Soul Revival

By introducing a calm and cohesive aesthetic, an architect transformed her awkward californian bungalow into a stylish family home

- Lynne Testoni

CHARACTER BUILDING

This spacious abode on Sydney’s upper north shore was reworked by homeowner Nerida, whose vision paved the way for a serene home for herself, husband James and their two teenage sons Hugo and Ethan. In the formal living area, pieces including a Jardan sofa, Eames lounge chair and matching ottoman from Living Edge and ‘Milou Swivel’ armchairs from Coco Republic lend a fresh feel. A rug from The Rug Collection anchors a restful scene that also includes a ‘Fineline’ coffee table from Spence & Lyda, a ‘Reed’ pendant light from The Montauk Lighting Co, cushions from Papaya and Provincial Home Living, and a Country Road throw.

Sometimes a home just needs the right owner to reawaken its inner beauty. That was the case with this gracious family abode on Sydney’s north shore.

Drawn to its location on a quiet, tree-lined street, architect Nerida and her husband James purchased the Californian bungalow with initial plans to replace it with a contemporary home for themselves and their sons Hugo, now 16, and Ethan, now 14.

“It was a really confusing house,” recalls Nerida. “There was no central corridor and no airflow. You had to go through one room to get to another – for example, to get to one-bedroom, you had to go through the kitchen. That’s why, when I first saw it, I instinctively thought, ‘We’ve got to demolish this house and just start again.’ ”