HERITAGE dream

A joyful Federation home uses colour as a connector between traditional and contemporary living.

- STORY AND STYLING Kerrie-Ann Jones | PHOTOGRAPHY Milly Mead

There's a particular kind of magic that happens when colour is used not just for decoration but for direction. Walk through the front door of this Federation bungalow on Sydney's North Shore and you'll feel it immediately. Walls that shift from cool blue to soft pink, light that pools differently in every room, and a sense that each space is speaking in its own deliberate tone.

A home full of charm, albeit lacking in practicality, needed a rework to meet the demands of modern life. Enter interior designer Loretta Lovecek of Sequence Studio, whose thoughtful eye has turned the home into a masterclass in joyful, heritage-sensitive design.

In terms of aesthetics, the direction was minimal, with a key focus: to respect and celebrate the home's heritage. That reverence is evident from the street. The original façade remains intact, with the two front rooms (bedroom and study) also largely preserved, save for a new wardrobe and a generous splash of colour.

Painted in Dulux Palmer with contrasting trim in 'Loveday', the rooms feel calm, grounded, and elevated.

Loretta says, “They contained beautiful traditional detailing, high ceilings, and bay windows, but these features felt lost with white walls. North-facing, the rooms can carry a deeper colour to keep them as restful spaces. We approached a blue palette with a darker tone to the traditional detailing to allow it to shine.”