nina maya – The Interiors Addict

Terrace house: Glass transforms dark Sydney home

Nestled in the Sydney suburb of Paddington, this gorgeous home’s one-storey heritage façade hides a pretty incredible split-level renovation behind. Home to interior designer Nina Maya, who is using it to showcase her business (and act as a family abode), the house is called ‘The Glasshouse’ in a nod to the material that was integral to the transformation.

Kitchen. That statement marble is super luxe.

Lack of windows and the subsequent lack of light is a common problem in heritage homes, and this one was no different. “In many ways, the remodel was dictated by its challenges, the biggest being its dark, narrow living area. The addition of the central staircase created a column that could be fully glazed on two sides to let in light, while saving floor space,” says Nina of the home’s statement feature.

“I like to start any design with a clean base, so the ability to remove distracting frames from the view of the bamboo in our courtyard, was perfect,” says Nina who chose Stegbar’s Alumiere range for the home as it allows for larger expanses of glass with smaller frames.

Lounge and alfresco — The lounge room looks onto the courtyard

Given the home’s dense urban location, privacy regulations were one of the main design obstacles to overcome. Nina specified architectural automated louvres, that obscure the interior from neighbouring properties, as a solution. This negated the need for a screen across the lower section of windows while creating a striking silhouette at the rear of the home.

The rear of the home — The rear courtyard. Second storey automated louvres were a clever design solution to privacy concerns.

Another innovative solution to privacy issues can be seen in the master ensuite, where an Alumiere fixed lite window with translucent glazing sits behind a double sink and mirrors. “A lot of elements of the Glasshouse are not as they seem. On first look, you would assume that the room is artificially lit, but when you look closer, you can see how the light changes with the clouds and time of day. It’s a small detail that adds unexpected interest to the room,” says Nina.

A skylight lets light permeate the shower recess

“The Glasshouse gets its name from being more than just a house with a lot of windows, it has glass at its core and throughout, from the two-storey mirrors to the subtle shower screens and the translucent windows to the fully glazed lightwell. It’s amazing what you can do with glass when you work with the right options.”

Glass stars in the wardrobe and dressing area too

Photography: Nicole England

For more on Stegbar | Another Paddington terrace reno

Nina Maya isn’t new to the design business. For five years she worked as a designer for her own fashion label, which was stocked at Myer and worn by the likes of Jennifer Hawkins and Cate Blanchett. Yet it was while travelling in 2011 that Nina’s passion changed direction from fashion to interiors.

“I was living in London at the time and was lucky enough to spend some time travelling around the south of France. During these travels I became so inspired by all the incredible design museums and grand homes that it seemed like a natural progression… it utilised a lot of the same skills in colour and print.”

And so Nina Maya Interiors was born. Putting to use her studies in textile and design at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney, as well as skills learned while training at Owens & Co, an East London textile firm, Nina quickly found a knack for interiors and textile design.

Nina's latest commercial project, The Paddington Inn — Nina’s latest commercial project, The Paddington Inn

“My focus is entirely on interiors now. I loved designing fashion but really enjoy applying my ideas, colours and prints to a much bigger canvas. Designing interiors allows you to be much more free and less restrictive as long as you have an open minded client who is willing to explore new territory with you.”