WASHING MACHINE 5 E N E R G Y RATING 251kWh DRYER 9 E N E R G Y RATING 144 kWh
SCAN TO SHOP 1 2 4 7 8 5 9 3 6 1. Personalised Palm Yoga Mat, $74.90. 2. Linen Bathrobe, $165. 3. Eden Vase Mini, $50. 4. Cali Cheese Knife Set, $61. 5. Lyon Stemless Wine Glass Set, $114.99. 6. Custom Personalised Gingham Cermaic Mug, $95. 7. Bubble Pearl Hoop Earrings, $166.80. 8. Taupe Large Travel Jewellery Box, $109. 9. iPhone Crossbody Case and Rope Strap – Forest Green, $64.95. GIFT-SPO A collection of gorgeous gifts for her
decorating H G 1 2 5 3 4 6 AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 53 Distinctive artworks to inspire your own home gallery. PRODUCTION Tanya Buchanan | STYLING Olga Lewis | PHOTOGRAPHY Will Horner ON DISPLAY 1 Synergy by Michael Mitsas, $1700, Saint Cloche. 2 Mana by Mim Fluhrer, $2800, Curatorial+Co. 3 Sine Wave 1 by Daniel O’Toole, $1800, Saint Cloche. 4 Pink by Stacey Rees, $2200, Saint Cloche. 5 Close Your Eyes And Count To Ten by Emma Labattaglia, $1500, Saint Cloche. 6 Wild Thing by Katarina Wells, $550, Curatorial+Co. From left Chair, POA, rustic painted brass sconces, $320 each, and marble-topped tea table, $1200, all Watertiger. Vintage rattan table lamp, $490, and 1980s green marble and brass candle holders, $590/set of two, both East Wing Studio. Crystal jug, $149, Moroccan pot, and vintage dish, $266, all Mercer & Lewis.
54 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G decorating 1 5
2 3 4 6 6 7 8 1 Tomato and Basil by Leanne Xiu Williams, $2900, Saint Cloche. 2 This Time Tomorrow by Ben Crawford, $1950, Curatorial+Co. 3 Yellow gum by Alix Hunter, $950, Michael Reid Southern Highlands. 4 Shadow Trace (Bernina 1130) by Olivia Arnold, $800, Saint Cloche. 5 Nude by Samuel Condon, $2150, Studio Gallery. 6 Untitled (pattern II) by Lucy Anderson, $900, Saint Cloche. 7 Tremble by Lily Cummins, $885, Curatorial+Co. 8 The Other Side by Mitchell Cheesman, $2100, Curatorial+Co. ‘Rue’ rattan sconces, $728 each, Dunlin. Vintage chairs, $690/two, and iron stand, $355, all Mercer & Lewis. Edwardian table, from $2200, Watertiger. Terracotta pot, approx $79, Bunnings. On table Red Amphora vessel by Katarina Wells, $550, Cutatorial+Co. Italian ‘Splatter Stripe’ fruit bowl, $180, candle holders in Cherry, from $105 each, and 19th-century French linen napkins, $240/set of six, all Victoria Collison. #
Patti Southern (pictured, left), Laura Lalaurette (right) with Rufus, the Cavoodle. OPPOSITE A plant section by Ivy Alley adds a flourish of greenery (top right), while interesting decor (top left) abounds, thanks to the 50 vendors onsite. Treasure HUNTERS Three enterprising furniture dealers join forces to bring a treasure trove of antique, vintage and second-hand interiors to Sydney’s Inner West. STORY Rachel White | PHOTOGRAPHY Will Horner
United by a common love of all things interiors, design buffs Laura Lalaurette, Patti Southern and David Southern are the brains behind The Merchants Warehouse, a newly-opened furniture and design centre in Annandale, NSW. An Aladdin’s cave of one-off treasures housed in a 2000sqm warehouse, The Merchants Warehouse stocks everything from European antiques and Midcentury modern pieces to fashion and decor. “We try to cater for everyone,” says Laura. “We have a little bit of everything – every era and style, and even vintage and designer fashion.” With many years in the business and a wealth of knowledge between them, Laura, Patti and David have sustainability front of mind with this new venture. “Our whole business is about recycling, upcycling and reusing,” says Laura. “We do a lot of restorations and try to upcycle and recycle as much as we possibly can – even old nails, handles, glass and timber. We also have a room full of boxes, bubble wrap and packing materials brought in by our vendors that we use for postage. We have never bought bubble wrap, as a matter of principle.” The trio have put their heart and soul into The Merchants Warehouse, so much so that Laura says, “I go to sleep thinking: ‘Where am I going to put that lamp? Where will it look the best?’ – that sort of thing.” Less than a year into this exciting new venture, the future is looking bright for the furniture and design centre. With 50 dealers onsite sourcing items from around the world, Laura says it’s the place to come if you’re looking for quality pieces with personality. “Our vision was to create a space with incredible design pieces, antiques and anything related to beautiful interiors,” she says. “We want to keep evolving. It’s early days but we’re heading in the right direction.” > The Merchants Warehouse: Located on the corner of Booth and Guihen Streets, Annandale, NSW; themerchantswarehouse.com.au. AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 57 DESIGN H G
