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136

CHALLENGED WITH MAKING OVER HER OWN PERIOD VILLA HOME,

INTERIOR DESIGNER OLIVIA BABARCZY PLAYED UP THE MEDITERRANEAN

FEATURES AND AIRY MOOD OF THE 1920S ORIGINAL WITH A PALETTE OF

SUBTLE TONES AND CAREFULLY CURATED PIECES.

MISSION ACCEPTED

D E C E M B E R / J A N U A RY

2020/21

23 AWA R D S Meet this year’s winners of the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards.

33 GIF T GUIDE Something special for all on your Christmas shopping list.

42 ART Fresh bodies of work to peruse.

44 ARCHITECTURE No project is too large or too small for Alexander Tzannes.

48 DESIGN NEWS Chic new finds on Lucy Montgomery’s radar.

50 CRE ATIVE SPACE Designer Thomas Hamel has outdone himself with his own stellar office.

56 LUXE FILES Up close and personal with architects Rachel Nolan and Patrick Kennedy.

58 STYLE ETIQUETTE Melissa Penfold’s secrets for successful Christmas entertaining.

60 CREATIVE HOME The perfectly poised pad of Belle’s own doyenne of design, Jean Wright.

70 LIBR ARY New design tomes to treasure.

81 MAN These classic pieces are about as good as it gets.

82 WOMAN Dress yourself and your home in the eternal elegance of a different stripe.

85 HOM ES

86 SYDNEY Contemporary art takes centrestage at this Spanish mission-style abode.

96 SYDNEY Rethinking the use of a dress-circle site levelled up the owners’ lifestyle too.

106 LOS ANGELES With its Old-Hollywood charm now restored, this 1920s home has entered a golden era.

118 SYDNEY A Mediterranean-in�uenced makeover by Polly Harbison ensures year-round comfort and joy.

126 VICTORIA Given the magnificence of the Great Ocean Road location, naturalistic design was a no-brainer for the team at Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors.

136 SYDNEY Having spotted the potential in a faded 1920s beauty, Olivia Babarczy set about restoring its splendour.

146 SYDNEY For the owners of this harbourside home, having ultimate faith in interior designer Thomas Hamel proved incredibly rewarding.

154 SYDNEY Stripping back the layers revealed plenty of opportunity to create a lovelier, more liveable home.

162 FR ANCE A few modern �ourishes breathed new life into a grand 19th-century manor.

172 GARDEN After a spectacular landscaping makeover, home and garden are in perfect harmony.

15

C O N T E N T S

Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ACN 053 273 546) part of the Are Media Group, 54 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, tel (02) 9282 8000, fax (02) 9267 8037. The trademark Belle is the property of Are Media Limited and is used under licence. © 2020. All rights reserved. Printed by Ovato Warwick Farm, 8 Priddle St, Warwick Farm NSW 2170. ISSN 0310-1452. Contributors’ manuscripts should be typewritten, and all text, photographs and illustrations must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope stamped to the appropriate value. Are Media does not accept responsibility for damage to, or loss of, material submitted for publication. Material contained in Belle is protected under the Commonwealth Copyright Act, 1968. No material may be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent from the copyright holders.

A DVE RT I S I NG

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A R E M E DIA

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CON T R I B UTO R S

Justin Alexander, Shayne Burton, Jeremy Callaghan, Phillip Castleton, Stephen Crafti,

Pascale de la Cochetière, Eszter + David, Paloma Garay, Natalie Johnson, Annie Kelly,

Gaëlle Le Boulicaut, Lyla levy-Jordan, Owen Lynch, Kate Nixon, Chris Pearson, Sarah

Pickette, Tamarah Pienaar, Nerida Piggin, Matilda Ringrose, Mark Roper, Prue Ruscoe,

Sara Sleeman, Anson Smart, Kristina Soljo, Jennifer Soo, Nicholas Watt

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E D I TO R I A L O F F I C E GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 1028

