After falling in love with Western Australia, Stephen Taranto, principal of Taranto Design , has made the move across Australia to live in Perth. Taranto Design was based in Melbourne, styling both the exterior and interior of some of the grandest Eastern states homes. Now he is setting-up his business in Perth.
Taranto says, “It feels like I’ve shed my old skin. I’ve totally reinvented who I am. I want my work to reflect how inspired I’ve been by Perth’s people, climate and coastal lifestyle. I want to strive to create a new Western Australian-Style design vernacular, away from the California/Florida look which prevails”.
Trained 15 years ago by one of the Eastern State’s most notable designer, John Coote, Taranto spent his early years creating classical ‘Georgian’, ‘Georgian Colonial’ and 18th century French looks in Toorak, South Yarra and Brighton. Restoring famous landmark heritage buildings, such ‘Coonac’ in Toorak and ‘Poolman House’ in South Yarra, as well as creating some coastal retreats in Portsea, Sorrento and Lorne. Among the family homes Stephen worked on were those of Melbourne’s, Solomon and Rosie Lew, Peter and Maralyn Bartels, Brian and Helen Blythe (‘Coonac’), Ron and Andrea Evans, along with Melbourne socialite and arts doyenne, Lady Primrose Potter.
Taranto says, “Unless you have studied and worked in ‘Classical’ architecture and design, in no way can you have full and adequate knowledge and understanding of proportion and detail. Those skills prove equally useful in minimalist design when it come to removing the detail and retaining a pleasing proportion.”
Now he will bring his extensive knowledge of all the facets of architectural and interior design to Perth. Ever the perfectionist, he has an extremely keen eye for detail and likes to manage all aspects of a home’s design, from the street curb to the back fence and absolutely everything in between.
Taranto says, “Now I want to explore the architecture of Morocco, the Colonial Bahamas and especially 1950s and 1960’s post-modern architecture found in Southern California and Palm Springs, Nevada. The indoor/outdoor living philosophies they share are so suited to Western Australia.”
“Here lies an opportunity to design truly ‘21st century’ homes, without the constraints of that ‘Old Money’ look, so prevalent back ‘East. Taking advantage of the ecologically sustainable technologies, advanced electronics, solar-passive design philosophies and an ever growing list of new building and consumer products one can create a truly Western Australian design vernacular.”
“Last century we were so consumed with recreating the past over and over. It’s now time to create the future.”