Vintage gems of all sorts, from a range of decades, happily cohabit in the expansive warehouse. A 19th-century English antique bookcase (above left) and a set of decorative books (above right) marry well with 19th-century French doors, a dressmaker’s dummy, an antique camera (bottom right), and a 1950s plant pot (bottom left). OPPOSITE A pair of Mid-century, black leather Danish swing chairs and two beige Danish armchairs, both originally made in the 1960s, steal the show. 58 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
Love story Laura says the most fulfilling thing about her job is seeing people fall in love with something unique. “I absolutely love our customers. They’re usually ready to fall in love, so they come in happy and they leave happy. It’s really nice.” DESIGN H G
With their passion for sourcing eye-catching and rare pieces, the specialist vendors at The Merchants Warehouse have created a colourful display. A pair of retro 1970s table lamps, several one-of-a-kind pendant lights, some funky orange glassware and a range of antique and vintage artworks adorn the wall in this corner of the 2000sqm warehouse. 60 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN H G DESIGN
Make your bathroom dreams a reality. Start creating at imagin3d.reece.com.au Imagin3D is our 3D planning tool that brings your bathroom ideas to life. Visualise colour and style, explore 100s of products, and share your 3D plans with trades, all from the one tool.
FLAVOURFUL DISHES FOR BUSY WEEKNIGHTS AND LAZY WEEKENDS Styling by Steve Cordony. Photograph by Jeremy Simons. Backgrounds by SLIP Ceramics. Calligraphy by Lesley Workman. Society Limonta napkin, Ondene. Bowl by Jeremy Simons, SLIP Ceramics. Scissors and vegetable peeler, stylist’s own.
Spend less time in the kitchen, thanks to these all-in-one-dish recipes from The Cordony Kitchen, and still impress your dinner guests. RECIPES Amanda Cordony | STYLING Steve Cordony | PHOTOGRAPHY Jeremy Simons TRAY BAKES H G entertaining
Bowls, tea towel and cutlery, stylist’s own. Baking tray, The DEA store. Society Limonta napkin, Ondene. Blue-eye cod with baked potato, leek & macadamias
66 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN A sprinkling of fragrant nigella seeds on top of a richly flavoured tray bake will spice up any ordinary midweek meal.
entertaining H G Chicken korma bake with pumpkin & ginger entertaining H G
68 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN BLUE-EYE COD WITH BAKED POTATO, LEEK & MACADAMIAS Prep time: 20 minutes. Cooking time: 1 hour, 10 minutes. Serves: 4–6. 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 700g washed white potatoes, 1cm-thick rounds 1 leek, pale section only, 1.5cm-thick rounds ¼ cup (60ml) olive oil 1 lemon, zested and juiced, plus extra wedges to serve 700g blue-eye cod, skin off, pin-boned, sliced into 6 fi llets ½ cup roughly chopped salted macadamias Creamy cornichon & dill sauce 120g whole egg mayonnaise ½ lemon, juiced 50g baby cornichons, fi nely chopped 2 tablespoons fi nely chopped dill leaves, plus extra sprigs to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan-forced). 2 To make sauce, place mayonnaise, juice, cornichons and dill into a bowl. Season. Mix to combine and set aside in fridge. 3 Place garlic, potato and leek into a large baking tray. Toss with 2 tablespoons (40ml) oil and zest. Spread evenly and drizzle with juice. 4 Bake for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and lay cod fi llets evenly over vegetables. Drizzle over remaining oil and scatter over macadamias. Season. Bake for a further 15 minutes or until fi sh is just cooked through. 5 Scatter over dill sprigs, season, and serve tray with lemon wedges and sauce on the side. STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH CANNELLINI, TOMATO & FIOR DI LATTE Prep time: 20 minutes. Cooking time: 55 minutes. Serves: 4–6. 