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This French-style house references several architectural eras, from classical Roman through to the 1920s

View of this pool and patio features outdoor apartment, estate, hacienda, home, house, leisure, property, real estate, resort, swimming pool, villa, gray, brown — View of this pool and patio features outdoor furniture

Living room features furniture, chandelier & windows ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, wall, window, wood flooring, brown

First few steps of this traditional stairway - baluster, floor, flooring, handrail, home, house, interior design, room, stairs, wall, gray, orange

Overview of the entrance of this home - courtyard, estate, facade, home, house, landscaping, property, real estate, residential area, walkway, window, yard

View of the stunning gardens and features - backyard, courtyard, estate, garden, grass, hacienda, home, landscaping, mansion, outdoor structure, property, real estate, walkway, wall, yard, orange, brown

View of the hallway from this room features ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, hall, hardwood, home, interior design, lighting, living room, lobby, molding, property, real estate, room, wall, window, wood flooring, orange, gray

View of the traditional lounge - View of ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, wood flooring, gray, brown

View of the hallway moving into the living ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, wall, wood flooring, gray, brown

The outdoor dining area with kitchen and furniture dining room, estate, interior design, patio, property, real estate, table, window, brown, orange

Outdoor dining area which is situated by the apartment, courtyard, estate, home, house, interior design, outdoor structure, patio, property, real estate, resort, villa, window, brown, gray

Traditional kitchen features hanging lights, appliances, island & cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, estate, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, wood flooring, gray, brown

Living area features dining furniture, patio & accessories ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, window, wood flooring, gray, brown

In a stately suburb such as Melbourne's Toorak, a certain level of presence and grandeur is expected. For this house, architect Christopher Doyle wanted to match the elegant French style of the rest of the street without creating a property that would overwhelm the site.

He collaborated with homeowner and property developer Peter Johnston, who took on construction and interior design.

"The site is long and narrow, and we were restricted by a covenant to building only one level," says Johnston.

"Because of this, it was appropriate to create a residence that was in a traditional style, but pared back, with contemporary influences. The challenge was to make the most of the site and still create a space that felt open and grand."

Doyle introduced elements of both modern and classical Roman architecture. He enhanced Johnston's existing collection of French antiques by referencing an eclectic 1920s French look.

"Our aim was to bring together the benefits of many different styles," he says.

Living area with pool table and video projector billiard room, ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, interior design, lobby, real estate, recreation room, room, table, orange — Living area with pool table and video projector

"The open layout of a contemporary house creates a spacious feeling, but can give away too much. With this property we hoped to achieve a seamless transition from the smaller rooms to the open central living area. The courtyard creates a vital link between these two ideas, juggling all the main living spaces and creating a sense of openness.

"We were able to maximise the space and create a house that is both understated and grand. To me, this represents the ideal of architecture," says the architect.