in hand before you return to the kitchen.”
Ultimately, the energy of a great bar translates beautifully to
home settings when approached with intention. "The core
principles of hospitality remain, whether you're entertaining in a
venue or at home, and that's knowing how to take care of people,"
the Madrusans explain. Whether you're investing in built-in
cabinetry or starting with a simple bar cart, it's this commitment
to the details that transforms a home bar from a design feature
into a genuine entertaining asset.
Red Crest House
16 | InFocus Autumn
2026 DESIGN PREDICTIONS
Army & Navy
THE FINE ART OF MIXING DRINKS, DAVID A. EMBURY, 1948
60ml gin
22ml lemon juice
22ml orgeat syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
A wonderful recipe for welcoming guests in the
cooler months is the Army & Navy, vibrant and citrusy
with a warm almond spice.
Add all ingredients to a shaker, shake with ice and
strain into a frozen coupe. No garnish required:
just vibrant citrus with warm almond spice.
MEET THE MAKER
MEET THE MAKER
Tide Caviar Spoons
Olive Cocktail Pick
Slow, beautiful things
with Corey Ashford
Since launching his namesake studio in 2016, Melbourne-based
designer and maker Corey Ashford has been quietly elevating
the everyday. Drawing on his background of a decade in luxury
retail, Corey creates pieces that blur the line between functional
object and sculptural art.
Today, his pieces are found at some of Australia's most respected
design destinations, from Dinosaur Designs to the National
Gallery of Victoria, and have been featured in Vogue, Broadsheet,
and Gourmet Traveller. We caught up with Corey to talk about
building a design practice, the balance between beauty and
function, and why every day deserves a little luxury.
MEET THE MAKER
InFocus Autumn | 19
Your pieces are described as designed for "slow, luxurious
living". Where did this philosophy come from, and why was it
important to centre your studio around it?
I think it's become less of a philosophy and more of a filter. As life
continues to move faster, I'm increasingly drawn to rituals that
slow us down and help us feel grounded, even in the simplest
everyday tasks. Luxury, to me, is time, calm and presence. If one
of my pieces can bring a moment of pause to someone's day,
that's the goal.
Cast from real oyster shell, your brass incense holders are
distinctive. Tell us about developing that technique.
I wanted the Oyster Incense Holder to feel timeless, as if it had
always existed. It's inspired by natural history and the idea of old,
well-loved cast objects. Finding the right shell took time, and I
lived with the drilled shell day-to-day before sand-casting the
piece in various metals. I settled on brass because it patinas with
time and use, becoming unique to its owner. It can always be
polished back to a mirror finish, but I prefer it left natural.
Luxury to me
is time, calm
and presence.
20 | InFocus Autumn
Incense
Scallop Incense Holder
Canelé Holder
Atlas Incense Dish
Oyster Incense Holder