Sometimes a house and its owners are lucky to find each other. This home, on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, was built in 1958 and had only changed hands twice before interior designer Siobhann Roberts-Thomson and her husband purchased it in 2013. And, for its third chapter, it couldn’t have found more suitable occupants.
Cancun Ali Rustic dining table, Globe West. Montego outdoor dining chairs, Coco Republic. Rubix dining table, The Wood Room. About A Chair dining chairs, Hay. Sofa, Siobhann Studio.
Somewhat of a modern-day Renaissance woman, Siobhann is one of those people with innate creative flair. Her rather unconventional career has included touring the world with a girl group at the age of 16, designing children’s clothing and even a brief stint in the financial sector. However, it was the opportunity to be heavily involved in the renovation of the couple’s first family home that inspired her to return to study and develop her passion for interiors. Now, she runs her own eponymous design practice, Siobhann Studio.
Siobhann with her children, Finn and Ailish. Navurban Ravenswood joinery designed Siobhann Studio and made by Portelli Joinery. Sirius rangehood and Gessi ‘Just Pull Out’ tap, both Winning Appliances. HydroTap Elite, Zip. Arabescato Corchia marble splashback and Viscount White granite benchtop, both CDK Stone. Muuto Nerd stools, Living Edge.
Siobhann, her husband and their two children Finn, now 11, and Ailish, 10, moved here from a semi-detached home nearby. “Our family was expanding, the kids were getting bigger and we wanted a yard and a pool,” says Siobhann. “The first weekend that I went out to look at houses I saw this one. I knew that it had nine out of the 10 things I wanted and it was just too good to pass up.”
Fremont armchairs from Horgans, upholstered in Mokum Eternal Masala. Monaco coffee table, Coco Republic. Moroccan rug, Few & Far. Bowls by Tom Dixon. Artwork by Harley Manifold.
When they bought it, the house was a typical postwar suburban bungalow: four bedrooms and two living areas on a single level behind a red-brick frontage. “We lived in it for quite a while trying to work out whether to knock it all down or renovate,” says Siobhann. “We opted for the latter because I really wanted to work with the existing floor plan.” Collaborating with architectural firm Sanctum Design, Siobhann and her husband planned to add two additional levels and open up the rear living zone.
Opulence Dapple Grey tiles, Surface Gallery. Joinery painted Porter’s Paints Sweet Pea Half.
Inside, the decor was dated and in need of serious attention. The home’s heritage was never far from Siobhann’s mind, however. “When I was looking at finishes and colours I wanted to reference what was here originally,” she says. Peach hues in the powder room and laundry allude to the “gorgeous pink Mid-Century tiles” that once adorned the bathroom walls. Elsewhere, American-oak flooring references the colour of the original cypress-pine boards they discovered under carpet.
Sofa by Siobhann Studio in Instyle Atelier Ultra Velvet. Cushions from AYTM and Eadie Lifestyle. Artwork by David Bromley. Custom armchairs by Siobhann Studio. Sculptures by Kate Banazi and Natalie Rosin through Curatorial+Co. White vase, HK Living. Black and white vase, Normann Copenhagen. Other ceramics by Wingnut & Co and Tara Burke.
There’s a strong sense that the door is always open here. This openness carries throughout the house and is embodied in what Siobhann refers to as the “great, great room”. “It was important to make the most of the northern light and open up the back of the house so we could enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle,” she explains. “A great room-style space was the perfect solution: it works as both a family zone and a place for entertaining.”
Captain Rex, the family’s pugalier, loves the renovation as much as his humans do. American-oak flooring (throughout).
The ceiling height of the great room was raised to accommodate the kitchen, living and dining zones without the space feeling cramped. Two of the walls feature glass doors and louvres, flooding the area with natural light and creating framed views of the lush garden. “I was really conscious of having good airflow. Louvres on both sides of the room create a lovely cross-breeze,” says Siobhann.
Ocean rug, Designer Rugs. Shoji curtains in Charcoal, Mokum. Table lamp, Few & Far. Pierre Vandel coffee table.
Sunlight bounces off the surface of the pool and into the kitchen, highlighting details such as the sweeping Arabescato Corchia marble splashback. “To me, marble is like art and using it in little touches is just beautiful.”
Above right Painting by Antonia Mrljak. Spoti wall sconce, Articolo Lighting. For similar console try Globe West
The first floor is the ultimate parents’ retreat: main bedroom, his-and-hers walk-in wardrobes and a luxurious ensuite. On the ground floor are two bedrooms, bathroom, that fabulous great room and a separate sitting room. A guestroom and wine cellar in the undercroft round out the floor plan.
Brodware ‘City Plus’ showerheads, Candana. ‘Apex Metal’ mosaic wall tiles and ‘Dogal’ marble floor tiles, Surface Gallery
The success of the design lies in the way in which the layout has been configured to facilitate together time as well as zones for sanctuary. Siobhann is confident the house will continue to function smoothly through to the children’s teenage years. “We wanted it to work for the family but also for entertaining by using materials that we’re not going to be too precious about, that are easy to clean and that age well.”
Artwork above bed by Amy Wright, Curatorial+Co.
Joinery designed by Siobhann Studio. Calacatta Viola benchtop, CDK Stone. Walls painted Resene Just Right. Vanity painted Porter’s Paints Dragon’s Eye. Mirror, Kmart. Anton wall light, Volker Haug. Brodware ‘City Plus’ tapware, Candana.
The end product is a sophisticated, beautiful space that encourages movement between inside and out, is perfect for entertaining and will continue to serve the family for many years to come. The only thing Siobhann would have done differently? “I would have remembered to put a doorbell in!” sanctumdesign.com.au
Side table, Kmart. Narciso wall light, LightCo. Custom bedhead, Siobhann Studio.
