As regular readers know, we love a good before and after around here and the latest one to hit our inbox is a series of spaces overhauled by furniture retailer BROSA. The brand has redesigned two luxury accommodation spaces in Sydney – a cosy, one-bedroom pad in Darlinghurst and a three-bedroom sky loft that features sweeping views of city landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
BEFORE bedroom (sky loft)AFTER bedroom (sky loft)
Overhauled by the BROSA Style Team, the spaces were transformed with everything from fresh paint to new fixtures and plenty of fabulous final touches. BROSA worked with Tint Paint and sourced gorgeous linens from I Love Linen to complete the looks.
The sky loft renovation featured tired tan leather sofas paired with dated occasional chairs and coffee tables. Its new monochrome palette includes an array of textures including trending ivory toned boucle. The fabric is showcased in BROSA’s gorgeous Ada Swivel Accent Chair.
BEFORE living (Sky Loft)
AFTER living (Sky Loft). The BROSA Ada Swivel Accent Chair (right) is a fabulous addition to the space.
The sky loft master bedroom was similarly transformed. Heavy dark timber was replaced with chic black and a lovely monochrome look overall. The team also painted out the timber feature ceiling.
BEFORE bedroomAFTER bedroom. An all-white ceiling updates the look.
In nearby Darlinghurst, the BROSA team employed similar techniques to overhaul a one-bedroom apartment. Dated timber furniture was updated with a fully upholstered bed (in a crowd-pleasing neutral fabric shade) that was then paired with simple black and white bedsides and a set of chic black lamps. A large indoor plant and a pair of neutral, graphic art prints finish the new look.
BEFORE bedroom (Darlinghurst apartment)AFTER bedroom (Darlinghurst)
Shop the look
If you love these looks, not only is the sky loft available for rent but you can purchase all of the BROSA makeover products here.
Two century-old commercial buildings in the heart of Sydney’s Newtown have been magically – and sustainably – reimagined to create a welcoming home by Anna Carin Design Studio, for a family of four intent on the best of modern living.
The Bakery, comprising a small corner shop built in 1909 and a bigger warehouse property that served as a bakery from 1922, was reconfigured, restored and redesigned to fit a very particular brief: create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.
Fine workmanship and a high attention to detail were key to the realisation of the vision – the project was a celebration of talented trades. Metal-framed windows and doors were custom-made, joinery was hand-painted and all demolished bricks were hand-scraped and reused for new walls.
The colour palette was key to its overall success and was very much inspired by the courtyard, where the pebbles were the inspiration for the wall colours and the olive trees informed the choice of green marble in the bathroom and ensuite.
“Nothing could be too crisp, it had to be aged and raw to sit within this industrial setting,” said Anna-Carin McNamara, founder of Anna Carin Design Studio. “We opted for hand-painted kitchen cabinets (Wattyl Black Hole) so you can see each brush stroke, and the painted red brick walls of the courtyard were stripped and then carefully sealed with Wattyl Granosite to preserve and showcase their raw texture.”
The final palette comprised a subtle mix of whites and warm stone hues along with black and a beautiful forest green (Wattyl Rainforest Fern) on the front door.
“A wall in one of the bedrooms in the cottage featured multiple layers of weathered paint – much loved by the client – so we retained this, in its original condition, by sealing it with Wattyl GranoGlaze Satin.”
The mix of aged and degraded surfaces, both interior and exterior, from timber and exposed brick to rendered masonry and steel, required careful and painstaking attention to preparation and preservation. Wattyl’s technical team was on-site to advise on the best products to use, both for aesthetics and durability.
External painted brickwork, in both the internal courtyard and the street façade, was primed and then finished with Wattyl GranoSahara in Smoke Pearl to create a fine sand texture. All window frames, both timber and steel, were finished in Wattyl Black Hole semi gloss.
“The Bakery is testament to the beauty that can be created with passion and integrity along with a team of trades that value authenticity and sustainability,” says Anna-Carin. “But with all projects of this kind, the secret ingredient is always love.”
The Wattyl paint finishes are ultra-low VOC and 95% of the Wattyl products are GBCA (Green Building Council of Australia) compliant. The Wattyl I.D. Advanced and Aqua Trim interior finishes are also GECA certified.
Located in the heart of the Sydney CBD’s financial hub, The Bureau is a set of 16 new private and fully-furnished offices with a modern aesthetic and luxurious interiors.
The offices, designed by Natashia Steed from Kingsmede, are centred around a lavish business lounge, informal meeting areas, quiet rooms, and impressive meeting and board rooms equipped with state of the art technology.
“Joining The Bureau is a cost-effective way to crown your business with a prime Sydney CBD address, positioning yourself amongst some of the most successful enterprises in the country,” says Sarah Willcox, associate, Asset Management at Kingsmede.
Brave blue hues, electric tones and layers of thoughtful lighting choices set the mood for the effervescent interior. There’s a nod to the glamourous theatrics of the Art Deco era, paying homage to the former Savoy Theatre that once stood at the same address – once the go-to venue for foreign film screenings.
Beyond the decadent design and cutting edge technology of the office fit-out, The Bureau has been carefully crafted by women, with women in mind, to foster an inspiring, uplifting and enriching professional environment to support women, among others, in business. Curated memberships ensure that occupants are immersed in an exclusive coterie of likeminded individuals.