Tel (02) 9282 8456, email: belle@aremedia.com.au

E D I TO R I A L

Editor-in-chief Tanya Buchanan

Creative director Cathryn Zhang

Deputy editor Harry Roberts

Senior copy editor Janice Hogg

Art production Matus Kundrat

Steve Cordony (Style director-at-large),

Karen McCartney (Architecture),

Lucy Montgomery (Interior design

editor), Judy Pascoe (Library),

Melissa Penfold, Carli Philips

(Melbourne), Jean Wright (Design)

Contributing editors

REGULARS

16 Masthead and Privacy Notice

18 Editor’s Letter

20 Inbox

178 The Office ... Lorraine Tarabay

AN INVITING SYDNEY GARDEN WASHES UP WITH A COOL PALM SPRINGS FLAVOUR.

TA L L S T O RY172

Subscribe to BELLE and you could win $10,000 cash or one of 200 gourmet food hampers from

Byron Bay Gifts, valued at $250! Details p12.

OUR COVER Our amazing IDA winner revealed, p23. Photography Anson Smart.

16

C O N T E N T S

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Belle is also available to buy as a digital magazine for iPhone and iPad, through Magshop, which is a free app to download from the App Store and from Google Play.

Tanya Buchanan, Editor-in-chief

PICTURED IN OUR COVER HOME BY HANDELSMANN + KHAW, FROM LEFT, GILLIAN KHAW AND TANIA HANDELSMANN, WITH HOMEOWNER HEIDI.

e are so proud to be celebrating a decade of design – 10 years of the Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards with our major partner Coco Republic. When we first started these awards, our editorial co-ordinator (now deputy editor) Harry Roberts and I spent hours printing out a seemingly endless line-up of entries, disabling a few printers on the way, then frantically trying to ensure we

had enough walls at magazine HQ to hang them all on for judging! We are more sophisticated these days with the entries loaded onto iPads but it is wonderful to see how the awards have evolved into the annual big ‘night of nights’ on Australia’s interior design calendar. It is a challenge to maintain continuity of such a high calibre over a decade so we are very grateful for the support of Anthony Spon-Smith and his team at Coco Republic – we have had a lot of fun! A big thank you to this year’s judges: Jean Wright, Karen McCartney, Steve Cordony, Anthony Spon-Smith, Jeremy Byrne, Lucy Montgomery, William Dangar and Gavin Kirk. While we normally have a big party with the who’s who of Australian interior design, this year we are celebrating with a more intimate COVID-Safe dinner for the winners, finalists and our wonderful sponsors: Signorino, Fisher & Paykel, Wedgwood, Sub-Zero Wolf, Armadillo and Liebherr. I’m excited to unveil the line-up of winners in this issue. Their work is a testament to the incredible quality of interior design in Australia and the beauty and desirability of our aesthetic. We shot one of the Sydney projects of our award winners Handelsmann + Khaw with Tania Handelsmann, Gillian Khaw and their stylish and accommodating client Heidi. I love this picture (right) as it exudes positivity and a joyful end result with happy owner and designers. Their fresh, casually sophisticated and elegant style has put Handelsmann + Khaw firmly on the Australian interior design radar. In 2020 they are triple threats taking out the Best Residential Kitchen, Emerging Design Star and the big gong, Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year. Coincidentally Iain Halliday of BKH, where both Tania and Gillian worked as designers, has won our inaugural Hall of Fame award. I feel fortunate to have been here for well over a decade to see the industry’s evolution and the career trajectory of many designers. Contributing design editor Jean Wright has been working at Belle for many more years than me and in this issue we get a glimpse of her artfully curated Sydney apartment. But wait there’s more! We have a swag of incredible houses as always. Visit standout abodes by Thomas Hamel, Nick Tobias, Rob Mills and other design achievers, including gallerist Sally Dan-Cuthbert’s beautiful family home with dramatic artworks at every turn. Finally, thank you to a wonderful core Belle team of Cathryn Zhang, Harry Roberts and Janice Hogg and all our fabulous contributors – you have kept everything looking and reading beautifully in a year that has been full of surprises!

