There are beautiful homes, and then there are homes that make you want to stay.
The kind where you find yourself slowly moving from room to room, noticing new details each time. A work of art you missed. An unexpected combination of colors. A chair that somehow looks like it belongs right where it is, even though you’ve never seen anything like it before.
Botanical House from MIM design is one of those houses.
Located opposite Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens in the leafy suburb of South Yarra, the project transforms a 1920s heritage residence into something deeply personal—a multi-layered, character-filled home inspired by travel, literature, collecting and entertaining. And while many modern renovations aim for restraint, the Botanical House takes a more interesting route. It is confident, expressive and unexpectedly rich in personality.
The result looks less like a carefully designed house and more like a story that unfolds chapter by chapter.
The study that makes working from home seem so enticing
Let’s start with the room that everyone will instantly save on Pinterest.
Wrapped in a saturated peacock blue, the study is dramatic in the best possible way. It’s moody without feeling dark, sophisticated without taking itself too seriously.
The custom lacquered desk almost reads as a piece of sculpture, while a striped chaise longue introduces a welcome dose of playfulness. Above the original fireplace, a large piece of contemporary art creates a striking focal point, proving once again that bold color often works best when allowed to fully engage.
It’s the kind of room that makes you want to write a novel — or at least answer your emails with a little more enthusiasm.
A living room inspired by Garden Beyond
One of the most striking things about Botanical House is how dramatically the atmosphere changes from room to room.
Stepping out of the cocoon-like study, you enter a living room that looks like the Royal Botanic Gardens have wandered indoors.
The walls are wrapped in a beautifully detailed botanical mural filled with lush foliage, exotic plants and birds, creating an immersive backdrop for the room’s deep green plush seating area. The result is romantic and slightly nostalgic, but not precious.
Large windows frame the surrounding landscape, while layers of texture—from fringes to brass finishes and stone surfaces—give the space warmth and depth.
It’s stylish, sure, but it’s also comfortable. Like the kind of room where guests stay way longer than they intended.
For more inspiration:
The award-winning bathroom that deserves every bit of the hype
Some award-winning interiors leave you wondering what the judges saw.
This bathroom is not one of them.
His winner Belle Fanuli Best Bathroom Award 2025the space is a masterclass in material confidence. Rose-veined stone covers floors, walls and custom cylindrical vanities, creating an immersive experience that feels almost like a gallery.
Black-framed mirror partitions introduce graphic contrast, while warm brass fixtures keep the palette from feeling too cool or formal.
What is particularly impressive is how sculpted everything is. Even the sinks look less like bathroom fixtures and more like carefully carved objects.
It’s bold, luxurious and utterly unforgettable.
A home that understands the power of color
Since the Botanic House was also a finalist for both Belle Fanuli 2025 Best Color Project Award and the Dulux Color Awards 2026perhaps not surprisingly, color plays a leading role throughout the work.
But this is not a house based on a single shade.
Instead, each room introduces its own personality. Deep peacock blues, dusty pinks, forest greens, warm neutrals and soft stone tones create a range of experiences that feel carefully choreographed rather than coordinated.
It’s a reminder that color doesn’t have to be used consistently to be cohesive. Sometimes the most interesting interiors are those that embrace contrast and allow each space to tell its own story.
Quiet luxury, minus the bugs
The kitchen and dining room take a more relaxed approach, allowing the beautiful materials to do the talking.
Extents of marble, soft neutral cabinetry, and abundant natural light create a sense of ease that balances some of the home’s more dramatic moments. The dining room, anchored by a substantial stone table and sculptural lighting, is sophisticated yet inviting—ready for both casual breakfasts and grand dinners.
Throughout the house, there is a sense that every design decision has been made with real life in mind. Nothing feels overly precious or pristine.
And that is increasingly rare.
The bedrooms feel like boutique hotels—but better
The private spaces continue the home’s narrative with a softer, more intimate mood.
In the master bedroom, plush textures, soft blush tones and beautifully designed details create an atmosphere that feels peaceful without becoming predictable. Curved pieces of furniture soften the architecture, while a chandelier adds just the right amount of glamour.
It’s luxurious, sure, but not in the ostentatious sense.
More the kind of luxury that comes from careful craftsmanship, beautiful materials and spaces designed to improve with age.
A home built around gathering
At its heart, Botanical House is a home designed for people.
The owners’ love of entertaining is woven throughout the project, from the generous living spaces to a private cellar and lounge inspired by the warmth and intimacy of an Italian wine bar. Rather than creating a series of rooms that all feel the same, MIM Design has given each one its own atmosphere and purpose.
Some invite conversation. Others encourage quiet reflection.
Together, they create a home that feels endlessly discoverable.
And maybe that’s what makes Botanical House so successful. It doesn’t reveal everything at once. Like any great novel, it rewards those willing to spend a little more time with it.
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