2 eggplants, halved lengthways, fl esh scored in a diamond pattern ⅓ cup (80ml) olive oil 2 lemons, zested, plus extra wedges to serve 1 tablespoon tomato paste 200g cherry tomatoes, quartered 400g can cannellini beans, drained 2 tablespoons fi nely chopped parsley 150g fresh fi or di latte, torn into 3cm pieces 20g fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, plus extra leaves to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan-forced). 2 Place eggplant halves, scored side up, onto a baking tray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons (40ml) of oil and season with salt, rubbing oil and salt into the scored fl esh. Bake for 25 minutes or until tender when tested with a fork. Remove from oven and set aside. 3 Meanwhile place 1 tablespoon (20ml) oil, zest, paste, tomatoes, beans and parsley into a medium bowl. Season, then mix to combine. 4 Break up eggplant fl esh with a fork, keeping skin intact. Spoon even amounts of bean mix into each half, pressing lightly. Place fi or di latte on top. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. 5 Place basil into a small bowl with remaining oil and season. Mix to combine. To serve, drizzle stuffed eggplant with the basil oil, scatter over extra basil leaves and serve with lemon wedges. CHICKEN KORMA BAKE WITH PUMPKIN & GINGER Prep time: 25 minutes, plus soaking. Cooking time: 1 hour. Serves: 4–6. 1 tablespoon korma curry spice mix ⅓ cup (80ml) olive oil 1 large brown onion, thinly sliced 700g Kent pumpkin, skin on, 5cm wedges 4 (1.2kg) chicken Maryland supremes 1 garlic bulb ½ cup basmati rice, rinsed and soaked in cold water for 1 hour 1 cup (250ml) chicken stock 1 teaspoon nigella seeds and fresh coriander leaves, to serve Yoghurt dressing 1 cup (260g) plain yoghurt 1cm piece ginger, fi nely grated 1 Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan-forced). 2 Place spice mix and 2 tablespoons (40ml) oil into a small bowl. Season, combine, set aside. 3 Place onion, pumpkin and chicken into a large deep tray. Pour over spice mix. Rub into chicken skin and toss with vegetables to coat. Place chicken on top of vegetables. 4 Cut top off garlic bulb to expose top of each clove. Nestle bulb in between two chicken pieces. Spoon drained rice into gaps between chicken. Gently pour stock over rice. 5 Drizzle over remaining 2 tablespoons (40ml) oil and season. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked, and chicken skin and rice are crispy. 6 To make dressing, carefully remove garlic from tray and cool slightly. Squeeze cloves into a small bowl, discarding skin. Add yoghurt and ginger. Season. Mix to combine. 7 To serve, scatter nigella seeds and coriander leaves over chicken, drizzle with a little oil, and season. Serve with dressing on the side. APPLE & WALNUT STREUSEL CAKE Prep time: 25 minutes. Cooking time: 35 minutes. Serves: 4–6. 6 eggs, separated 1 cup caster sugar 2 cups almond meal 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts 50ml light fl avour olive oil 3 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, chopped into 1cm pieces Ice cream, to serve (optional) Streusel 1 cup (120g) almond meal ½ cup (200g) fi rmly packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon mixed spice 50g salted butter, melted 1 Preheat oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan-forced). Grease and line a baking tray (26x21x2cm) with 2.5cm of paper overhanging the edges. 2 To make streusel, place almond meal, sugar, cinnamon, mixed spice and butter into a medium bowl, and mix until a crumb-like consistency forms. Set aside. 3 To make cake, place egg yolks and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk until pale in colour. Add almond meal, baking powder, cinammon, walnuts and oil. Gently fold to combine. 4 Place egg whites in a clean bowl of a stand mixer and whisk until soft peaks form. Add to cake mixture and gently fold to combine. 5 Add half of the cake mixture to base of baking tray. Scatter over half of the chopped apple. Pour over remaining cake mixture followed by remaining apple. 6 Scatter over streusel. Bake for 35 minutes or until skewer comes out clean when tested. 7 Cool cake for 15 minutes. Using overhanging paper, gently remove from tray and transfer to a serving board. Serve with ice cream. #
ENTERTAINING H G Cutlery, vase and glass, stylist’s own. Society Limonta napkin, Ondene. Dinner plate by Jeremy Simons, SLIP Ceramics. OPPOSITE Bowl, The DEA Store. Cutlery, stylist’s own. Casserole dish, Chasseur. Stuffed eggplant with cannellini, tomato & fior di latte Lemon and fresh basil give this colourful dish plenty of zesty flavour.
