Arcos Villa, Paddington QLD

Characterised by its defining arches and subtle Mediterranean tones, Arcos Villa sits proudly in the quiet suburb of Paddington, just a few kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD. The palatial five-bedroom, six-bathroom house, which also contains three living rooms, a swimming pool and space for eight cars is built on three levels. The spectacular renovation, a collaboration between Joe Adsett Architects and Graya Construction, is home to Robert Gray, Managing Director of Graya, and his wife Meghan Gray.

The couple bought the 1000 sqm block with the aim of turning an old Queenslander into a Mediterranean inspired luxury villa, while still maintaining an essence of its local character. The result is the owners’ ‘forever’ home, a space built for entertaining which can also accommodate the idea of family living.

Elegant archways, which are a hallmark of Mediterranean style, greet you at every angle from the exterior of Arcos, which means “arches” in Spanish. Entry is through a dramatic and softly-lit concrete arched tunnel, which leads to incredible free-flowing interior and exterior spaces basked in natural light. The same subtle tones, which characterise the exterior, exist throughout the residence, adding an immersive and homely feel to the luxurious and palatial structure.

“We wanted a home that felt like we were in an international hotel, a home away from home. We wanted to achieve a Spanish villa feel with an Aussie twist.”

Rob Gray, Graya

The living space, which includes both an elevated and sunken living room on either side of the kitchen, takes place around the open plan, sun-drenched courtyard. Framed by soft, polished concrete columns, it is as much a part of the home as the interior. “We wanted a space where we could easily entertain, a space that was connected to both the living area and outdoor entertaining area, yet comfortable for day-to-day use,” says Robert Gray. There are multiple elements to the zone, which could easily accommodate up to 200 people without feeling cramped, from a 12 seated dining room, to the sunken living room as well as a spa.

In designing the kitchen, the owners wanted to create a connected space that was suitable for multi-uses and which fitted seamlessly into the open plan layout of the home. Lux, yet minimal and user-friendly, the kitchen sits back quietly at the heart of the entertaining zone, making an unobtrusive statement while still continuing the story of the house through its subtle detail.

The polished concrete floor and base of the kitchen island are made from the same nude polished concrete that forms the columns and arched tunnel, while the soft edges of the kitchen island echo the incredible statement curved staircase which connects all three floors.

Light oak was selected for the kitchen’s cabinetry and island top, which complements the natural organic feel and soft tones which feature throughout the residence. “Seeing the whole house come together has been unlike any other home. As this is our forever home, we spent a lot of time initially planning the design so it’s great to see it all come together,” says Rob.

To marry the sleek and unobtrusive feel of the kitchen the owners selected Gaggenau 200 series ovens, following advice that the appliances would not only assist in creating a professional kitchen environment but enhance a streamlined design. “Gaggenau ovens were recommended to us as they are highly regarded for their performance,” says Rob. “Additionally, their seamless design enhanced the feel of the kitchen, they have a much more blended look rather than the focus being on the oven.”