“It isn’t women-only by any means, but it has been designed specially to support entrepreneurs and professionals, and there are so many brilliant women in that field,” says Sarah.
An extensive and carefully curated art collection creates an ambience far from the cold bright lights and white walls of the traditional office. Walls are adorned in pieces carefully chosen and sourced by award-winning architect Richard Archer from Archer Design. “This project was about layering and richness,” he says. “There’s a large salon wall in the lounge which was our main focus, and then it spilled out from there, down the corridors, into the individual offices.” He adds: “Good art will bring joy and intellectual stimulus to any observer.”
Meeting rooms are available to both members and the public on a pay-as-you-go basis and can be booked by the hour through The Bureau app. Members can also utilise optional extras such as catering.
There’s also a full-time butler dubbed the Magic Man for his ability to handle requests at a whim! Where do we sign up?!
When Sydney interior designer Sarah Yarrow decided to renovate and sell her own home, she was committed to making sure that it stood out from the crowd. Tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter renovations, Sarah imbued the home with a chic farmhouse vibe that would appeal to a large demographic while still brimming with personality.
BEFORE AFTER
“We wanted to emotionally connect to future buyers by doing something that was different to the usual flip and sell. People are much more likely to connect with something that feels warm and friendly and that doesn’t feel like the home up the street, or the one that their friend has just bought. And once they connect, they usually pay more,” says Sarah Yarrow who believes that people usually crave a homely feel in a home, but don’t know how to create it themselves.
BEFORE AFTER
Located in Sydney’s southern suburbs, Sarah and her builder husband Tim bought the home in 2014 from a family who had held the property for over 50 years. They rented it out before moving in in 2018 and renovating the property over a four-year period, working every single weekend and holiday period to finish the job. “It was a labour of love! But we were determined to pay homage to the era of the building rather than trying to make it something it’s not – a contemporary new build,” says Sarah.
AFTER dining
AFTER kitchen
Sarah reconfigured the home’s entire layout to maximise the living and kitchen space – removing the original laundry made way for a larger kitchen and clever space planning meant the designer was able to add a fourth bedroom too.
Sarah also used the home as a vehicle to explore a few different suppliers and ultimately showcase them to her clients. “For instance, the Di Lorenzo feature tiles are quite colourful and patterned. When a client sees one tile, they usually think it’s too much but when they see the tile in a room as the hero, they get it,” says Sarah of the statement tile used in the home’s bathroom and kitchen.
BEFORE AFTER
Dulux Warm White was painted throughout the home to retain a cottage-type feel and appeal to potential buyers too. “I like living in a house with a warm colour palette. But I also knew that people coming though as potential buyers would get a nice warm feeling, rather than feeling stark and cold,” says Sarah who layered an array of soft furnishings and artwork on top before putting the home on the market this year.
The renovated master bedroom features v-groove panels painted in Dulux Herbalist. The bedhead fabric was sourced from Utopia Fabrics.
“We bought this house to lovingly restore and sell so another family can enjoy it. We wanted to bring it back to life and ensure it worked for contemporary living while paying homage to its post-war era roots.”
When interior designer Emma Blomfield was tasked with transforming the Business Chicks headquarters in the heart of Sydney, she received an enviable brief. “The company founder, Emma Isaacs, asked me to bring the business’ brand to life in physical form. She also told me to be bold with colour and create a space that feels fun,” and as you can see from these exclusive pics, she certainly delivered on all fronts.
Entry
A boardroom with a difference
Far from your average office refurbishment, the project uses colour and pattern in a way that has a distinctly residential feel. “Commercial projects are often more neutral and refined but for this project, we were given permission to go as crazy as we wanted to,” says Emma who used a sumptuous palette of burgundy, mustard, blue and purple to create the spaces.
BarBreakout area
“We had to move the original kitchen to make way for that amazing bar!” says Emma of the office hero. The clever floorplan rearrangement resulted in a much more open feel and Emma subsequently zoned off the other open-plan areas with flooring and paint. Wallpapers take centre stage and brass touches serve to increase the feeling of opulence in the space. Brass pops feature everywhere from the company signage to statement light fittings, as well as in the joinery and furniture detailing.
Meeting room
Dream brief aside, the project was completed in the thick of lockdown with the Business Chicks’ founder overseas for its duration. Weekly Zoom catch-ups helped bridge the gap but the physical distance meant that the founder didn’t see any physical elements (wallpaper samples, paint chips, tile samples etc.) until she was able to fly back to Sydney after the project was completed. “It was definitely a challenging way to pitch a project ‘look and feel’ when you can’t show the client physical samples!” says Emma.
Emma and her team members Amy Boardman (left) and Marj Silva (right) enjoying the finished space
Bathroom
Unsurprisingly, the staff are thrilled with their gorgeous new workplace. “They are all absolutely obsessed with their new space! We’ve had so many people message us since they’ve been in to use the space or attend events in the office to say how much they love it.”
Purchased by Sydney interior designer Alex Morrison and her partner in 2019, this Darling Point apartment was ripe for renovation despite its show-stopping harbour views. “I first saw the apartment in 2019 and was completely captivated with the location and the potential the space offered. We felt like we’d found a space that we could transform and add our own personality too,” says Alex who did just that with a series of deft structural and elegant cosmetic changes.