Net-a-Porter beauty advent calendar. net-a-porter.com

Diptyque limited-edition

‘Baies’ candle. mecca.com.au

W

Hermès calfskin sandal with Roulis buckle.

hermes.com

Hermès terry cloth

beach towel. hermes.com

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18

E D I T O R ’ S L E T T E R

3 DAYS, 19 HOURS,

14 MINUTES

THE PIONEER SPIRIT LIVES ON.

That is how long it took for Howard Hughes

to circumnavigate the world and become

the fastest man in the air in 1938.

He trusted his Longines astronavigation

chronometer to determine the position

of his airplane at night or over the ocean.

3 LIGHTNESS OF BEING

Sheer s-fold curtains, by Luxaflex

Window Fashions, add a beautiful

layer of warmth and softness to

this dining space designed by Three

Birds Renovations. The curtains

are available in sheer or blockout

fabrics and with manual wand

control or Powerview motorisation.

luxaflex.com.au

control or Powerview moto

luxaflex.com.au

Here & nowTimely indulgences for staying put.

Edited by TANYA BUCHANAN

1 SHADY CHARACTER The chic new range

of umbrellas from Basil Bangs will ensure your

trips to the local beach this year are every bit as

glamorous as a luxe international getaway. Beach

umbrella in Sage, $299. gardenlife.com.au

9 THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Intrepid

Australian photographer and regular

Belle contributor Jem Cresswell has

spent over five years swimming with

humpback whales and chronicling

their majesty in intimate detail. This

tome takes you up close and personal

with these incredible creatures.

giantsthebook.com

4 MIND TRAVEL Aesop’s collection

of Sensory Chronicles gift sets

encourages virtual travel through

reading. Each kit includes a piece of

forgotten literature as well as the

fragrant staples that have garnered

a cult following. aesop.com

10 SIT UPCYCLE REPEAT Konstantin Grcic’s

‘Bell’ chair for Magis is manufactured from the

company’s own manufacturing waste. Perfect

for outdoors, it is also stackable, outdoor

friendly and can be recycled, $198. dedece.com

2 BIG CAT DASH Add

some feline �nesse to

your workday: Panthère

de Cartier medium

trinket tray, $690, and

Entrelacés de Cartier

notebooks, $260/pair.

cartier.com

5 SOAP STARS Compagnie de

Provence is celebrating 30 years with

three new scents. Bold new graphic

designs are by artist Marie Doazan.

libertineparfumerie.com.au

13

79

10

4

115

211 ART MARKET returns for

its fourth year. Curated by

Hetti Perkins and Jonathan

Jones it showcases incredible

Indigenous craft including

textiles and weaving.

carriageworks.com.au

7 TRAVELLING NORTH

Gallerist and art expert

Michael Reid has added to

his suite of galleries in Surry

Hills, Murrurundi and Berlin,

Germany, with the opening of

a new gallery in Newport on

Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

michaelreid.com.au

5 SOAPSOAPP STARS P STARS CompagComp

Provence iis celebrating 30 yea

three new scents. Bold new gw scents. Bold new gra

designs are by artist Marie Doaz

libertineparfumerie.com.au

6 MAKING THE CUT Keen

gardenistas know that all

secateurs are not the same.

This ‘Hidehisa’ pair has a

walnut handle inlay, forged

and handmade in Japan with

high-grade Hitachi steel. An

investment piece sure to become

a perennial garden essential,

$210. shokuninstore.com

8 LIFE IS A HIGHWAY and the handsome new

Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet will have you

travelling ensconced in elegance and propelled

by high-performance German engineering.

mercedes-benz.com.au

6

820

I N B O X

F A M O U S A U S T R A L I A N S T Y L E

F A M O U SP O L I S HG L A S S

Featur ing Duet , a co l lec t ion of g las sware pa i r s . Now ava i lab le in lead ing homewares and depar tment s tores .

krosno.com.au

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The winners of this year’s Belle Coco Republic Interior

Design Awards represent a suitably inspiring culmination

of the program’s first 10 years, exhibiting the confidence,

sophistication and verve of an industry that continues to go

from strength to strength. Here we celebrate the class of

2020 and look forward to another fabulous decade of design.

