It’s always a delight to share one of Greg Natale’s stunning projects here. They’re guaranteed to look gorgeous, of course, but this is a really interesting one too. It was done in two stages: first the front of the house, and then, a few years later, the back. “The front is more pretty and feminine and about her. The back is more about the husband, a builder.”
The formal living room (above) is Greg’s favourite part of the 1940s red brick house in Sydney’s Five Dock. “It’s just stunningly beautiful. I love the green, orange and yellow together, I always have. It’s very Brady Bunch.” The room’s starting point was the Susan Doherty painting (below) which inspired it.
The lady of the house’s request for pretty wallpaper was fulfilled with two different designs in the same colour way from Signature Prints. The below design is a Florence Broadhurst.
These dark walls were one of the last things to be added. “The house wasn’t flowing,” said Greg. “When we did the black walls it made the whole house flow. I think the timber floors pull it together too.”
Unlike many designers, Greg enjoys doing children’s rooms (below) because you can have so much fun with them.
He had to fight to keep this original (in my opinion, gorgeous) bathroom. “It was too good to rip it out,” says Greg, who added Florence Broadhurst peacock wallpaper.
At the back of the house, leading to the garden and pool, there is an abundance of natural light in the modern, open plan living area. Greg has used his own rug range for Designer Rugs and art by Scott Petrie.
The bi-fold doors open up the entire back of the house to the luxurious garden and pool area. I love the chandelier helping to zone the dining area.
“We definitely have two different looks at Greg Natale Design: classic and clean,” he says. “And more and more we are being asked to go for a more clean look which is really exciting for us. There will always be a signature Greg Natale look and some people love it and will always want to have that, even if we try and talk them into something else. It’s really important as a designer to keep evolving though.”
I’d love to know what you think of this project?
Photos by Anson Smart
8 replies on “A house of two halves by Greg Natale”
Stunning! The whole project comes together beautifully.
I like that Greg has kept the original bathroom and added the Florence Broardhurst wallpaper for extra punch. Gorgeous!!
Was worth the wait Jen! Love the way Greg has brought light into the dark house with the shimmering wallpapers. And the greens are so thirst-quenchingly lovely. (still not sure about keeping all of the original bathroom – doesn’t look too practical)
Inspiring work in the bathroom, keeping the original fitout. I also adore the clean lines of that back room. It’s great to see Greg doing a variety of work, not just what he is renowned for.
I wish I could like it, and feel I must be just about the only person in Australia who doesn’t , but it feels ‘hard’ to me. A bit like Kelly Wearstler’s work, which everyone but me seems to love. Sorry.
PP
Love it. Great colours and the marrying of the two spaces is fantastic, loving the black walls. And that bed!
Wow… Greg is Australia’s Kelly Wearstler in a male form of course!!!
I love everything except the bathroom. Not from an aesthetic point of view, because yes it’s in incredible original condition and makes you feel nostalgic for the old days, but from a practical point of view. All that luxury everywhere else and yet they have to step over the old bathtub to stand in the shower (if there is one)? I remember how cold those bathrooms were in winter. I bet there’s a slick ensuite in the house somewhere that actually gets used. Still, I like how the designer is unafraid to push the boundaries.
I Love the complexity of the colour scheme, expertly managed. Choosing not to renovate the bathroom was likely a practical move, we all have a budget to work within. Bathrooms can cost upwards of 25k, that goes a long way for decoration. Looking at the whole project, i see it as a well executed design with a respectful, thankfully, diluted 1970’s glam interiors. This house rocks!