Houzz Tour: A Dark, Chilly Home Made Warm and Inviting
This grand old dame in Sydney had seen better days, until a designer brought it back to life for two retirees
Having retired near Sydney’s beautiful Balmoral Beach after years of living and working abroad, the owners of this delightful but dated Federation home turned their attention to reviving it. They enlisted the help of designer Lori Murray of March Twice Interiors to bring their vision for a comfortable home that blended traditional and contemporary elements to life.
What followed was an extensive renovation that included spatial adjustments on both levels, restoration of the original architectural detailing, a new kitchen and two renovated bathrooms, along with new furniture, built-in joinery, fixtures and finishes.
The result? A warm and welcoming home that seamlessly blends old and new.
The result? A warm and welcoming home that seamlessly blends old and new.
“This living room is a TV-free zone to take in the view, have a morning coffee while reading the paper, or pour a drink at the end of the day. It’s right next to the dining area, so the owners also use it for entertaining,” Lori says.
“The view was one of our starting points for the new design. The client’s favourite tones – soft neutrals, dusty blues and greens – are right outside the window, and we aimed to introduce them inside the home to seamlessly tie the two areas together. We also selected a stunning oak floor for this area, which provided us with a beautiful base for the rest of the materials.”
Walls painted in Popcorn, Porter’s Paints.
“The view was one of our starting points for the new design. The client’s favourite tones – soft neutrals, dusty blues and greens – are right outside the window, and we aimed to introduce them inside the home to seamlessly tie the two areas together. We also selected a stunning oak floor for this area, which provided us with a beautiful base for the rest of the materials.”
Walls painted in Popcorn, Porter’s Paints.
Two of the most impactful moves Lori made were to remove a wall that blocked light and views between the living and dining rooms, and to add new glazed doors that open onto a balcony in the living area. In doing so, she created one open, light-filled living-dining space with stunning views from every angle.
The new oak floor throughout the ground floor brings warmth and a natural feel to the space. From there, Lori created a classic-contemporary scheme consisting of simple furniture shapes and custom-made window furnishings in neutral tones and natural materials.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The new oak floor throughout the ground floor brings warmth and a natural feel to the space. From there, Lori created a classic-contemporary scheme consisting of simple furniture shapes and custom-made window furnishings in neutral tones and natural materials.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
The home’s original ceiling roses, arches and fireplaces were all repaired and retained and now sit comfortably alongside the new joinery, furnishings and lighting.
Valley sofa, Jardan. Aerin Clarkson floor lamp, Montauk Lighting Co.
Valley sofa, Jardan. Aerin Clarkson floor lamp, Montauk Lighting Co.
The owners love to cook and entertain, but the gloomy and dated original kitchen made it nearly impossible. “Our brief was to open up the kitchen to the adjoining rooms and create a more contemporary design,” Lori says.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
Lori designed a stunning new kitchen in warm, custom-stained oak with a marble-look ultracompact worktop, and increased the footprint of the space by bringing it forward into the living area. The additional square meterage allowed her to neatly conceal a new butler’s pantry and laundry behind the cooking space.
Worktop in Calacatta Gold Silk, Neolith. Pendant lights, Gubi.
Worktop in Calacatta Gold Silk, Neolith. Pendant lights, Gubi.
To create a sense of cohesion throughout the home, Lori specified the same profile for the joinery in all the main rooms.
“We were not going to put air-conditioning vents in the beautiful ornate ceilings, so all air conditioning on the lower level comes through the floor,” Lori says. “This gave us the opportunity to bring in a beautiful custom-made vent in a bronze-brass finish that matches the rest of the hardware in the home. It also made for a beautiful feature on the new oak floor.”
The butler’s pantry behind the kitchen is a simpler space, but still in keeping with the new style of the home.
“A priority for us when working on Federation homes, as we often do, is to create a beautiful balance between old and new,” Lori says. “The contemporary approach in joinery and furnishings here provided a counterpoint to the home’s existing Federation details, allowing each element to shine.
“While the approach was more contemporary, we still kept the finishes and fittings timeless in colour, tone and material for a home that’s elegant, soothing and a pleasure to live in,” she adds.
