The surprise element in this bijou Sydney eastern suburbs house, perfectly composed by interior architect Phoebe Nicol, is the pink carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. A brave colour choice it is not too ‘baby’ or ‘nursery’, says Phoebe, nor is it too ‘look at me’.
Rather, the custom floor covering is a warm blush of softness that enhances the femininity and individuality of the elegant home. “It was definitely a brave move but I think we pulled it off,” says Phoebe. “The owner wanted a soft and feminine home and we had been looking at terracotta shades, but then the pink just seemed right and the client was happy to go with it.”
The pink carpet could just be the icing on the cake but there are so many other notable elements in the home, from the peppering of eclectic antiques and the impressive light fixtures to the captivating Thibaut ‘Venus’ wallpaper in the powder room that references the years when the client lived in Florence.
Moving into the home was a significant downsize for the owner who had left a substantial-sized residence and wanted a new look and a fresh start. She consigned most of her existing furniture to storage and embarked on the project with enthusiasm, placing her complete trust in Phoebe. “She was a dream client,” says the designer. “She told me, ‘I know I get the best results when I trust you’. She wanted to get it right and wasn’t willing to compromise.”
The property needed to be completely gutted, and the first move was to apply a waxed plaster marmorino finish to the walls to help bounce light around. “The client was worried that the house would be dark so we worked hard to ensure there’s lots of natural light flooding the rooms,” says Phoebe.
A massive skylight over the casual sitting area admits shafts of sunlight and offers blue-sky views, while the new steel-framed doors opening to the leafy-fringed courtyard create the desired indoor-outdoor flow.
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