Circe Circle Residence
ARCHITECT + BUILDER Giorgi • FURNISHINGS + STYLING Sam Tatulli • PHOTOGRAPHY Jody D’Arcy • WORDS Elizabeth Clarke
Impeccably composed and drawing inspiration from mid-century design, Circe Circle home in Dalkeith is a comfy contemporary home for a family of five.
Completed last year by Giorgi Builders with furnishings and styling by Sam Tatulli, it sits on a leafy corner block near the Swan River. Its muted colour scheme offset by earthy tones and natural textures has an instantly soothing presence. Utterly luxurious, yet devoid of hard edges or showy opulence, it encapsulates insouciant spirit and is very much a cosy family abode.
“The clients wanted texture and mood throughout, and also for it to be practical for family life,” Sam tells Havenist. “It’s a beautiful balance of form and function.”
Spanning three generous light-filled levels, the home takes in four bedrooms and bathrooms, study, games room, open plan dining and living, and in the basement, a wine cellar, ‘man cave’, and garage. Outside, a vast swimming pool consumes the garden alongside a fully equipped outdoor entertaining area that includes kitchen, BBQ, lounge, and dining for ten.
“It’s a beautiful home that reflects its owners and their style,” says Sam. “Where we could, we kept suppliers local. It’s important to look after our own creatives.”
A designer for over 15 years, Sam specialises in mid-high end residential projects, and works extensively with local builders Giorgi Builders and Urbane Projects. “After studying at TAFE, I worked in commercial design and hospitality for eight years, but after exploring styling opportunities, I found my true love,” she recalls. Whilst styling photo shoots for Scoop magazine, Sam snagged the role of WA interior designer for Coco Republic where she dipped her toe into the world of high end residential. “It was an invaluable opportunity to learn the ropes,” she says. “It’s not just about designing a kitchen, but also its lighting plan, styling, and finishes. It’s a complete project from start to finish.” After Sam had her two children, she started her own business. “It was very small but quickly became out-of-control busy,” she laughs. “Currently I’m working on a few existing home refurbishments, interior design for several new builds, and a number of mid-high end residential projects. It’s busy, but that’s how I like it.”
Sam’s experienced eye and ineffable flair are evident throughout Circe Circle.
The main living area features layers of texture, shape, and form in shades of cream, coffee, khaki and grey. At one end of the room sits the kitchen, resplendent in a khaki two-pack finish with granite black bench top and marble-look splash back.
Nearby, a Jardan light feature hovers above a large porcelain-topped dining table from Cosh Living. “It’s an incredibly beautiful table and surprisingly durable for 3 young boys,” says Sam. “It’s also easy to clean, and stain and heat proof. The clients say it’s the best table they’ve ever owned.”
On nearly every surface, beautifully curated collections of books and objects from Loam and West Elm sit blissfully alongside ceramic vessels and pieces of pottery. “I’m definitely not into theming,” Sam says. “I like to discover what the clients love and then bring their personality into every space. It’s so important to explore textures, have fun with colours, and don’t be too caught up in making sure everything matches. Embracing punchy elements and finding a point of difference is key.”
In the master bedroom, rich autumnal tones play out in cosy knits against elegant linen drapes. A beautiful custom-made pendant light from New York provides jewellery to the space, and a dark green Jardan console adorned with an assortment of objects adds edge. “We colour matched the console to my favourite handbag,” Sam laughs. “It’s the best shade of green!”
In the boy’s rooms, Sam used calming hues, quiet tones, and natural textures, like linen and leather, to create soothing but functional spaces. “The focus is the Jardan beds,” she explains. “We added lots of stone-washed linens from Bedtonic. Practicality here was key, so robust materials were important.”