“A priority for us when working on Federation homes, as we often do, is to create a beautiful balance between old and new,” Lori says. “The contemporary approach in joinery and furnishings here provided a counterpoint to the home’s existing Federation details, allowing each element to shine.
“While the approach was more contemporary, we still kept the finishes and fittings timeless in colour, tone and material for a home that’s elegant, soothing and a pleasure to live in,” she adds.
Moments of leafy green, such as this sideboard in the dining room and scatter cushions on the sofas in the first floor living area, create a subtle connection between the interior and the garden outside.
Sideboard; lamp, both Jardan.
Sideboard; lamp, both Jardan.
The main bathroom is also on the ground floor. “We decided to really up the luxe factor in here,” Lori says. “As it’s mainly used by guests, we treated it the same way we would a [cloakroom], with layers of beautiful stone and textured materials.”
The client’s love of blue drove the design for the bathroom, with dusty-blue textured wall tiles taking a starring role in the space. Lori complemented these with bronze tapware and a marble vanity unit top and splashback.
Walls painted in Newport Blue, Porter’s Paints. Moroccan Bejmat wall tiles in Lake Blue; Dogal Dark marble floor tiles, both Surface Gallery. Tapware, Brodware. Cabinetry handles, Bankston. Mirror, Gubi.
On the first floor, there’s a luxurious bedroom suite. “The owners were very keen to have a true retreat on the upper level of the house, comprising a bedroom, en suite, walk-in wardrobe and sitting area,” Lori says.
Lori has even included a sink. “They wanted to be able to make a tea or coffee up here without having to go up and down the stairs to the main kitchen,” she says. “We love creating custom moments like this for our clients, tailored to how they live each day.”
Whitewashing the main walls and ceiling helped to make this once dark and gloomy interior feel bright and open, while drawing the eye to the beautifully restored detailing.
The owners wanted their bedroom to be a soothing sanctuary that made the most of those stunning water views. To achieve this, Lori chose furnishings, lighting, window coverings and bed linen in pale grey and gentle, oceanic blue.
Bedside tables, Jardan. Bed linen, Cultiver and LM Home.
Lori combined a small and awkward bathroom and a wardrobe to create a spacious new en suite for her clients. It’s now a calm, light-filled retreat, with stunning bespoke joinery and a curvy, freestanding bath at its heart.
The joinery has been cleverly designed to conceal an awkward feature. “Most of the joinery is wall cladding to create a design moment from a tricky angle we were left with [when we combined the original en suite and wardrobe] that could not be changed. The upper sections of the joinery open up to provide ample storage for towels and bathroom accessories,” she says.
The joinery has been cleverly designed to conceal an awkward feature. “Most of the joinery is wall cladding to create a design moment from a tricky angle we were left with [when we combined the original en suite and wardrobe] that could not be changed. The upper sections of the joinery open up to provide ample storage for towels and bathroom accessories,” she says.
White zellige tiles; Navona porcelain floor tiles, both Surface Gallery. Custom-stained oak joinery and mirror designed by March Twice Interiors and fabricated by Janz Designs. Calacatta Gold Silk vanity unit top, Neolith. Tapware, Brodware.
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
Unused storage space under the roof was transformed into a new walk-in wardrobe and dressing area that connects with the main bedroom.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite feature in this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite feature in this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A recently retired couple with adult children
Location Mosman, NSW, Australia
Property A Federation home (a style that dates from around the turn of the 20th century)
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Lori Murray of March Twice Interiors
Builder Built by Dezign
Joinery Janz Designs
Photos by Ryan Linnegar Photography
“The house had great bones – classic features and beautiful Federation detailing that had been retained by the previous owner – but it was cold and awkwardly laid out, with closed-off rooms and views from only certain areas,” Lori says.
“The owners craved light, space, fresh air, and to take advantage of the outlook,” she says. “They also wanted to create a luxurious bedroom retreat, with a sitting room, bedroom, en suite and walk-in wardrobe, which meant the first floor footprint had to be reworked.”