MAISON NOIRE
Interior Design & Decoration
Location: West Leederville, Western Australia
Interior Design: Nickolas Gurtler
Architecture: Robeson Architects
Builder: Assemble
Media: The Local Project
Awards: Shortlisted - Australian Interior Design Awards 2025, Shortlisted - IDEA Awards 2025
Maison Noire, built in 1903, is a workers cottage in inner-city Perth that masterfully blends heritage with modernity. The design embodies sleek, moody elegance, tailored for its sophisticated gentleman owner. The house is an exploration of the interplay of how darkness is balanced by harnessing the power of light.
The brief from the home’s new owner—a young doctor and bachelor—was to create a sophisticated, “sexy” residence that balanced contemporary expression with a deep reverence for its heritage.
At the front, the restored 1903 workers cottage gives way to a striking new addition, designed in collaboration with Robeson Architects. This expansion introduces a primary “hotel suite,” above a refined kitchen and living space.
Aptly named Maison Noire, the home is wrapped in black texture, exploring the interplay of darkness and light. Each space is a study in contrast, where black is layered in varied shades, mediums, and forms. Rich textures and precise lighting—both natural and artificial—are meticulously orchestrated to balance the depth of darkness, whether through strategic architecture or sculptural luminaires.
This is most evident on the expansive ground floor, where black oak cabinetry, inset with black chrome finger-pull details, is paired with dramatically veined titanium granite—its leathered finish adding depth and tactility. Here, darkness is layered with intent, creating a space that is both bold and refined.