A delicious dessert that will hit the spot on a cool autumn evening. Chopping board, bowl and cutlery, stylist’s own. Society Limonta napkin, Ondene. Apple & walnut streusel cake H G entertaining 70 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
The Ultimate Indulgence Premium fully integrated appliances. Discover the latest at home.liebherr.com.au Refrigeration and freezing
DECORATING H G AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 73 9 by design TEAPOTS Produced by Sophie Wilson. 1 Toile de Jouy porcelain teapot, $1100, Dior. 2 Christofle ‘Albi’ silver-plated teapot, $2778.68, Net-A-Porter. 3 Sophie Conran for Portmeirion white teapot, $119.95, David Jones. 4 Two-cup style teapot in Ash, $210, Mud Australia. 5 Wedgwood ‘Renaissance’ fine bone china teapot in White/Gold, $399, Myer. 6 Ginori 1735 ‘Oriente Italiano’ porcelain teapot, $555, Farfetch. 7 Stoneware teapot with stainless steel infuser in Cayenne, $105, Le Creuset. 8 Herbarium teapot in Green Herbarium, $1195, Gucci. 9 ‘Olympia’ non-drip stainless steel teapot, $22.90, Nisbets. # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Styling by Amy Spargo. Photograph by Lisa Cohen. Calligraphy by Lesley Workman. The history of a Melbourne family home is enhanced by Maine House Interiors with rich colours and prints in the form of wallpapers, upholstery and art. Turn to page 102 for more. CHARACTER-FILLED HOMES BRIMMING WITH INSPIRATION
PERFECT union Two handsome architectural styles, from more than a century apart, knit together harmoniously in this inner-Melbourne family home. STORY Chris Pearson | PHOTOGRAPHY Tess Kelly 76 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
HALLWAY Walls painted Dulux Natural White. ‘Milford’ pendant light, Temple & Webster. ‘Escape Velour’ carpet in Esther, Supertuft. Steel-framed doors, Steel Window Design. Natural oak flooring, Australian Hardwood Flooring & Decking Co. EXTERIOR Facade painted in Dulux Natural White. Front door painted Dulux Duck Egg Blue. houses H G
H G houses
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 79 STAIRCASE Above, left Walls painted Dulux Natural White. ‘Escape Velour’ carpet in Esther, Supertuft. Steel-framed doors, Steel Window Design. Natural oak flooring, Australian Hardwood Flooring & Decking Co. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY Above, right Hay rice paper pendant light shade, Cult. ‘IVAR’ green mesh cabinet, IKEA. Artwork by Jess Racklyeft. ‘Escape Velour’ carpet in Esther, Supertuft. FRONT LIVING ROOM Opposite Walls and joinery painted Dulux Algae, Martino Leah and Blueprint Constructions. Artworks by Carly Williams, Fenton & Fenton. ‘Dreamer’ sofa, Pop and Scott. Neon sign, Electric Confetti. aura and Tom, the owners of a luminescent terrace in inner Melbourne, sit under a crisp A-shaped gable with light cascading through skylights onto a marble kitchen bench. A wall of glazing etched in black steel frames a courtyard and outdoor fireplace beyond. Meanwhile, their children scoot and skate over the burnished concrete floor. This setting is a world away from what they enjoyed here previously: a formal, hexagonal-shaped addition with one set of French doors leading to the garden. The eighties iteration echoed the 1890 facade, but the light and breezy newcomer, designed by architects Martino Leah and crafted by Blueprint Constructions, is pointedly modern and in dramatic contrast to the stately front. “We’d been on the hunt for a Victorian terrace for some time, but they were often dark and claustrophobic,” says Laura. “With its grand proportions and striking street presence, this jumped out at us. As soon as we walked through the door, it was a big ‘yes’.” Tom adds, “It had this fantastic conservatory addition off the back, with slate floors, a hexagon roof with a glass cut-out and a view to a wonderfully wild garden.” In 2016, after moving in with their two girls, Francie, now 11, and Esther, now nine – later joined by Raph, six – the couple tweaked the terrace with paint and new carpets. “But, once our third baby came along, that extension felt like a bottleneck, lacking the flow and space we desired for a rambunctious young family,” Tom says. As well as a new open plan on the rear, in their brief to Paul Martino of Martino Leah in 2018, the couple asked for four bedrooms, a second bathroom and laundry. The original section also needed refurbishing, including a revamped upstairs bathroom and the ground floor shuffled to provide a second living room overlooking the street and a fourth bedroom, which has become the main. “A low-maintenance courtyard, which flowed directly from the living zones, with a fireplace as a focus, and lots of natural light were also priorities,” says Paul. The couple collected ideas on a Pinterest board, landing on a look the architect terms “classic contemporary”, with >