The dining room has spectacular views of Sydney Harbour
Originally, the home’s layout was very disjointed, and there was a disconnect between the key living spaces and harbour views. Bizarrely, the kitchen was located at the back of the apartment meaning that all the entertaining was done at the back of the home away from the fabulous views.
“I ended up flipping the floorplan so that the kitchen and living areas would enjoy the views and allow natural light to reflect off the bay and into the living area,” says Alex who collaborated with an engineer and builder from Think Built on the project.
The lounge room features a gorgeous Calacatta Viola marble fire place
After the structural and layout issues had been resolved, Alex set about making cosmetic changes to the abode. “As this was our home, it was a different experience than working with clients in terms of a design brief. My personal brief was to make the interiors more functional with classic and timeless finishes that any new homeowner could see and make the space their own,” says Alex who has since sold the property.
Bedroom
Bathroom
The tranquil spaces feature a neutral, luxurious palette of finishes including herringbone floors from Havwoods, hand painted joinery, Arabescato Corchia marble in the kitchen and Calacatta Vagli marble in the bathrooms. A standout feature, and Alex’s favourite part of the renovation, is the Calacatta Viola marble fireplace in the living room that is finished with a pair of Vintage Murano wall sconces. “I absolutely love them and think they finish the fireplace beautifully,” says Alex.
A close-up of that gorgeous fireplace
The home’s eclectic mix of furniture and art certainly adds interesting layers to the home – there’s classic designer pieces such as a Le Corbusier chair mixed with vintage and second-hand finds including a pair of unique kitchen bar stools. “I bought the vintage wavy barstools online for $220. They arrived with the seat cushion all damaged and I had them reupholstered and they look wonderful!” says Alex.
Kitchen
A ‘Floating Back’ chair from Pierre Jeanneret with Le Corbusier is paired with vintage finds from Conley & Co in this study nook
“Overall, I’m most proud of way it now feels when you’re standing in the living space. Previously all the natural light was closed off and every room felt dark and cold. Now it feels as if we’ve invited the outside elements inside and you can happily move around with natural light entering from every angle.”
Most people would assume this bathroom was part of a heritage home, but you’d be incorrect. Located in Sydney’s Maroubra, it’s actually part of a new build that manages to cleverly dance the line between modern and traditional. No mean feat!
“The owners love modern country, industrial, nautical as well as landscape elements so it was a very mixed brief. One of the design challenges was in paring things back but still giving the owners a home that had a strong sense of self,” says Randwick-based architect Sharon Campbell.
A mix of traditional and modern elements, the standout is the statement green textured subway tile from Amalfi. “You see them in pubs! But instead of doing a plain brick stack we did vertical, then stacked and then a traditional brick pattern to dado height,” says Sharon of the textured tiles that echo the face brick that appears elsewhere in the home. And while that tile design cost more to lay, it’s one of Sharon’s favourite parts of the space. “I love how it feels old world yet contemporary.”
The bathroom features Astra Walker brass tapware
Reclaimed brick lines the nearby hallway. The brass wall sconce is from Creative Lighting Solutions.
Paired with the green tile, an eye-catching Zinnia palm wallpaper from Natty and Polly was chosen to reflect the owner’s love of plants and greenery. “It’s also a bit retro and has a 70s and resort feel. I think it gives the room a nostalgic, luxurious feel and it feels a bit like you’re in a holiday home,” says Sharon. The wallpaper was also a cost-effective way of adding another big feature to the space. “When it comes to bang for buck, the wallpaper has real presence and didn’t cost that much,” says Sharon.
Brass Astra Walker taps and Kethy handles are another highlight. “But while they are brass, luxe and traditional, the clean lines make them modern,” says Sharon. The custom vanity features black shaker joinery and a Corian benchtop while the floor is tiled in hexagonal carrara marble tiles from Terra Nova. An operable skylight bathes the bathroom in light.
Overall, Sharon is very happy with the result and mostly because her client was thrilled. “I’m always most proud of giving the client something they’re happy with and they absolutely love it!”
Designed by The Stylesmiths lead interior designer Priscilla Elasi, this renovation and extension, to a heritage red brick Federation home located in Sydney’s Burwood, has a timeless feel and uncomplicated design. With a project brief that called for liveability, the home has been designed to support the everyday life and entertaining needs of its occupants; a busy family of five.
The home’s gorgeous heritage front
The sensitive renovation highlights the original home’s heritage details; the exact details that drew the owners to the home. “These features remain the quiet heroes that inspired every decision but our clients are what made this experience special, and I wanted to do them justice. Even Uncle Amil who lives next door was included in the conversation,” says Priscilla.
Hallway
From the front door, architectural mouldings and archways at the entrance hall work to set the scene. The front reading room has been lavishly coated in layers of deep navy to further reflect the era of the home, using rich colours to create a moody yet cosy feel by the fire. An eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings complete the sumptuous space.
Stained windows are framed by midnight velvet Mokum fabric curtains and complemented by the Healey soft chair by Walter Knoll in tan leather. An authentic vintage crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
Fireplace
A new bathroom with integrated laundry replaces what was formerly the undersized kitchen. Fresh and neutral, the understated joinery allows the aged brass tapware to shine, while Calacatta marble tiling in a classic hexagon mosaic pattern takes the attention away from what is hidden behind the shaker style joinery doors.
