A family with three young children was moving from Stockholm to Sydney, and were quite convinced they wanted a finished house to move into. We helped them find their house, which was built in the early 20th century and renovated during the 1960s; it did, however, need work, including some serious maintenance. We dealt with the maintenance issues and, having worked with members of the family previously, were able to renovate the house to suit their lifestyle. We also added to the furniture they’d brought from Sweden with new and vintage pieces.
Some key points
• A high wall at the front, with solid gate, creates a private north-facing courtyard. With privacy no longer a problem, we were able to replace the timber front door with glass doors, which allow winter light to penetrate deep within the house. The courtyard, a grove of palms, was designed by Myles Baldwin.
• Child-friendly elements have been introduced without compromising the clarity of design. In the small TV room, a wallpaper ruler, used to mark the children’s heights at different ages, is strongly graphic; similarly, the pencil wallpaper in the children’s bedroom is bold and playful without being unsophisticated.
• Bespoke items include the Asian cane pillows that have been converted into appropriately casual lamp bases for the room by the pool.
• Our involvement with this project is ongoing – starting with helping to find the house for the clients, we also carried out renovations, and sourced furniture and other items. From the start of the project, we were also talking about alterations as the children grow up, with a mezzanine study one of the future plans.