80 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN Paint colours are reproduced as accurately as printing processes allow. Dulux Natural White (walls) Dulux Duck Egg Blue (front door) Dulux Algae (front living room) THE PALETTE LIVING Walls painted Dulux Natural White. Joinery in Laminex Elegant Oak, and polished concrete floor, all Blueprint Constructions. Artwork by Rupert Betheras, Alcaston Gallery. Jardan sofa upholstered in Warwick ‘Beachcomber’ in Smoke. Coffee table, Mark Tuckey. DINING Joinery in Timberwood Panels CleanTouch Laminate in Matt Black. Ceiling, Easycraft Australia. Coco Flip pendant light, Cult. Chairs, Thonet. Table, Apato. Neff ovens. Window, Steel Window Design.
houses H G “The pitched roof presented a great opportunity for a striking steelframed window.” PAUL MARTINO, ARCHITECT
materials such as polished concrete, rendered brick, timber and steel. The old addition yielded to a striking gabled roof, hovering over a luminous open plan that overlooks a cosseting courtyard. “The pitched roof presented a great opportunity for a striking steelframed window to face the courtyard,” says Paul. Reinforcing the link, whitepainted brick walls flow from inside to outside, where they sweep around to form a brise soleil and brick fireplace. “The white recycled bricks, together with the polished-concrete slab and a timber-lined ceiling provide a balance of robustness and warmth,” he says. “This is emphasised by the timber island bench and striking marble benchtop, a focal point in the open plan.” The bathrooms feature white finger mosaics and light grey terrazzo floor tiles for a light touch, while also providing texture and detail. “Old and new are blended through consistent colour and material,” says Paul. “That said, the addition is unashamedly modern – we didn’t want to introduce ‘faux heritage’.” To optimise daylight, he designed a large skylight over the central stairwell and several in the extension. In marked contrast, the front living room became a cosy parents’ retreat, with the walls in a rich moody olive, on Laura’s request. While the home’s colour palette is light and fresh, it is peppered with bold statements, such as lush green carpet, that “colour-flooded” front living and a black backdrop to the kitchen island. The couple have no reservations about shedding the hexagonal past. “The new extension is such a joy to live in. I love observing the changing light and patterns it creates throughout the day and the seasons,” says Laura. “And having the back doors fully open with the fireplace lit is a truly special experience.” > Martino Leah: martinoleah.com.au. Blueprint Constructions: blueprintconstructions.com.au.
houses H G AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 83 THE LAYOUT Bed Bed Bed Bath Bath Kitchen Dining Living Living Bed KITCHEN Tom with Irish terrier Murphy. Joinery in Timberwood Panels CleanTouch Laminate in Matt Black and in Laminex Elegant Oak in Chalk, Blueprint Constructions. Window/doors, Steel Window Design. Benchtops in Breccia Dei Medici marble and Jet Black granite, both CDK Stone. Coco Flip ‘Jolly’ pendant light, Cult. Ceiling lights, About Space. Neff ovens, and LG fridge/freezer, all Winning Appliances. Mixer, Phoenix. Stools, DesignByThem. Chair, Thonet. Dog statue, Fenton & Fenton. Ground floor First floor
84 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN THIS IS THE LIFE “Much of our time is spent in the back extension. Everyone who pops over sits at the bench for a cuppa – it is defi nitely the heart of the home,” says Laura. On quieter days, the family loves to relax with a good book or by watching a movie together. But things aren’t quiet for long. “The back concrete fl oors also get a good run with the scooting and skateboarding,” says Tom.