Bathroom
The large rear addition marks the transition from heritage to modern with more neutral tones featured. The dining area boasts a ten-seater solid timber table paired with black leather chairs that complement the kitchen island bench stools by Grazia & Co. Skylights above let natural light permeate while pure linen curtains soften the space.
Dining room
Handmade and slightly imperfect, Moroccan Zellige tiles add depth to the kitchen splashback while the marble island is the main attraction – the underside of the bench is wrapped in a deep walnut colour. “By positioning the sink to the left side of the kitchen, the generous counter becomes flexible enough to double as a second, less formal dining space,” says Priscilla. Nearby, a hidden butler’s kitchen was a must for the family of five.
Kitchen
The rear lounge area features a double-sided wood fireplace that can be enjoyed from the outside too. “Our clients craved a space to unwind, prompting the use of neutral colours, plush furnishings and warm accents to realise their vision. Walking through, every element is of generous proportions, including the emotive art that feels immersive and soothing with shades of blue, orange and green,” says Priscilla.
Lounge room
The kidney shaped pool keeps the kids entertained
Upstairs, the daughter’s bedroom replicates the use of natural fibres and fabrics – a wool-blend Armadillo and Co rug underfoot, light timber side tables and aged brass antique bed frame, kept for sentimental reasons. The wardrobe joinery references the Federation style.
Started by best friends Leah Peretz and Galit Eskenazy, Just In Place is a unique offering within the design and renovation space. A one-stop shop for bathrooms and kitchens, they offer a design and renovation service as well as a retail offering. We kept hearing chatter online about how great their service was, so we had to find out more!
Galit Eskenazy and Leah Peretz in their Belrose studio
Both originally from Israel, the pair met at the school gates over 12 years ago (they have six children between them) and bring unique vocational backgrounds to the business – Galit is a qualified chef and interior designer while Leah ran a successful fashion label for many years. “We work in two ways – clients will often get us to work on a project from start to finish or they simply buy the fittings. I don’t think there’s many places that offer what we do,” says Leah.
A recent kitchen renovation
From their boutique retail studio in Belrose, the duo work primarily on renovations, some new builds and have a construction arm. “Galit’s husband is a builder so we can manage the whole job as we have a team of trades,” says Leah. So far, customers have found the business in one of two ways – they are either doing a Sydney-based renovation or they’re simply after hardware. “We work on many local projects, but we also ship custom vanities and fittings all over Australia,” says Leah.
All of the business’ joinery is custom made locally using solid Australian timber while their basins are either custom made locally or imported. The business prides itself on providing the full service. “When we give solutions, it starts with the tiles and includes the cupboards and ends with the finer details such as little hooks,” says Leah.
A recent bathroom renovation
“We help with design and guide our customers through their projects as an extra free service,” says Leah who explains that the one-stop shop concept saves her clients time and money. “People used to have to run all over Sydney to source things, but you can find everything in our studio. Not only is it more convenient, but it’s a cheaper way of doing it too,” says Leah.
Galit’s top three current reno trends
Neutral palette: As for current bathroom and kitchen trends, Galit explains that things are moving in a more neutral direction. “We have moved away from the pinks, blues and greens of the last few years into more earthy neutral tones such as coffee, cotton and linen.”
Innovative materials: “People are seeking a bit more innovation in their renovation, so we are always looking at new materials. Porcelain bench tops have become a very popular choice for the kitchen in the last couple of years. Not everyone is brave enough to use it though.”
3D and tactile surfaces: “V-groove boards in the kitchen and compressed fibre cement boards in the bathroom remain very popular.”
Leaving behind its well-known Rosebery headquarters, furniture and homewares brand Koskela has just launched a new concept space and headquarters in the newly reimagined Sub Base Platypus on Sydney Harbour. A former submarine base in North Sydney, the beautiful new store runs across two levels and the interior has been crafted from solid Australian timbers and Sydney sandstone, reflecting the local area. The materials are the perfect complement to the gorgeous, understated aesthetic of the brand.
Koskela’s new Sydney concept store
“We are excited to open this curated space to provide a new experience for our customers. The role of the store has changed since COVID and we think our new location reflects the type of experience customers are looking for. We want to connect and make memories with our visitors, bringing true connection and meaning to the pieces that they own, hopefully making them heirlooms to be treasured and maintained as a piece of Australian history,” says Koskela co-founder Sasha Titchkosky.
Customers can make material selections in this tranquil spot
The new space will offer opportunities to book in-store consultations and see exhibitions by leading First Nations artists from across the country, all while enjoying incredible panoramic harbour views. The brand has collaborated with award-winning Koori artist, Blak Douglas on a permanent installation artwork to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Blak has been selected as a finalist in the Archibald Prize three times, including in 2019, and has had works collected by the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, as well as internationally.
Indigenous artworks adorn the walls
Formerly a torpedo factory, submarine and gasworks, Sub Base Platypus (formerly HMAS Platypus) has been reimagined by ASPECT Studio and Lahznimmo Architects who have made it into a destination in itself. The revitalisation features a scenic waterfront promenade with views, a shaded BBQ area with seating and well as a playground. The base is accessible by bus and ferry and makes for the perfect day out in Sydney.
What a view!
