CITY ESCAPE

Amid the hustle and bustle of Sydney, this terrace house is a welcome haven with heritage charm

- JULIA FAIRLEY

After raising her family, inner-city living grew ever more appealing for Sandi, who swapped Sydney’s leafy North Shore for a terrace in the beating heart of the city. A short stroll to shops and restaurants, it boasted many benefits, but the interiors were not among them.

“It was very plain and all beige; there was no soul, no warmth,” recalls interior designer Genine Noakes, who revived the home for Sandi, her partner Darren and her three adult daughters.

Form aside, the floor plan was not fit for purpose. “They wanted everyone to have their own bedroom and bathroom,” explains Genine. And so began a top-to-toe redesign and renovation, celebrating the old heritage accents, introducing new conveniences and filling the home with heart and soul.

The makeover