Fresh take

TONES AND PATTERN COLLIDE GLORIOUSLY IN THIS ADORED BRISBANE HOME, WHERE THE UNEXPECTED DELIGHTS

- KYLIE JACKES

From the street, Kate’s home nestled in a leafy Brisbane suburb has all the hallmarks of a Hamptons home, with its decorated gables, white weatherboard cladding, plantation shutters and a pretty-as-a-picture cottage garden that comes complete with topiary trees.

Inside, you might expect a palette of restrained blues and neutrals synonymous with Hamptons style – yet what awaits is a kaleidoscope of contrasting colour at every turn. Spaces are drenched in feel-good hues from mint green and teal to Pool Bar blue, layered with a mix of pattern and objects which vie for attention.

“Walking through the door is like I’m coming home to an old friend,” enthuses Kate of the interwar bungalow she has owned for 35 years. “It fills me with so much joy and a wonderful sense of comfort.”

While Kate has always loved colourful interiors, an extensive renovation in 2019 and the opportunity to engage interior designer Anna Spiro prompted her to take it to the next level and beyond. “For years I’d bought fabrics and pieces from Anna’s store and always wanted to work with her,” she says. “When I decided to renovate, I chose to get everything I’d ever wanted. I couldn’t think of a more talented person to create something unique which I’d never tire of.” Kate wholeheartedly embraced Anna’s concepts, even wallpapering the ceiling.

Working initially with an architect, the plan was to maintain the original facade, footprint and beautiful character details such as the ornate plaster ceilings and wide timber floorboards, yet enhance functionality to allow wiggle room with the layout by removing several of the internal walls.