Having lived in New York and London, Sharon and Paul, the owners of this house on Sydney’s North Shore, could never be content with the ordinary. Behind its neat picket fence, their freshly renovated home boasts a United Nations of inspiration that evokes their glamorous past.
Lured by the generous backyard, the couple bought the property in 2013 as a forever home. But the block was occupied by a Federation brick cottage that had lost face. A renovation in the 1960s had stripped its original features, inside and out. Meanwhile, a clumsy rear addition had little connection with that sizeable yard.
“The roof leaked, the paint was peeling and we had damp issues,” says Sharon. “It was an eyesore next to the cute cottages along our street.”
The couple engaged Clare Carter of Contemporary Architecture and interior designers Jacinta Woods and Sonia Warner to transform the battered bungalow into a light, functional and interesting family home for themselves and their sons Leo, five, and Levi, two.
Top priority was an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area that flowed through to the garden. A nod to Sharon’s past was also on the wish list. “I grew up in a weatherboard homestead in rural New Zealand, so an all-white cottage with a picket fence was my nostalgic dream.” At the rear of the home, cues came from the couple’s travels. “In New York, we lived in a renovated loft with unbelievably high ceilings. The steel windows and doors came from London, the concrete floors from a friend’s apartment in Antwerp.”
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A CERTAIN CHARM
A young couple enlists the expertise of a savvy team to refresh and expand their original 1930s Brisbane worker's cottage into a light-filled family home.
UP TICK
Creating better connections inside and out through clever design brought this family's vision to life.
VIEW to thrill
Elegant curves, magnificent marble and sublime colours make this Federation-era bungalow's interiors as enchanting as the Sydney city skyline seen through its windows.
MOODY beauty
Gently curved forms and shadowy grey tones give this Edwardian home, in a leafy neighbourhood of Melbourne, a refined character.
SEASIDE story
A creative couple design a relaxed yet refined coastal getaway for their family on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
SPACE mission
Dubbed the Big Small House’, this historic Melbourne cottage receives a contemporary makeover, packed with welcome surprises.
PICTURE perfect
A century-old weatherboard in Melbourne's north-east is given a storybook finish for a young family yearning for their forever home.
Luli Farrell
Having developed an appreciation of beautiful surrounds from a young age, the ABI Interiors co-founder and designer has found her calling.
MODERN HISTORY
Life is now a breeze for a family of five in this calm coastal home with nature-inspired interior finishes and playful art at every turn.
WITH love
What better way to turn up the romance than with this delicious Valentine's Day dinner menu for two from The Cordony Kitchen.