Looking around this waterfront abode in Sydney’s Balmoral, you’d swear the beautifully composed colour palette had been lifted straight from its coastal surrounds. But just a few years earlier, when the home’s owners first moved in, this property was experiencing something of an awkward phase akin to adolescence. Built in the 1920s, the house had undergone “a pseudo-Tuscan style” renovation in the early 1990s that included the addition of a second storey and basement.
The raw timber bench is from Water Tiger and the ‘Monza’ copper outdoor wall light is by Konstsmide. Custom stained-oak stairs meet Pacific Blue marble floor tiles from STS Stone in the downstairs hallway. A native grevillea in a black ceramic Water Tiger urn ties the north-facing view beyond the living area’s sliding glass doors to this transitory space. The timber joinery throughout was made by Daniel Destro and coordinated by builder Scott Fairweather.
This growth spurt certainly increased the floor area, but the original features were lost in the process and what remained was “fairly confused and characterless”, says interior architect Anna Trefely of Esoteriko, who was engaged by the owners, a family of three, to work her magic on their home and give it a modern makeover.
The custom island in Blue Crystal marble, which imparts “a shimmering quality”, is the hero of the kitchen. “We wanted to explore the idea of a very solid and light approach to a stone structure that felt permanent – the block – and impermanent – the kitchen table that’s pushed against it,” explains Anna. White ash-veneer cupboards and Mokum washed-linen blinds by Solis create a sedate backdrop that is punctuated by a Wiener GTV Design ‘Single Curve’ stool, a Luceplan ‘Compendium’ pendant light and steel Vola tapware.
“At its essence, the brief was to breathe fresh, new life intoa tired home,” Anna says of her clients’ vision. Their request “to improve functionality, to make it artful, comfortable and appropriate for a young family”, gave her the freedom to expand on this checklist and address the key design flaws, including a lack of storage, under-utilised areas and interrupted access to natural light.
In the combined living and dining area, custom timber joinery is backed with polished plaster to suffuse the natural light, while the sandstone skirting reflects the natural landscape. Above the built-in sideboard is an artwork by Amy Wright titled You Yangs 1. The dining table was also custom made.
Despite the single-file staircase, heavy window shutters and stingy wardrobe space, Anna saw untapped beauty in the property, not to mention the “jaw-dropping” 180-degree view of harbour beaches. “We were inspired by the surrounding landscape, the deep blue of the ocean and the rich warm hues of the land,” Anna says. “There was potential to explore and emphasise some uniquely Australian materials and sensibilities.”
Custom-stained oak engineered boards and Pacific Blue marble tiles meet at the threshold to the kitchen. The dark blue veining in the tiles “invokes a sense of the sea”.
Unexpectedly, one of the owners turned out to be yet another organic source of design inspiration – Anna describes her as having “a sophisticated yet relaxed fashion sense – minimal and elegant”. The owner’s personal style is subtly reflected in the curved architectural forms and the palette of white ash-veneer timber joinery, stone floor tiles and linen blinds which gravitate from one room to the next. Anna took pride in sourcing many of these materials locally, including the sandstone from Central New South Wales, marble from North Queensland and blackbutt from south-eastern Australia.
The widened staircase with curved balustrades basks in sunshine emanating from the skylight. The expansive hallway was perfect for displaying art on custom-made plinths – much like a gallery – in varying finishes, some in gloss paint, others in polished plaster. At the top of the stairs is a stone sculpture by Carol Crawford; on the wall is a painting by Nunzio Miano titled Farmer with the Expensive Coat. The Cadrys rug and Catellani & Smith ‘Lederam’ sconces add warm notes of turmeric and copper.
As for the finer details in the kitchen and bathrooms, Anna was drawn to a contrasting cool, contemporary metal. “We strive to have a balance of natural materials in texture and warmth – stone, timber, metal,” she explains. “We chose stainless steel for the metal, reflected in the tapware, appliances, the custom kitchen table frame and exhaust hood.”
Dulux ‘Kolya’ paint and custom furniture set the tone in this bedroom. Linens from In Bed and Cultiver and cushions from MCM House adorn the Fanuli ‘Bun’ bed. Beside it is a ‘Componibili 3’ unit by Kartell and a ‘Polar’ wall light by Ross Gardam. On the desktop is a Fanuli ‘Shore’ table lamp, a ceramic Dreamer 9 sculpture by Kristiina Haataja and, on the shelf, are artworks by Amanda Schunker titled Breaking Through 1 and 2. Overgaard & Dyrman ‘Wire’ chair.
