FAMILY PROJECT

REDESIGNING HER OWN HOME was an opportunity for Sydney-based interior designer Madeleine Wood to work with existing architectural features and a mid-century aesthetic.

- INTERIOR DESIGNER Madeleine Wood

Describe the project and what made it attractive to you It’s an 1890s two-bed terrace in Paddington that is home to my husband and me, our two-year-old daughter, Marnie, and our dog, Lewis. We were drawn to its north-facing courtyard, high ceilings and characterful arches. Despite its tired interior, we saw incredible potential. What was the starting point for the interiors? The terrace’s three consecutive rendered-brick arches are a distinctive architectural feature and informed our mid-century aesthetic. We set out to make the space feel more expansive and vibrant by layering materials, texture and colour. We admire how these elements can stretch the perception of space by giving the eye room to wander. Were there any challenges with the space? The main challenge was the terrace’s compact footprint as it’s less than 70 square metres and only 2.7-metres wide.