“Looking for a new space, we focussed on finding somewhere that captured the essence of Sydney and naturally the harbour was always front and centre. We are thrilled to have found a new home in this remarkable location – steeped in history and boasting beautiful waterside views. Even the motto for HMAS Platypus ‘Nothing too Difficult’ seems apt for our new home.”
Sub Base Platypus. Image: Geoff Maggie (courtesy of The Harbour Trust)
When Vanessa Opazo left her native Spain seven years ago to pursue an architectural role in Sydney and improve her English, it was a trip that was only supposed to last a year. Fast forward seven years and not only is Vanessa no longer working as an architect, but she has started a successful calligraphy and crystal business called Bondi Letters.
Vanessa in her architect days
“I worked in commercial building design, mainly facades, but I used to teach a lot back in Spain and I found I really missed that connection with people,” says Vanessa Opazo who resides in Sydney’s Bondi. And while she loved architecture in the beginning, eventually she found it more technical than creative and began to look around for another artistic avenue.
Vanessa Opazo
After finding an online calligraphy and brush lettering course, Vanessa fell in love with the art. “After a tough day at work in architecture calligraphy was my ‘me’ time. I found it to be really therapeutic and I got very good at it quickly,” says Vanessa who decided to combine the skill with her love of teaching by running calligraphy and brush lettering workshops in Sydney.
“It started as a hobby to pay for my materials. I was donating the money at the beginning. I was working full-time so didn’t need the money at all really. But the courses got very popular, and I started needing more and more time,” says Vanessa who slowly cut her architecture days back before leaving the job entirely.
Vanessa teaching a calligraphy workshop
But when COVID hit, Vanessa had to diversify the business and she began running online courses too which resulted in many more students tuning in from interstate and overseas. Students receive a kit before the class that includes a calligraphy pen, nibs, ink and work book and while Vanessa started with calligraphy and brush lettering classes, she has since added a class called ‘Watercolour Meditations’ that is proving very popular. That course includes meditation, education on colour theory and practical advice on mixing colours as well as a painting component and breath work too.
Vanessa’s online courses have been embraced by corporate Australia too where she has run them for Google and Atlassian to name a few. “I have a really big workshop coming up in WA soon where I’ve doing the Watercolour Meditations course with 80 miners!” says Vanessa who has found the online platform Classbento to be a great way to spread the word about her offering. “Classbento helps creatives that want to teach and run workshops connect with people,” says Vanessa.
Brush lettering
Another facet of the business, Vanessa’s foray into crystals came about after she included them as part of one of her workshops. “I wanted to gift my students something meaningful that they could take home as a reminder of the time spent together. I then started receiving a lot of messages about the crystals specifically and had over 100 requests in the end,” says Vanessa.
Bondi Letters crystals
The crystals are now sold through Vanessa’s online store alongside a series of art prints and gift cards, created with another Bondi business – Wildfire Co. Design. “There are so many zodiac prints on the market but mine combine that with my crystal obsession,” says Vanessa of the prints that feature zodiac signs alongside each respective birth stone.
Bondi Letters Taurus zodiac print with crystals
As for the current collective obsession with crystals, Vanessa feels it’s part of a wider push to embrace our spiritual sides. “I’m really drawn to crystals, not just because they’re really beautiful but because I feel an energy connection with them.”
It was January 2017 when architect James Pilcher and his wife Alice moved into their first family home in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove. Alice was pregnant with the couple’s first child and they had plans to update the solid yet tired California Bungalow into something much more liveable for their growing family. Over the course of four years, the couple undertook two separate renovations (one cosmetic and one structural) while adding three babies and a Labrador puppy into the mix. What a ride!
Kitchen
Powder room
“We did both renovations while I was pregnant and/or managing a newborn. I must be crazy!” says Alice, who is currently on maternity leave from her marketing role at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), but has always had a passion for interior design. It’s an interest that complements her husband’s work as an architect in his business Mileham, which focusses on residential renovations, knockdown/rebuilds and new builds in Sydney.
Dining room
The bungalow was in pretty original condition when Alice and James bought it, save for a little 1990s-era extension at the back. They decided to move into the home and get to know it before making any changes but within six months, had removed myriad internal walls and undertaken a full cosmetic renovation at the front of the home. “We only did the front part of the home as we knew we would eventually knock the back down. For 18 months, we lived in this gorgeous house at the front while stepping out the back was like stepping into a time warp!”
Lounge
The home followed the usual California Bungalow layout, with many large, disconnected spaces. “In the 60s, people started adding things on the back of these bungalows. This original house was a typical rabbit warren style with room after room and people in the past didn’t care so much about indoor/outdoor living,” says James, who has since ensured that the house flows beautifully out onto the back yard.
The renovated home features a two-storey extension at the back and now features three levels. The lower level has a wine and rumpus room while the middle level has a kitchen, outdoor terrace, powder room, three bedrooms, family bathroom, laundry plus both casual and formal lounge and dining areas. The third level features two bedrooms including a master bedroom and ensuite.
Master ensuiteMaster ensuite
The original home featured rough stucco over masonry walls as well as external shingles which have since been replaced with James Hardie Linea weatherboard – a material that features on the back extension too. “This ensured there is a consistency of materials between the old and new,” says James.
