Looking around this waterfront abode in Sydney’s Balmoral, you’d swear the beautifully composed colour palette had been lifted straight from its coastal surrounds. But just a few years earlier, when the home’s owners first moved in, this property was experiencing something of an awkward phase akin to adolescence. Built in the 1920s, the house had undergone “a pseudo-Tuscan style” renovation in the early 1990s that included the addition of a second storey and basement. This growth spurt certainly increased the floor area, but the original features were lost in the process and what remained was “fairly confused and characterless”, says interior architect Anna Trefely of Esoteriko, who was engaged by the owners, a family of three, to work her magic on their home and give it a modern makeover.
“At its essence, the brief was to breathe fresh, new life into a tired home,” Anna says of her clients’ vision. Their request “to improve functionality, to make it artful, comfortable and appropriate for a young family”, gave her the freedom to expand on this checklist and address the key design flaws, including a lack of storage, under-utilised areas and interrupted access to natural light. Despite the single-file staircase, heavy window shutters and stingy wardrobe space, Anna saw untapped beauty in the property, not to mention the “jaw-dropping” 180-degree view of harbour beaches. “We were inspired by the surrounding landscape, the deep blue of the ocean and the rich warm hues of the land,” Anna says. “There was potential to explore and emphasise some uniquely Australian materials and sensibilities.”
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.
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 Belle Magazine Australia.
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
The wow factory
The sisters steering Zuster furniture brand put a creative spin on their own industrial zone.
OPEN INVITE
This handsome home in the NSW Southern Highlands welcomes within its walls both generous rural views and a steady flow of guests.
DUAL ACCENTS
American heritage style meets Spanish mission design in this harbourside Sydney home.
Grand vision
It can be easy being green or it is for this house -that cleverly combines lavish spaces and timeless style, while also being kind to the planet.
POWER AND GLORY
An angular concrete structure packs a punch in a new build on an elevated site in Sydney while its interior design offers a softly layered and textured counterpoint.
COLOUR BURST
A joyful exuberance permeates this heritage home reinvented by interior designer Andrew Parr with zesty hues, lively contemporary art and iconic furniture.
LA VIE EN ROSE
Poised above Pittwater in Sydney's north, this weekender is alluringly relaxed - and offers holiday fun for family and friends.
COOL, CALM COLLECTIVE
An ever-changing array of covetable antiques, objets d'art and unique pieces ensure the interiors of this beautiful store has a collected feel and sense of permanence.
BOLD CHOICE
Architect and trailblazer Piero Gesualdi's Melbourne emporium, Mondopiero, is a celebration of timeless design and craftmanship, with a sprinkling of decorative flair.
HIGHER CALLING
In a world that is typically more about me, me, me, quietly luxurious day spa Venustus keeps thriving three decades on with a true commitment to inspired client service.