houses H G COURTYARD Top left Recycled bricks painted Dulux Natural White. ‘Palissade’ chairs in Olive, Hay. Bluestone pavers, RMS Traders. Moriac pebbles, D’Abaco Melbourne. Hearth in polished concrete, Blueprint Constructions. BATHROOM Bottom left Wall tiles, De Fazio Tiles & Stone. Shaving cabinet, Blueprint Constructions. Omvivo ‘Neo’ wall basin, and Phoenix ‘Vivid’ tapware, all Reece. Towel rail, Hydrotherm. MAIN BEDROOM Bottom right ‘Leon’ wall light, About Space. Hay light shade, Cult. Bed linen in Petrol, Bed Threads. Bedside table, Mark Tuckey. Natural oak flooring, Australian Hardwood Flooring & Decking Co. DINING Opposite Esther arrives home from school. Joinery in Timberwood Panels CleanTouch Laminate in Matt Black, Blueprint Constructions. Ceiling, Easycraft Australia. ‘Murray’ wall hooks, Linear Standard. Chairs, Thonet. Dining table, Apato. Doors, Steel Window Design.
EXTERIOR Murphy ambles down a bluestone paver path from RMS Traders. Recycled pressed red bricks painted Dulux Natural White. ‘Pillar’ up/down wall lights, About Space. Steel-framed doors, Steel Window Design. Planters, Pots n Pots. Moriac pebbles, D’Abaco Melbourne.
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 87 HOUSES H G Produced by Saffron Sylvester. THE SOURCE Calming shades of olive and blond timber set the tone for a welcoming interior scheme. 1 Muuto ‘Ambit’ Rail Lamp pendant light in Dusty Green, $1695, Living Edge. 2 ‘Sola’ showerhead, $179.90, and extended shower dropper in Brushed Nickel (600mm), $99, ABI Interiors. 3 ‘Tolley’s Upright’ olive tree (Olea europaea), from $19.99, Flower Power. 4 Grounded in Magic artwork by Kiasmin Burrell (124x94cm), $3800, Michael Reid Gallery Northern Beaches. 5 ‘Bobby’ bar stool in Ash Solid, $625, DesignByThem. 6 Hay ‘Palissade’ outdoor dining chair in Olive, $590, Cult. 7 ‘Salma’ mini cushion in Aloe, $79, L&M Home. 8 Respect terracotta tapered planter (50cm), $99.50, Bunnings. 9 Ground Control Rugs ‘Pallas Weave’ rug in Coral (150cm), $939, Hardtofind. 10 ‘Always’ pan in Sage, $275, Our Place. 11 ‘Cove’ dining table (150cm), $1599, Freedom. # 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 7 10 11 9
Rural charm meets city sophistication in this vast family home transformed into a dream urban farmhouse by Three Birds Renovations for one of their own. STORY Chris Pearson | PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Warnes, Maree Homer & Kristian Beek COUNTRY club
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 89 FAMILY ROOM Walls painted Dulux Still. Sofa, coffee table and artwork, all MCM House. Rug, Freedom. Pot, The Voyage Home. Curtain, Luxaflex. EXTERIOR ‘Hardie Oblique’ cladding painted Dulux Grey Port, and roof in Lysaght ‘Snapseam’, both James Hardie. Windows, Stegbar. Wall lights, Beacon Lighting. Front door, Corinthian Doors. Feature wall stone, Artisan Exterior. houses H G Exterior photograph by Chris Warnes. Family room photograph by Maree Homer.
H G houses STUDY Walls painted Dulux Still. ‘Amore’ pendant light, Beacon Lighting. Table and rug, both Freedom. Chair, tumbler and dish, all Black Salt Co. Stool, Clo Studios. Tray, MCM House. Basket, Alba Atelier. Bowl, stylist’s own. Floors in Smokey Ash, Woodcut. LIVING ‘Calcario’ linear stone wall, Artisan Exterior. Arabescato Borghini shelf, Talostone. Sofa, chairs, side table and vase, all Freedom. Coffee table and vessel, both Clo Studios. Rug, Miss Amara. Lamp, MCM House. Bowl, The Foundry. Artwork by Louisa Shield. Fireplace, Lopi.
