Design meets tradition for Lunar New Year

ONE of Melbourne’s most striking display homes was transformed into a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration as Metricon partnered with 2019 MasterChef winner Diana Chan to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse in unforgettable style.

The celebration transformed Metricon’s Doulton display home into a vibrant showcase of colour, flavour and cultural tradition, blending festive cuisine with contemporary home design in a celebration centred on family and fresh beginnings.

 

Now marking eight years of collaboration, the partnership between Metricon and Diana Chan has become a standout moment on Melbourne’s Lunar New Year calendar, bringing together food lovers, homeowners and design enthusiasts in a uniquely immersive setting.

Nearly 120 guests, including some of Melbourne’s most recognisable food creators, attended the celebration, sharing the experience across the food, lifestyle and design spaces.

 

At the heart of the event was an intimate cooking masterclass led by Chan, showcasing symbolic Lunar New Year dishes including prosperity dumplings and longevity noodles, each representing abundance, success and good fortune for the year ahead.

Beyond the kitchen, the event also highlighted a growing lifestyle trend: homes designed for entertaining and multigenerational gatherings.

The Doulton, a grand double-storey residence, features five spacious bedrooms, each with its own en suite, multiple living zones, a private study, formal lounge and a statement entertainer’s kitchen complete with an oversized walk-in pantry and expansive dining space.

Upstairs, a sweeping staircase opens onto a central leisure retreat and a luxurious primary suite with dual walk-in robes, spaces designed to bring families together while still offering privacy and flexibility.

Metricon’s Domenic Varese said the celebration reflected the important role the home plays during cultural milestones.

“Lunar New Year is about gathering with loved ones, sharing food and celebrating new beginnings,” he said.

“The Fire Horse symbolises passion, energy and bold forward movement, and there’s no better place to embrace that spirit than in a home designed for connection.”

Diana Chan said Lunar New Year celebrations naturally revolve around the home.

“For many families, Lunar New Year is the biggest celebration of the year,” she said.

“Over the past eight years, working with Metricon has

At the heart of the event was an intimate cooking masterclass led by Chan, showcasing symbolic Lunar New Year dishes.

 

allowed us to honour tradition in a way that feels modern and welcoming.

“The Doulton is truly a home built for entertaining – it’s easy to imagine hosting your own celebration here.”