THE BEST

CO LO U R FU L I D E NTIT YDavid Flack deftly balanced gravitas and grace

for his first Sydney project, Potts Point House. An

arresting art collection and appointments that

embrace the colour spectrum lend moments of

flourish to the handsome heritage building that

has now been awarded Best Residential Interior.

D E S I G N A W A R D S

SPONSORED BY

o f t h e b e s t

23

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBest Residential Kitchen Design

B E L L E V U E H I L L

F E D E R A T I O N

H O U S E

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RB el le Coc o Republic

Int er ior D e si g n er of the Ye ar

Gillian Khaw & Tania Handelsmann

H A N D E L S M A N N + K H AW

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E REmerging Design Star

AN AGGREGATE OF STYLISH and innovative projects spanning Residential, Kitchen and Bathroom categories has netted Handelsmann + Khaw a trio of awards – Belle Coco Republic Interior Designer of the Year, Best Residential Kitchen for the Bellevue Hill Federation House and Emerging Design Star. As relative newcomers on the scene (their studio was formed in 2016), Tania Handelsmann and Gillian Khaw have captivated with the youthful energy and whimsy of their designs and are worthy recipients of the Emerging Design Star award. Their uncontrived spaces balance spontaneity and refinement while reflecting their clients’ personalities and requirements. “Injecting character via patina is a key feature of our projects,” they say, and in the Bellevue Hill home recycled materials and traditional forms provide a sense of continuity overlaid with a contemporary ethos. Custom solutions combined with vintage and organic pieces add to the esoteric nature of their work. Their winning kitchen was conceived for a passionate cook, and the introduction of elements that read as furniture brought the desired social atmosphere to complement the tactile finishes and sophisticated fittings. It is a perfect example of the considered and bespoke approach that is their design signature. handelsmannkhaw.com

Words JUDY PASCOE Portrait KRISTINA SOLJO

24

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBest Residential Interior

P O T T S P O I N T

H O U S E

David Flack

F L AC K S T U D I O

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBe st Work with Colour

D E S C R I B E D AS a ‘massive transformation’ the reinvention of a 1930s freestanding house in Sydney’s Potts Point has been awarded Best Residential Interior and Best Work with Colour for Flack Studio. The Melbourne-based studio is known for its fearless approach to design, but one that is “genuine and innovative, and combines warm materials with clean lines, textural palettes and fine detailing to create considered and welcoming spaces”. The clients had engaged David, a former Designer of the Year, for a total makeover of the property to create their perfect home. Wedged between apartment blocks the build was a challenge with tricky access. But the end result is a triumph, reflecting the client’s personality, aesthetic and passion for family. Multiple bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas, an indoor pool and rooftop garden are ranged across the four levels, with abundant light, a functional and flexible layout and design flourishes delivering the desired outcome. Colour virtuosity makes the spaces sing, from the wine room’s moody tones to the living area’s playful stripes and the mash-up of stones in the kitchen. “We used hardy materials and infused our joinery with function, details, colour and ultimately, a story,” says David. flackstudio.com.au

Words JUDY PASCOE Portrait TIM O’CONNOR

25

D E S I G N A W A R D S

D E S I G N A W A R D S

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBest Hospitality Interior

G L O R I E T T A

Jeremy Bull

A L E X A N D E R & C O

A N E A R T HY AN D WA R M Italian restaurant crafted by Alexander & Co out of a characterless commercial space in the North Sydney business precinct has taken out the award for Best Hospitality Interior. Tasked with creating a dynamic venue that would become the pulse of the area, principal Jeremy Bull – 2018 Designer of the Year and recurring Hospitality Interior winner – and project architect Sophie Harris sought to create intimate pockets within the vast space. Natural materials and muted tones are a soft backdrop to a variety of seating options from high tables with bar stools to leather banquettes and bentwood chairs. Soaring volumes that promote airiness are given human scale with a lattice rattan ceiling in gently curving shapes hung with bespoke ‘bird’ lights. Areas are delineated by different floor treatments, from polished concrete to timber boards. And with a lively bar, open kitchen, plenty of greenery and an outlook onto a lushly planted balcony garden and outdoor seating, the stage is set for convivial imbibing and dining. alexanderand.co

