“When you walk into a building which I have designed, the last thing I would want is for somebody to recognise it as a Blue Fruit design. ”
“Creating a home with a sense of calm, which is a joy to come home to, is what drives me to explore the very best design for my clients.”
About blue fruit.
BLUE FRUIT is the studio of Virginia Blue, and with over 25 years experience as a commercial and residential designer, she has a formidable talent for listening, finding solutions and creating living environments which reflect's the owner's personality and lifestyle.
Her designs focus on sustainability and adapt to the client's personality and preferences, without strict style limitations.
Blue Fruit provides both sensitive design for existing heritage homes (which may require renovation, restoration, alteration or extension) + contemporary design for new builds.
“My friends and family tell me I never stop thinking about architecture.
My clients laugh and tell me that’s a good thing. ”
About the designer.
After graduating with a BA in Interior Design from Uni SA in 1991, Virginia worked in large architectural practices across Australia, always relishing the chance to practice design with a local flavour.
Working for the international architectural firms of Woods Bagot & then Hassell, Virginia designed retail (David Jones, Myer), commercial (Commonwealth Bank H.O.), hospitality (Darwin + Adelaide Casinos), educational and public buildings (including lead Interior Architect for the Roma Mitchell Commonwealth Law Courts building), winning various commercial design awards.
From Darwin in the North to Adelaide in the South, and in the East Coast capitals, the huge variety of landscapes and lifestyles provided constant inspiration for varied architectural responses.
“I’ve been designing buildings for many years, and in that time I’ve learned that I never stop learning.
I have a Master of Urban Cultural Heritage, a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, a background in commercial interior architecture and a passion for making people’s lives better through beautiful, thoughtfully imagined buildings. ”
After a stint in London, Virginia returned to Australia and embarked upon Blue Fruit in 2004 to explore how residential building design can reflect both the user's needs, and the user's personality.
Based in Melbourne, Virginia designs residential projects both here and around Australia.
Virginia draws inspiration from the surrounding context of a home and relishes the challenge of crafting responsive design solutions for each unique environment.
She prides herself that her buildings are not recognisable as a "Blue Fruit formula," but are more about bringing to life the dreams of the client, to create a space in which they love to live.
Having recently completed a Master of Urban Cultural Heritage at Uni Melbourne (2020), Virginia is delving deeper into working with buildings with heritage overlays, using a fresh approach.
When working on new contemporary house designs, Virginia focusses on maximising sunlight deep into the layout, and incorporating passive design principles and eco-sensitive materials, to create spaces of warmth and personality.
Virginia is an Affiliate Member of the
Australian Institute of Architects.
FAQ
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Yes !! In fact, that’s our specialty. Through an in-depth knowledge of local architectural heritage and Victoria’s planning regulations, Blue Fruit can help you to navigate the process of extending and altering your home to suit your needs, while respecting its heritage story.
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Yes, in fact spatial floor planning is the first place we start on all of our projects. It’s the most important part of getting your home to work for your lifestyle. Sometimes, re-imagining an existing footprint (with a practised eye) can lead to so much more efficient space and flow that an extension is not necessary.
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Absolutely. Our approach of tailoring a design to suit an individual client works just as happily for new home designs as it does on existing heritage homes. If you are needing a design for your new house, and want a home filled with character, warmth and personality, talk to us to discuss how we can help.
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Over many years of practice of designing in Melbourne, we have built up a fantastic team of builders and tradespeople. However, if you have a favourite builder in mind to construct your project, we are happy to work with you and your builder if you prefer.
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Whilst the majority of our projects are in Melbourne, we also provide design services to clients with homes interstate. Get in touch with us to discuss how this might work for you.
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Most definitely!! Through an extensive knowledge of architectural heritage and many years of experience of interior design, Blue Fruit can help you to create a home that suits your contemporary lifestyle while still celebrating the beauty and charm of your original older home.