Master bedroom
And while the home has a breezy, Hamptons-inspired feel, Alice was sure to include a variety of fun fixtures and fittings to really put her stamp on it. There are Colonial-inspired rattan ceiling fans that you might find at Raffles in Singapore, lemur wallpaper in the powder room, black-framed shower screen doors and mottled gold bathroom fittings. “We got the tapware from Bunnings and sent it away to have it dipped to match the other aged brass finishes in the home which saved us about $5k. I also sourced the master ensuite cabinetry stone and brass knobs from Etsy and they are beautiful quality,” says Alice who ordered curtains and blinds from Blinds Online in another cost-saving move.
Family bathroom
As for renovating as an architect, there were many tense moments – especially with Alice experiencing self-confessed hormonal fluctuations throughout her pregnancies. “Here’s my wife Alice thinking she’s the client and I’m the architect. She kept forgetting that I’m half the client as well!” says James who had to balance creating a home that was reflective of his work whilst working as a functional family home too. “I’m proud of what we’ve created, and Alice is continuing to add to the décor to make it feel more like a home. It’s satisfying that we’ve created a beautiful home for our kids to grow up in.”
Home renovation expert advice: BuildHer Collective’s top five tips – The Interiors Addict
While COVID-19 has changed our lives in so many ways there’s no doubt that the focus on our homes has never been greater. Re-examining how we live in our homes,…
“I was one of those lucky kids that knew what I wanted to be from a young age and I decided I wanted to be an interior designer at the age of 10,” says interior designer Greg Natale who celebrated an incredible 20 years in the business at the end of last year. And with a large interior design business, countless product lines and his own homewares empire in the works, it’s hard not to be impressed by the designer whose work ethic is second to none.
Greg Natale in his homewares flagship store in Potts Point
Growing up as the child of hard-working Italian immigrants, in Sydney’s south-western suburbs, Greg found escape in the small screen, with movies and TV shows proving integral in determining his career path. “We didn’t travel much as kids as my father was always working, but I travelled through film and television,” says Greg when describing the genesis of his design passion. And while set design was never considered (“I didn’t even know what that was”), the world of architecture and interiors beckoned with Greg first studying architecture at the University of Technology Sydney, and then interior design at Enmore Design Centre.
“My elder sister is a fashion designer, and my father was in the building industry, so I was heavily exposed to design from a very young age. I guess it was a mash up of all these different things, but I was always a creative kid,” says Greg who is the only son in the family and has four older sisters.
Toorak penthouse
Greg worked for other people before starting Greg Natale Design in 2001 and has worked hard ever since. “You need to be determined, persistent and very patient in this business as things do take time to take off. You really need to believe in yourself and know that rejections are par for the course,” says Greg who has gone from one staff member to a team of 24 who work across his interior design and homewares businesses.
Bondi Beach apartment
His interior design clients are located all over Australia, and he mainly works on new build large family homes and penthouses, with some commercial work too. Currently, he has a whopping 40 design projects in the works with his large clientele drawn to his singular aesthetic. “For me, it’s important to have a signature style. You do want to stand out from the crowd,” says Greg,
Greg’s own apartment
Following on from the success of his interior design business, Greg started licencing his work about 15 years ago, initially with a collection for Designer Rugs. He is now working on his eighth collection for the rug brand and also creates wallpaper ranges for Signature Prints, tiles for Bisazza, tiles and bathroom ware for Teranova and has a fabric range in the works for Elliott Clarke.
Greg Natale’s tile and basin collection for Teranova
And if all of that wasn’t enough, he also launched a homewares line five years ago. Designed in-house at his Surry Hills studio, the range is now sold in Bergdorf Goodman in New York as well as Amara, Luxe Deco and in his own Sydney flagship store in Potts Point.
“We’ve also just launched into all the major David Jones stores nationally. The homewares business is really growing,” says Greg, who explains that while he has a lot on the go it’s all been years in the making. “I’ve been giving the homewares business a really hard slog for the last five years and it only really started to take off recently,” says Greg.
Greg’s latest table top range which has just been launched nationally through David Jones
As for career highlights, Greg was thrilled to be named Belle Magazine’s Interior Designer of the year twice. “Winning it twice was a real highlight. I’m also just finishing my third book now which I’m excited about – it’s called The Layered Interior and it comes out in October,” says Greg. And when it comes to his aesthetic, he believes it is always evolving but that he has felt Modernism’s pull of late. “My work is definitely getting more modern and contemporary. I think there is a trend back to Modernism and my work has a lot of modern lines, despite the layers.”
One of Australia’s leading designers, when Greg Natale looks into his crystal ball makes interior trend predictions we sit up and take notice. Read on for his take on what…
Nestled in one of Sydney’s harbourside suburbs, this petite courtyard was renovated recently, just in time for summer and its fabulous outdoor entertaining. The work of Joanne Neylon of Joanne Green Landscape and Interior (who celebrates 40 years in business this year!), the owners wanted the space to feel contemporary and tranquil while providing a backdrop for outdoor entertaining. They also wanted improved flow between the inside of their home and the outdoors.
The new outdoor lounge area
Set on just 40 square metres and positioned adjacent to the street, Joanne was tasked with creating a private zone that still had a sense of openness – not an easy task. After demolishing the existing landscaping, the designer created a new levelled entertaining space with New Guinea Rosewood decking the foundation for the design.
