Inside Melbourne’s most exclusive apartment, The Muse

Flavours of Manhattan will transform the rigid and masculine skyline of one of Australia’s most iconic stretches of road with an exclusive building oozing femininity and charm.

Deemed as being the most expensive apartment complex in Melbourne, The Muse embodies opulence with fine attention to detail, from the delicate silk carpets through to the double-height ceilings, and facial recognition and fingerprint scanners.

Bruce Henderson Interiors Director of Interiors, Charlotte Henderson, told The CEO Magazine she was inspired to bring the outdoors inside and "question everything" while creating the decadent destination.

"We’ve taken everything one step further. It will be the most expensive, most exclusive apartment in Melbourne," Henderson says.

"The interior concept references external elements and we bring in those externals, like natural stones, and it authentically refers back to the landscape" – Charlotte Henderson

"We built in a lot of curves and circles to be an opposite design of the buildings directly along St Kilda Road which are very square, harsh and masculine.

"We wanted to be soft and elegant. The architecture reflects a female figure with curves and the pleating of the glass in the façade outside looks like a veil."

Injecting a level of sophistication reflecting the Upper East Side of Manhattan, 42 large homes (ranging from 219 square metres plus a 21-square-metre balcony) will infuse the building with Italian, Brazilian and Turkish stone, hand-stitched leather lining, leather jewellery boxes in the robes, a concierge mail service and French oak herringbone parquetry.

 

"Our phrase going into the design was question everything – the materials, designs – and push the limits to a point which hasn’t been seen before to create an iconic building for Melbourne," Henderson says.

"We focused our attention on the highest quality finishes, natural stones and timbers, and designed it in a way that is highly detailed and personalised. There are a lot of hidden details."

The designer’s main focus was the kitchen because it is the heart of the home. A marble stone benchtop with textural elements, pieced together with 109 separate pieces, forms the bespoke island bench, while the dishwasher in the butler’s pantry is elevated to allow for easy access.

Natural stone found from far-flung parts of the world features heavily throughout the residencies, including the ensuite basin carved from a single, solid piece of marble. Many of the natural materials are unique and are not found elsewhere in the country.

The subzero wine fridge is perfected with marble fronting, which mirrors the use of stone throughout the complex, making it one of a kind in Australia.

"We’ve taken everything one step further. It will be the most expensive, most exclusive apartment in Melbourne," – Henderson

"We started from scratch, trained our minds to think big for the level of finish," Henderson told The CEO Magazine . "I was walking through the botanical gardens one day and was thinking about how unique Melbourne is. There is such a rich colour palette of the four seasons, highlighting the natural elements in the overall space."

"The interior concept references external elements and we bring in those externals, like natural stones, and it authentically refers back to the landscape."

The grand building released by Devitt Property Group boasts 42 spectacular residences, starting from three bedrooms, over 15 levels with sweeping views in a building that would usually house 200 apartments.

"It just shows you the scale and level of luxe. We’re maximising the space. Our buyers want something bigger and fresher," Henderson says.

"The Penthouse is the most expensive apartment. It’s over two floors, has sensational views that will never be built out – it’s a remarkable space and it’s really exciting."

The interior designer says every aspect of the building meets a level of indulgence through the luxurious elements used throughout, from the A$11,000 Japanese toilet with a gold-plated remote to the way the sheer, off-white curtains puddle on the floor.

"I’ve been asked a lot during this project what luxury means to me. Luxe for the generations of my parents is expressed with material items like cars and suits," Henderson says. "But for me, it’s how you feel in a space – how to keep attention to detail a subtle balance of aesthetics and it not be in your face."

Two 6-star hotel style lobbies welcome residents and guests to the lavish building with an art gallery space, cool room for grocery drop-offs, spa area including a rain shower and children’s pool, 20-metre lap pool, library spaces, coffee stations, meeting room and personal postal service where the concierge hand-delivers parcels to the residents’ apartment door mailbox.

The developers bought the land 16 years ago and were waiting for the right time to establish an indulgent apartment block complete with Paul Bangay designed gardens framing the exterior and a spacious garage (fit for three cars per residence) only accessible through number plate recognition.

"We’ve been wanting to design a building that ticks many boxes and not just have a level of luxury but include elements of other designs which could be done better," Henderson says.

All residencies, starting at A$3.2 million, can be customised by any design studio and most will have north-facing living with protected views of the Shrine of Remembrance and Royal Botanical Gardens to the city from level three.

The detailed design takes you on a dramatic and theatrical journey through The Muse, which will be finished by 2021, with timber double doors welcoming you to each apartment, and aesthetic drop ceilings creating a breathtaking atmosphere.

"It’s a very tailored building, feminine with an emphasis on texture, layering, timeless beauty and something to be appreciated by many generations," Henderson says.

The Muse’s top 8 luxe building accessories

1. Toto toilet

   Deemed the most luxurious toilet in the world, the A$11,000 Japanese-made bathroom feature stuns with a striking gold-plate remote, self-cleaning structures, automatic toilet lid and UV light inside to decompose bacteria, as well as front and rear washing jets and heated seats.

2. Marble island bench

   Made from rare Italian stone, the puzzle-piece island bench has been created with 109 separate pieces all linked together to form the unique kitchen feature.

3. Hand-stitched leather detail

   With immaculate attention to detail, the drawers throughout each apartment are customised with hand-stitched leather lining to suit different purposes.

4. Marble wine cellar

   Touted as being the only one of its kind in Australia, the marble-fronted wine cellar drawer is the epitome of luxurious living which is bound to be a breathtaking statement.

5. Heightened technology

   Facial and fingerprint scanners are fitted throughout the residency to deliver exceptional security, while a spacious garage made to fit three generous-sized cars per apartment is only accessible through number plate recognition.

6. Silk carpets

   Every detail of the stunning design has been considered right down to the silk carpets which run through the apartment, creating a divine underfoot sensation.

7. Mail service

   Golden service flows through the complex with a personalised postal service where the concierge hand delivers parcels to each residences’ mailbox at the apartment door.

8. Robes

   Spacious walk-in-robes are customised with the finest details including specially crafted trouser racks, solid timber hanging rails, and a leather jewellery box to complete the suede-lined dressing unit, not to mention the sheer off-white curtains which puddle on the floor.