Set in the gently undulating landscape of Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Chandon’s newly reimagined Homestead is a space that invites guests to slow down, settle in and savour the moment. Designed by Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design, the project is a study in layered warmth – an elegant reflection of terroir, legacy and local creativity; a beautifully articulated expression of Chandon’s winemaking legacy and deep Australian roots.

A designed dialogue with place

The arrival at Chandon Estate is a picture postcard experience. The long, gently curved driveway, lined with deciduous trees in all their glorious autumnal colour, leads to the car park, with the familiar solidity of the Homestead lying just beyond. From the moment you inhale the Yarra Valley air, there is an instant feeling of relaxation and a sense that this is exactly where you’re meant to be. 

Nature has this effect on us – especially those of us who, through necessity, spend our days deeply entrenched in the thrumming of cities – but it is also the Homestead itself that generates a sense of grounding. With its steeply pitched roof and return verandah wrapping around the perimeter of its sturdy limestone walls, the building seems to be saying, ‘Welcome home’.

Originally a farmhouse on what was once a dairy estate, the Homestead has long stood sentinel at the entrance to Chandon’s winery. Over the years, it has been used as a reception hub, offices and a boardroom. Yet, it was never formally designed as a hospitality space. Its new incarnation, however, is unmistakably part of the brand’s story.

As Mat Janes, consumer and business development director APAC, explains, the Homestead marks a new chapter in Chandon’s hospitality offering: “We wanted to create something elevated, something luxurious, but not in the traditional sense. A space that feels like home – but that tells our story in a way that’s quietly compelling.”

To achieve this, Janes and the Chandon team turned to Melanie Beynon. An award-winning interior designer and architect based in Melbourne, Beynon is known for her thoughtful and considered approach that renders each design a timeless expression of place laced with moments of whimsy.

“Our vision embraced site context by drawing inspiration from the layered surrounding landscape, tones and textures,” Beynon says. “We implemented the program requirements within a warm residential atmosphere that permeates the hospitality and corporate events that bring visitors to the Homestead.” It’s a subtle but deeply sensory experience – defined by tactility, light, scent and material honesty.

The guiding motto, ‘Hosting with Heart’, informed every design decision – from the selection of local designers, makers and artist collaborators to the rough handmade clay pot plants. “We wanted to celebrate history, terroir, craftsmanship and storytelling – but in a way that also felt fresh, contemporary and welcoming,” Beynon says.

The colour palette draws directly from the Yarra Valley soil – red volcanic clay, sandy loam, sun-washed stone – and the delicate blush of sparkling rosé. Floors have been restored, walls softened with limewash and ceilings refined with light-reflective finishes. Soft furnishings in natural tones and earthy textures create a sense of depth without overwhelming the original architecture. Even the mirrors – rose-tinted and layered – echo the Chandon aesthetic while playfully reflecting the site’s heritage. In the main private dining area, artfully designed mirrors pull double-duty, concealing a small serving window that allows for a seamless, uninterrupted and slightly theatrical dining experience. 

To further enhance the atmosphere of warmth and familiarity, Beynon and her team leveraged the subtle power of lighting. “Ambience is integral to the success of a hospitality venue. We used a layered approach: wall uplights and spots to highlight artwork and products, indirect lighting to supplement natural light, and many decorative fixtures from local makers.”

Lighting does far more within each space than simply illuminating. Each carefully curated pendant or lamp is an art object in and of itself, as well as an expression of the effervescence of Chandon’s sparkling wine. In the Green Point Lounge room, the Orb Air pendants from Lighting Republic can be read as the bubbles in a glass of champagne. In the Vintage Room, a softly curved Gervasoni Brass 95 pendant from Anibou hovers over a custom ASIMOV table by Barbera Design like an abstract interpretation of the soft, muted gold foil wrapped around each Chandon bottle. 

Championing Australian craftsmanship

Throughout the Homestead, design is used as a medium for storytelling, with more than 20 Australian artists, designers and makers represented in the space. From large-scale handwoven wall hangings by Emma Shepherd and Jacquie Lazzarotto to sculptural vessels by Kristin Burgham made using cast-off Chandon bottles, every detail has been chosen with intention.

“We saw our role as collaborative curators,” Beynon says. “We layered custom-designed joinery and finishes with objects and art that reference the local environment, the brand’s history, and Australian craft.”

Furniture by Daniel Barbera, Jordan Fleming, Grazia&Co and others sit alongside textile works, ceramics and lighting sourced through Craft Victoria, Pepite and Mr Kitly. The result is a space that feels richly textured, unforced and deeply connected to the creative landscape of contemporary Australia.

“It was a huge curatorial effort,” Beynon reflects. “Refining through selection, budget, time, colour, tone and material – each piece had to work both aesthetically and narratively. And yet the final result feels organic, not overworked.”

There is always a risk with any brand-led hospitality project to tip too far into ‘experiential marketing’ territory. While Chandon, as a brand, served as the backbone for the design brief in terms of colour palette and company history, there is not a hint of branding for branding’s sake. In fact, one of the most challenging aspects of the project was designing the retail space.

“The retail space was one of the most challenging to align because the essence of the project is about creating a homely space,” Beynon says.  “We had to really carefully work through how to add a retail agenda without it feeling too retail retail.”

To solve this dilemma, Beynon and Janes turned to the literal stories of the history of the site and the connection between people and place. 

“In a not too overt way, we wanted to highlight the range of products that we sell and some of the creators that we work with,” Janes says. “We’re retailing the work of the visual artists as well as ceramic pieces by Ryan Foote that we use in service. Essentially, the idea was ‘how does Chandon come to life in your house?’ These are little elements that you can take home to bring that to bear once you leave.”

The atmosphere of hospitality

While the project is rich in detail, it never tips into preciousness. There is a sense of ease and generosity that permeates the Homestead – something guests feel as they move from the lobby to the Green Point Room to the private tasting spaces and bathrooms, each with their own layered material palette and narrative intent.

“The Homestead is the home of our Étoile range – our most premium sparkling wine – so we wanted the experience to feel special,” Janes says. “The Green Point Room, in particular, is designed for private dining, and every element of the experience has a sense of theatre to it. From the pivoting mirror-panelled servery doors to the layered lighting and textured finishes, there’s this sense of anticipation and warmth.”

Beynon adds: “Lighting, scent, the tactility of materials – all of these elements shape the hospitality experience. But we also wanted to embed joy and playfulness. Bubbles are a celebratory drink, and the space needed to reflect that.” 

There are playful moments throughout – from the sparkling, bubbling light fittings to eclectic furniture pieces adorned with fringing, table legs wearing leather ‘leg warmers’ and a plethora of curious silhouettes and tactile finishes that invite the eye and hand to linger.

What comes next

The Homestead is now open to guests, but the broader vision is still unfolding. A major landscape design project, led by Simone Bliss of SBLA Studio, will further embed the site into its natural surroundings – introducing indigenous meadow planting and deepening the connection to the land’s original custodians through ongoing collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.

Chandon is also undertaking a large-scale rewilding project on its land as part of a wider collaborative project with other winemakers and landowners in the region. The vision is to create a 64-hectare native bushland and river corridor along the Yarra, intended to rehabilitate and restore ecological balance and create a new kind of visitor experience in the years ahead.

“In some ways, the Homestead is a model for what we want to do across the site,” Janes says. “It’s about refining what’s already here, telling stories through materiality, hospitality and care, and inviting people to experience something deeply local, beautifully crafted and quietly luxurious.”

Photography by Saskia Wilson.

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