designers in the city – The Interiors Addict

Real reno: Art collection shines after monochrome makeover

If there is one space that embodies the spirit of this recently renovated Sydney family home, it’s the delightful entry. Designed by Woods and Warner (formerly Designers in the City but we’ll reveal more on that later), crisp black and white combines with a colour-burst of abstract art to create a gorgeous space that sets the tone for the rest of the home.

“The separate tiled entry worked really well as it was simple in its execution but it added personality. Also, the modern pendant choice is unexpected, yet it works! The whole thing is a little quirky but very much tasteful and it creates a wow factor when you enter the home,” says Woods and Warner co-director Jacinta Woods (Sonia Warner is the other half of the design duo).

Originally a 1930’s home, the residence was last renovated in the 1970’s and thus in desperate need of love. “The primary reason for renovating was to open up the home and provide its growing family with a functioning and practical space. Walls needed to be pulled down and opened up and we needed to create the illusion of more space and light – the lack of omitted light was rectified and the use of white was paramount,” says Jacinta, who overhauled the home’s wet areas too. “The kitchen and bathrooms were diabolical and not practical to live in every day,” she said.

While the end result has produced a mix of federation and mid-century design, the owners were keen to honour its past. “They wanted a more minimalistic approach to the home without completely ignoring its age,” says Jacinta who livened up the monochrome space with a series of abstract artworks, commissioned by artists Kate Clarkson and Lola Santiago from Art 2 Muse.

As for the company’s rebranding – it’s merely a reflection of its evolution. “After a decade of working together, we have creatively evolved, and feel it’s the perfect time to rebrand to a name that reflects the love and dedication we hold for art and design. Our philosophy remains the same though – we’re a design agency built for clients who seek distinctive and innovative design solutions with lateral thinking and execution,” says Jacinta.

Check out more from Woods and Warner here.

Stylish, sophisticated and fun: just some of the words that come to mind when flipping through the portfolio of Sydney design duo Designers in the City. Co-director Jacinta Woods says their aim is to bring something new to every project, using colour, patterns and textures in new and different ways.

Sonia and Jacinta of Designers in the City

“Each home is different and special in its own way, we strive to create a new look each time we design,” Jacinta says. “We don’t like to box ourselves into a certain look or trend.”

Designers in the City began in 2007 as the brainchild of Jacinta and co-director Sonia Warner. They met while working in the styling department at high end furniture store Living Edge.“I had always wanted to become an interior designer from an early age, constantly changing my room around and advising friends on their bedrooms,” Jacinta says. Sonia worked as a hairdresser for close to 20 years before her study of design and decoration took her on a new career path. Already knowing they enjoyed working together, Jacinta and Sonia decided to start their own business.

Although their individual styles are quite different–Jacinta describes hers as “subdued, classic and defined” while Sonia’s is “quirky, fun and alive”–they find this helps them in their work: “We always seem to meet somewhere in between.” Jacinta says they draw inspiration from places like Instagram through to designers like American Kelly Wearstler, and Brit Abigail Ahern.