akeover maven Erin Cayless of Three Birds Renovations takes the trickiest projects in her stride. When she and husband Nathan first saw this home in Sydney’s North West, she knew it was “the one” for their family before walking in the door. “We were confident from the photos that we’d be able to renovate it,” says Erin. “The land drew us in and, when we saw the pool, cabana, mature gardens and tennis court, we knew it would be perfect for our family.” That family includes children, Mia, now 18, Eddy, 16, Marli, 14, and schnoodle, Honey. Stepping inside seemed a mere formality. After taking in the open plan, vaulted ceilings, conservatory-style kitchen and the general “good bones”, the couple signed on the dotted line in 48 hours. Erin knew those bones would provide the vertebrae for her vision of an “urban farmhouse”. Forget any plaid or frills. “The look combines the classic charm of a farmhouse with a stylish, modern, urban edge,” she says. But the brick exterior with terracotta roof was a world away from that vision. First up, she and her friends/business partners Bonnie Hindmarsh and Lana Taylor transformed the outside, in their largest exterior makeover to date. Steel roofing gives a rural feel but its ribbed profile and deep grey hue lend an urban twist, neatly encapsulating the look Erin was after. “One of the biggest transformations on the facade was the roof, of which this house has a lot. Because we’re [positioned] lower than the road, you can see almost every inch,” she says. “Changing the colour and textures of the facade using stone and timber-style cladding, as well as the new black-framed doors and windows also brought the facade to life.” Because Erin loves entertaining, generous indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces, with an effortless flow between the two, also topped her shopping list. “The existing porch was too small, so we extended it to create a huge 12m by 5.5m covered alfresco area with a barbecue and its own kitchen, one of the major design and structural elements,” says Erin. Running along the northern side of the house, it provides a seamless connection to what drew her to the property – pool, cabana and tennis court. The huge open plan runs parallel to this, with a light and airy kitchen at the far end. That enlarged patio freed up the opposite side of the ground floor, wasted as a second living area on a split level, for a much larger foyer, guest bedroom with ensuite (making five bedrooms all up) and that family must-have, a mudroom. Meanwhile, on the first floor, Erin sacrificed a study to accommodate a second walk-in for her and Nathan, while a small bedroom became a family bathroom, shared by the two Study photograph by Chris Warnes. Living room photograph by Maree Homer. younger children, while Mia now has her own ensuite. > AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 91
THE PALETTE H G houses 92 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN Dulux Still (family room, atrium and study walls) Dulux Grey Port (exterior cladding) Dulux Buff It Half (interior walls and ceilings) Paint colours are reproduced as accurately as printing processes allow. Portrait photograph by Maree Homer. Kitchen photography by Chris Warnes.
KITCHEN Three Birds Renovations team Bonnie Hindmarsh, Lana Taylor and Erin Cayless, who is also the owner of this home. Walls painted Dulux Buff It Half. Joinery in Polytec ‘Woodmatt’ veneer in Nordic Oak, Carrera By Design. Benchtops and splashback in Arabescato Borghini, Talostone. Pendant light, MCM House. Stools, Satara. Franke ‘Olten’ mixer, Reece. Rangehood and cooker, Ilve. Terracotta vase, chopping board, and mortar and pestle, all The Voyage Home. ‘Manhattan Bhat’ bifold doors, Corinthian Doors. Floorboards in Smokey Ash, Woodcut. DINING Dining chairs and table, all MCM House. Vases, The Foundry. Shelf and brackets, The Society Inc. Bench seat joinery by Carrera By Design, with bench seat cushions covered in The Society Inc ‘Riviera’ fabric, with inserts from The Foam Booth. White pedestal dish, Haveli & Co.
“After years of planning and dreaming, our family home has finally come to life. It is beyond what I thought it could be.” ERIN CAYLESS, OWNER Photograph by Chris Warnes.
houses H G AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 95 KITCHEN Joinery in Polytec ‘Woodmatt’ veneer in Nordic Oak, Carrera By Design. Benchtops and splashback in Arabescato Borghini, Talostone. Pendant light, MCM House. Stools, Satara. Franke ‘Olten’ mixer, Reece. Rangehood and cooker, Ilve. Terracotta vase, chopping board, and mortar and pestle, all The Voyage Home. Vessels & Vases 3 artwork by Brigitte Grant, Merci Maison. White pedestal dish, Haveli & Co. BUTLER’S PANTRY Milli ‘Voir’ mixer, and Memo ‘Harper’ sink, both Reece. Hardware, Lo & Co. Summer Sipper by Vynka Hallam. For neat freaks, there’s no lack of storage. “The home has ample in every room, under all built-in bench seats [most of which sit below the windows], under the stairs, three linen closets and a lined attic that you can stand up in,” says Erin. “The laundry joinery [reaching] to the ceiling makes the most of every inch.” In a dramatic departure from the Three Birds’ signature white, Erin used rich greens and blues to create classic charm for her home. Again, in keeping with the farmhouse vision, she introduced texture through engineered-timber flooring, boucle carpets, panelled joinery and a stacked-stone fireplace. “We also added texture through the furniture, with the sofas a good example,” she says. In the open plan, a stunning curved boucle sofa gives the illusion of more space while defining the living area. “We needed a sofa comfy enough to lounge on while not dominating this space,” she says. In the family room, an over-sized modular, in a “most gorgeous green” washed linen, fits the whole family in one sitting. Now, the rather prosaically named ‘House 16’ in the Three Birds’ portfolio has become a showpiece for their work. But, more than that, it’s a functional yet stylish family retreat. “After many years of planning and dreaming, our family home has finally come to life,” says Erin, proudly surveying her handiwork. “It is beyond what I thought it could be.” > Three Birds Renovations: threebirdsrenovations.com.