Dining
From there, she added planting, lighting and furniture. “We included a number of custom features in this design, but my favourite would be the Rosewood gate – it was a small design feature which serves a functional purpose but is equally beautiful,” says Joanne. Custom fibreglass planters in Dulux Monument are a key garden detail, and they work to frame the entertaining space.
The Rosewood gate and custom fibreglass planters
The plant palette includes a classic mix of resilient exotics including palms, azalea, rain lily, Chinese star jasmine and camellia. “Our client had specifically requested a plant that would add colour and something she could pick, so the camellia delivered this perfectly,” says Joanne.
Clever lighting choices serve to highlight the garden at night – there’s a mix of overhead, wall, step, barbeque and garden. “Lighting is often something people overlook in a design but is an important element especially for those wanting to enjoy Sydney’s warm evenings outdoors,” says Joanne.
Custom built planter boxes
Overall, Joanne and her client are very happy with the new garden area that is set to be put to good use over the holiday season. “It wasn’t until the client had arranged the furniture that I thought, it reminded me of the south of France. It was the combination of colours, the striped awnings, lush palms and perhaps the ‘apartment near the ocean’ locale that evoked these feelings. I love it, and I know our client is very pleased.”
Embrace the sun with Freedom’s new outdoor furniture range
Welcome the sunshine this summer by merging your indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy alfresco living, extending your home while embracing the warmer weather. To help create this outdoor oasis…
Hilton Little Queen St Melbourne by Bates Smart. Photography: Kristoffer Paulsen
A celebration of Australia’s most exceptionally designed hospitality venues, the winners of the 2021 Eat Drink Design Awards have been announced with plenty of fabulous design to be found within the recipient list. Spanning restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, temporary venues and retail spaces, the awards recognise the best of Australian hospitality design and this year, despite testing COVID-led times, there’s some truly inspirational interiors in the mix.
“If there was an overarching trend across this year’s entries, we can see strong evidence of the restrained and the residential. There was a shift toward more utilitarian materials, creating future-forward spaces that avoid fuss and decoration. However, when decoration did appear, it carried a distinctly residential touch, with some venues in Adelaide and Auckland feeling less like restaurants and more like much-loved homes. It’s in these sorts of homely spaces that we often have the best hospitality experiences,” says Cassie Hansen, editor of Artichoke and Eat Drink Design Award jury chair.
Little Prince Wine. Photography: Sharyn Cairns
The Best Bar Design award was taken out by Little Prince Wine by IF Architecture. Located beneath St Kilda’s iconic Prince Hotel, Little Prince Wine looks as if it has always existed beneath the iconic venue.
Little Prince Wine. Photography: Sharyn Cairns
The Best Restaurant category produced two fabulous winners – Italian restaurant CicciaBella by Fiona Lynch Design (located in Sydney’s Paramatta) and Agnes by Amok, a restaurant located in a late-nineteenth-century warehouse on the edge of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley
CicciaBella by Fiona Lynch Interior Design. Photography: Pablo Veiga
Agnes by Amok. Photography: Cathy Schusler
Another Brisbane venue, Industry Beans, was recognised with Platform by DesignOffice taking out the award for Best Café Design. “Brisbane’s rise as a formidable food destination was reflected in this year’s awards. The Queensland capital’s booming restaurant, bar and cafe scene was underrepresented, with just four entries across the entire awards, but two won their respective categories and a third was shortlisted. Watch this space,” says Cassie.
Industry Beans by Platform by DesignOffice. Photography: Andy Macpherson
Designed by Bates Smart, Melbourne’s Hilton Little Queen St took out the Best Hotel Design award. Oozing with sophistication, the project was recognised for its fabulous lobby dining and drinking destinations – an overall trend that that was recognised by the judges.
Hilton Little Queen St Melbourne by Bates Smart. Photography: Kristoffer Paulsen
“We have witnessed an Australian renaissance of the hotel restaurant and bar, with especially strong hospitality offerings in Melbourne with the new and district hotels that have emerged since 2019,” says Cassie.
Hilton Little Queen St Melbourne by Bates Smart. Photography: Kristoffer Paulsen
Located in Sydney, Bill’s Darlinghurst took out the Hall of Fame award this year. Each year, one landmark venue is honoured for enduring excellence in the design of a hospitality venue of more than 10 years standing. Bills Darlinghurst was designed by Brian Kiernan with later additions by Tyrone Dearing and Meacham Nockles.
Bills Darlinghurst by Brian Kiernan with later additions by Tyrone Dearing and Meacham Nockles. Photography: Ross Honeysett
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While a trip to Italy is off the cards for a while, Sydneysiders can get a taste of Rome courtesy of the food and interiors at the new restaurant Cucina…
The biophilic design trend continues apace and thus so does our obsession with bringing the outside into our homes as much as possible. Literally surrounded by flora, this Sydney garden was designed by The Greenwall Company founder Mark Paul and it’s just been announced the winner of the Green Space Residential Award in the 2021 Australian Institute of Horticulture Awards.
Mark’s family home is not only a sustainable haven (that has the ability to exist off the grid in the middle of Sydney), but it features an array of innovative landscape features including greenwalls, greenroofs, Eco Pillows and even removable pond gabions.