However, the emphasis on true-blue surfaces and furnishings wasn’t just about aesthetics. Anna says this was the owner’s first family home in Australia and while she took cues from the graceful yet restrained rigour of Japanese design, her approach was first and foremost about creating “a uniquely Australian lifestyle”. Under Anna’s direction, this translated into visually calming interiors connected by thickened reveals that channel physical flow and movement while framing the view beyond.
In this upstairs bathroom, Anna went for laminate-finished, curved custom joinery in a lighter shade of blue. She also chose Classic Ceramics ‘Vogue’ wall tiles in Latte and a Gallaria ‘Abello’ marble basin.
In order to achieve this cohesive, family-friendly floor plan, Anna had all of the partition walls demolished. “Natural light was front and centre of our decision making and key to our planning,” she says of her rationale. No longer bastilled by a network of walls, the central skylight now illuminates a much larger space spanning the landing, the new staircase and the entry which serves as a point from which other rooms branch off. And as for the full-height windows, Anna had them treated with a high-performance double glaze. At last, the owners can savour their location’s sought-after outlook without the hassle of bulky shutters and unfettered heat.
Multiple textures create visual interest and depth in this blue bathroom. Surface Gallery glazed wall tiles in Deep Ocean contrast with the grain of the blue-washed timber veneer joinery, the sandblasted marble floor tiles, and the towels from Hub. The benchtop is made from the same marble in a honed finish, the ‘Sienna’ basin is from Concrete Nation and the brushed platinum ‘Icon’ tapware is from Astra Walker.
With harmony restored, the necessities of daily life informed one of the most hard-working features – the storage. Concealed and integrated storage was installed throughout to maintain a sense of simplicity, elegance and order. It masquerades as a floor-to-ceiling architectural wall feature in the bedrooms and, in the kitchen, bi-folding doors in white ash-veneer discreetly stow away small appliances as well as the home’s intercom system and control panels.
Mokum curtains and rugs from The Rug Establishment. The furnishings take their cues from the view, including the green Jardan ‘Errol’ sofa and blue Molteni&C armchairs by Gio Ponti. Molteni&C ‘Domino Next’ coffee table by Nicola Gallizia. The ‘Oscar’ ottoman is from Fanuli and the artwork on the wall is I’m With You by Antonia Mrljak.
The open-plan living and dining area is spatially arranged to accommodate the family of three as well as large gatherings, which so often is the case. Guests are intuitively led through the kitchen and invited to make themselves at home on the Jardan sofas, recline on the Gio Ponti ‘D.151.4’ armchairs and linger around the dining table, a show-stopping custom piece made from Azul Cloud marble. On closer inspection, works by local artists and ceramicists such as Nunzio Miano, Antonia Mrljak and Carol Crawford bring fresh homegrown perspectives into the fold.
An Agape ‘Bjhon’ pedestal basin and custom mirror bring a sculptural element to the powder room. Pacific honed tiles from STS Stone and Astra Walker ‘Icon’ tapware complete the sophisticated scheme.
The master bedroom features a Neri&Hu ‘Capo’ bed, a ‘Pinto’ stool from MCM House and Fanuli bedside tables. Bedding by Cultiver and In Bed echo the room’s rust-coloured Mokum linen curtains and walls painted in low-sheen Dulux ‘Sepal’.
As for the abundance of blue, well, it’s hard to imagine the interiors were once a sea of beige. The owners insisted on incorporating this colour throughout their home, the perfect segue to custom design an exquisite kitchen island from Blue Crystal marble, a stone indigenous to North Queensland. Custom joinery, furniture upholstery, bedding and even entire rooms are realised in sophisticated navy and soft sky hues including Dulux ‘Kolya’ and ‘Sailing Safari’. “Their daughter requested that we don’t hold back on using blue to its full capacity in her room,” Anna adds. “She has a blue bathroom and bedroom. She really likes blue.”
Sporting a sandblasted and leathered finish, the marble floor tiles pour into the sensorially immersive entry, its ceilings and walls painted in Dulux ‘Sailing Safari’.
The outdoor deck, hot tub and overhead balcony were rebuilt during the renovation. The raw spotted-gum decking feels harmonious against the surrounding garden, as does the Gandia Blasco ‘Flat’ sofa and low table from Hub.
For more information, visit: esoteriko.org
