Couple reno to sell, then fall in love with home and stay

Liz Hayward , owner of Hayward & Co – Interior Decoration and Styling Studio, takes us on a tour of a recent project.

The design brief for this Inner West residential project was to create a livable sanctuary for a small growing family. The owners wanted to come home from a busy day and feel a sense of calm. Natural light and calmative colours were a necessity. With a growing family on the horizon, the space needed to be practical without compromising on style.  The result is a home that they can live, relax and entertain in.

The couple purchased and lived in the detached semi with its “original and character-filled” kitchen for a number of years before deciding how best to renovate. They initially thought they would renovate and sell, however upon completion they had fallen in love with the house and decided to stay and make it their home.

The back area of the house was given a fresh update by opening up the design and reconfiguring the layout. The kitchen was knocked down and repositioned to open the flow of the room. The back brick wall with its small awkward door was knocked down and converted to bi-fold glass doors that open to a lush garden and alfresco dining area.

Unfortunately along the way there were additional costs due to unforeseen structural issues, as so often happens with older homes, thus a little creativity was implemented to save costs elsewhere. The kitchen was actually bought secondhand and given a new lease of life with new handles and an organic white Caesarstone benchtop. The subway tile splashback and pendant lighting further encapsulate the fresh, classic but contemporary design that the couple wanted to achieve.

The lounge area has been melded together using a range of products. The sofa was made to order in a custom selected durable Warwick fabric. The occasional chairs and side table were purchased from Coco Republic, whilst the table lamp is an Ikea favourite. A muted colour palette of greys, whites and pops of blue allow the room to feel spacious and make the most of the natural light.

Upstairs the master bedroom was reconfigured to incorporate a much sought after ensuite. The colour palette promotes rest and relaxation with the bedroom walls painted in Dulux Doe with trims of white. The room is brought together with monochromatic furnishings: a custom made black linen headboard, La Maison black side tables and white table lamps, which were gifted to the couple for their wedding.

The couple have since grown their family and the later conversion of the study to a nursery has turned their first home into their family home. The nursery came to life with a custom Coco Republic wingback armchair (perfect for those endless hours of feeding!) an Oz Design marble side table and Pottery Barn Kids wall shelves.

The couple love their new home; whilst it was once used for endless entertaining, it has now grown with them and has become their family home.

–Liz Hayward loves working with new clients to unlock the potential of their homes and living spaces and a firm believer that a quality, thoughtful, tailored interior should be available to everyone, with amazing results on almost any budget.

www.haywardandco.com.au