The winning garden
“There are six large podium planters with one containing a 12,000 litre wetland and pond over the garage. It has greenwalls and greenroofs, rock (lithophytic) and tree plantings (epiphytic). It considers amenity, aspect, cultural requirements, view lines and the needs of a family and two boys who need to understand about vegetable gardens, chickens, fish and tadpoles to name a few,” says Mark Paul of the garden that was built from the ground up. When Mark started the project, the garden had no soil and a sandstone base which makes the end result all the more incredible.
The front of the home features a nature strip of native grasses and hedges that are cut annually. The three front planter beds are mainly planted with natives, in a nod to the adjacent bushland. There are a total of 140 plant species in the greenwall and 240 species on the roof which makes for amazing biodiversity in the one garden.
The gorgeous rear garden
Recognising excellence in the horticulture industry, the Australian Institute of Horticulture Awards had a huge number of entries this year with projects all around Australia and Singapore putting their hats in the respective ring.
“We are thrilled to have received this award and appreciate the recognition of the 30 plus years I have been involved with the AIH, and the work we have undertaken to find new ways to reclaim the built environment by greening spaces.”
The Block 2021 exterior facade and front garden reveals
It was an emotional night on The Block as the contestants said goodbye to their trades and it sunk in that they were almost done! The scores were a lot…
Growing up in Tasmania, as a competitive equestrian, Sydney’s Kate Berry has a long association with horses. “I’ve always had a connection to horses and the equestrian lifestyle. I gave up riding for my career and ended up in London working in luxury PR,” says Kate. But it was after returning from the UK, when Kate was doing some freelance PR for an equestrian company, that she noticed a gap in the market.
“I had to source some beautiful gifts for some clients. There was nothing in Australia that was of any quality – that really reflected that beautiful, aspirational equestrian style,” says Kate who subsequently launched an equestrian themed online homewares store in 2017, Just Gorgeous Things.
Just Gorgeous Things’ new Parramatta store features five rooms of equestrian themed wares
“I’ve always loved the high-end equestrian aesthetic as seen with the likes of Hermes, Gucci and Ralph Lauren, but could never find beautiful but accessible pieces with as much appeal in the Australian market,” who has just opened a complementary bricks and mortar store in Parramatta.
The five-room emporium is filled with horse themed furniture and homewares and services an equestrian clientele as well as a more general one. “I have found it fascinating how equestrian style resonates with many people that aren’t horsey. It’s a style that works in all sorts of homes from Hamptons to French provincial,” says Kate.
As for the store’s location, Kate explains that it is central to her equestrian clients that come in from Dural, Richmond, Windsor, the Southern Highlands and more to purchase her wares.
The brand’s leather furniture pieces are some of its most popular items
The business also has a styling arm where Kate services equestrian as well as regular clients. She started doing high-end stables and viewing arenas before moving the aesthetic into homes. “I have high-end equestrian customers and get to work on incredible projects. Recently I put a beautiful wine cellar into an American style stable block in Queensland.”
Kate is hoping that the Paramatta store is the first of many with future interstate stores within her sights. “I love retail and homewares and would love to expand the business. Ultimately, it has grown to what it is today because people are drawn to that gorgeous, aspirational equestrian style.”
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Located in Sydney’s Walsh Bay, this two-storey, three-bedroom apartment is the work of the celebrated interior designer, and Interiors Addict favourite, Greg Natale. From the sumptuous architectural curves to the voluptuous furniture and beautiful muted palette, this project is a softer take on Greg’s signature, patterned aesthetic.
The double-height ceiling makes a dramatic statement in the living room
“The brief requested ‘plenty of curves’ as well as a delicate palette and the use of modern European furniture. The owner wanted a soft, contemporary space filled with fluid lines,” says Greg. Curves aside, the home’s colour palette is rather gorgeous – cinnamon, mustard, violet and grey give the spaces a sophisticated yet playful edge.
Living room
A deftly executed space, the living room is one of the most striking parts of the property – from a custom made and curved stairway to curved walls, a built-in bench and cabinetry, the space challenges the limits of Gyprock. Crafted from the brand’s Flexible plasterboard range, the product is designed to bend for small radius curves and it certainly helped Greg achieve that shapely design brief.
Gorgeous artwork and accessories pepper the spaces
“When I’m designing a space, the walls and ceilings are among my first considerations. They’re an essential layer of the architecture, and a wonderful way of introducing pattern into the framework of a room, helping to define its look and add interest and drama,” says Greg.
Kitchen
The kitchen features soft grey marble, brass and statement pendant lights as well as a gorgeous colour palette that merges pink and yellow with white and grey.
The master bedroom is a unique space with its open-plan design. The bed sits adjacent to a walk-in robe while a freestanding bath sits alongside a fully furnished living area. “The master bedroom and ensuite, with its organic lines, continue the apartment’s blend of luxury and comfort in which curves and colours combine to create a sophisticated, serene space,” says Greg.
Master bedroom
The Gyprock Flexible plasterboard range was used in this room too where the bulkheads, containing services, were crafted into a curved feature. “Utilising curves in the ceiling coffers resulted in a restrained and elegant layer of detail that suits the soft palette of the space and continues its story of curves.”
Greg Natale’s new wallpaper collection with Signature Prints
When we hear Greg Natale and wallpaper in the same sentence, of course we get excited! The Sydney interior designer has teamed up with Signature Prints for his new Greco-Roman…
