ADR chats to Charlotte Henderson, interior design director at Bruce Henderson Architects about why her latest project, The Muse, has taught her to “question everything I know about design”.

Charlotte Henderson has a fine eye for detail. With over 10 years of industry experience, she has worked on a plethora of commercial and residential projects such as the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club, The Maitland, Lume Residences, Turner Residences and private residences at Sorrento and Flinders.

But it’s her latest project, The Muse, located on Melbourne’s St Kilda Road that has been something of a light-bulb moment. Envisioned as the ultimate in luxury living, the 15-level residential development will comprise of 42 large residences with two amenity levels, which include a 20-metre lap pool, a separate relaxation pool, spa, and a large gymnasium.

“What The Muse has taught me is to question everything I know about design,” says Henderson. “When developing a concept for a project, I question the varying components; who the future purchaser will be, what needs and desires they might have and what the market is demanding.”

All residences contain a minimum of three bedrooms and range from 219 square metres, plus 21 square metres of balcony, to more than 1,001 square metres, plus 190 square metres of outdoor terrace, with ceiling heights of three metres in living areas.

“A huge design influence for The Muse was the surrounding physical elements of the site – the textures, tones, colours and richness of the natural and man-made landscape. Our modern day lives have become so busy that it’s about simplifying and creating a space or sanctuary from the outside world; a place which makes people feel good and they enjoy being in.”

Interior highlights planned for The Muse include a curved 4.2-metre kitchen island wrapped with veined marble, curved vanities and interior walls, $11,000 toilets by innovative Japanese maker Toto, limestone marble flooring, French oak herringbone parquetry and hand-stitched leather finishes for the walk-in robes.