Robe THE LAYOUT Kitchen Dining Living Rumpus Ground floor First floor Ensuite Ensuite Entry Bed Bed Bath Bed Bed Bed Laundry Garage Mud Ensuite Robe Pantry Pool Robe Store
HOUSES H G Photography by Chris Warnes. AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 97 MAIN BATHROOM Issy ‘Cloud’ vanity in Limed Oak and benchtop in Glacier White, Kado ‘Lussi’ bath, and Sussex ‘Scala’ tapware, all Reece. ‘Newport’ wall tiles and ‘Byron’ floor tiles, TileCloud. ‘Alumiere’ window, Stegbar. ‘Tonk’ stool, MCM House. COURTYARD Opposite, top left ‘Hardie Oblique’ cladding painted Dulux Grey Port, and roof in Lysaght ‘Snapseam’ in Basalt, both James Hardie. Table, stools, planter, bowl and plates, all Freedom. ‘Kahvi’ limestone pavers, Artisan Exterior. LAUNDRY Opposite, top right Walls and Corinthian Doors ‘Moda’ barn door painted Dulux Buff It Half. Joinery painted Dulux Still, Carrera By Design. Benchtop in Arabescato Borghini, Talostone. Milli ‘Voir’ mixer, and Memo ‘Harper’ sink, both Reece. Hardware, Lo & Co. Floor in ‘Dunmore’ stone-look tiles in Charcoal and ‘Arrawarra’ calacatta-look tiles in Cream, both TileCloud. Pot, The Voyage Home. Hendricks artwork by Vynka Hallam. STUDY Opposite, bottom left Walls and joinery painted Dulux Still. Table and rug, both Freedom. Tumbler and dish, both Black Salt Co. Tray, MCM House. Basket, Alba Atelier. Floors in Smokey Ash, Woodcut. Hardware, Lo & Co. ‘Contemporary Lever Assembly’ door handles, Domino.
H G HOUSES 98 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN THIS IS THE LIFE The family spends most of their time in the open-plan kitchen and the covered, all-weather patio beyond. “The open entertaining spaces are as functional for everyday family life as they are for entertaining many guests,” says Erin. She and Nathan recently hosted Mia’s 18th birthday in the new home, with 100 guests mingling in the alfresco area and spilling out onto the generous lawns. Photography by Kristian Beek (this page) and Chris Warnes (opposite).
MAIN BEDROOM Walls painted Dulux Buff It. Window, Stegbar. Bed, side table, lamp, linen and artwork, all MCM House. Occasional chairs, Clo Studios. ROBE Below Erin and Nathan have their own walk-in robes each side of the bedroom entry. Joinery in Polytec Soft Walnut and Laminex Clay Textile, Carrera By Design. Oval mirror, MCM House. ‘Helios’ wall mirror, Freedom. ‘Mickey’ chair, Alba Atelier. On bench Onyx mini bowl, Black Salt Co. Candleholder and, on shelves ‘Anais’ pot, both Haveli & Co. Candle, Ecoya. Small tray, Fleur Studios. DAUGHTER’S ROOM Opposite Joinery in Polytec Soft Walnut, Carrera By Design. Mirror and chair, Alba Atelier. Vessels and faux flowers, all Freedom. ‘Bouclé’ carpet in Ovie, EC Carpets.
POOL AREA ‘Athena’ garden chair, Alba Atelier. ‘Edwin’ side table, Freedom. ‘Stripey Goodness’ outdoor cushions, Onyx & Smoke. ‘Old Elm’ tray, MCM House. ‘Kahvi’ limestone pavers, and ‘Fragment’ Spanish glass pool tiles, all Artisan Exterior.