Portrait PHILLIP CASTLETON

Words JUDY PASCOE

COMMERCIAL INTERIORS need to work hard – they have to be as enticing and memorable as they are functional and brand-appropriate. Doherty Design Studio ticks all these boxes with ease in its beautiful Marquise flagship store in Melbourne. What director Mardi Doherty and interior designer Phoebe Lipscombe have created is a consciously calm, immersive retail space for one of Australia’s oldest and best-loved babywear businesses. “We wanted to design a store that is playful and nostalgic,” says Mardi. While playfulness is apparent in its porcelain-pink plaster and its fun, block-style sales counter, it is carefully underpinned by sophisticated elements designed to appeal to adults. Custom hanging rails that are perfectly sized and positioned to hold tiny clothes are powder-coated a gorgeous champagne colour; curved walls offer a sense of embrace and a hint of elegance; and the peekaboo windows invite shoppers to peer in. “You have to look inside, whatever age you are,” says Mardi. Materials are deftly combined in the 55sqm space, with blush ceramic tiles flowing from walls to the floor, a rendered wall finish providing a touch of texture and curved railings discreetly mapping out a browsing route. The store is a thoughtfully designed retail premises, where the space’s allure and quality is a wonderful reflection of its proprietors and the shoppers who are drawn to its charming little items of clothing. dohertydesignstudio.com.au

Phoebe Lipscombe

& Mardi Doherty

D O H E RT Y D E S I G N S T U D I O

Portrait TIM O’CONNOR

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBest Commercial

Inter iorM A R Q U I S E

F L A G S H I P

Words SARAH PICKETTE

27

A M A G N I F I C E N T R E S I D E N CE resplendent with sumptuous furnishings, glittering chandeliers, French-inspired mouldings and intricate stone floors has garnered the lion’s share of votes in the Best Residential Interior – Readers’ Choice category for Travis Walton Architecture. Travis’s design for a luxurious, neoclassical mansion in Melbourne’s Toorak that marries the romance of the past with a contemporary sensibility resonated with the owners and readers alike. The expansive scale of the property – 2000 square metres – called for an equally voluptuous response, and the architect pulled out all the stops to create a “gallery-like interior harnessed by decadence and eclecticism” while still adhering to sustainability principles. Travis’s bailiwick is luxury and he is celebrating 10 years of his eponymous design practice with a portfolio of acclaimed works across Australia and overseas. His aim is always to create “inspiring one-of-a-kind spaces that stand as both a physical expression of the client’s brand or identity and an enduring statement of beautiful intelligent design”. traviswalton.com.au

Words JUDY PASCOE Portrait TIM O’CONNOR

Travis Walton

T R AV I S WA LT O N A R C H I T E C T U R E

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBest Resident ial Inter ior

– R e a d e r s’ C h oic e

T O O R A K

R E S I D E N C E

28

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RBest Resident ial Bathr o om D e si g n

A L C H E M Y

H O U S E

D YL AN F A R R E L L B R I NGS a touch of his hometown New York flair to all projects he works on alongside his wife, the equally talented Nicolette Farrell – and the Melbourne ensuite that has won them this category is no exception. The prodigiously talented design duo espouse the view that each job they take on as has its own “unique creative fingerprint”. In this case, it was all about dreaming up an ensuite awash with theatricality that would meet the owners’ broader brief for their home, which is newly constructed yet reminiscent of stately, turn-of-the-century Victorian homes (but, of course, with a contemporary stylistic twist). An abundance of mirrors and great proportions allow light to bounce around the room and it’s this sense of spaciousness that sets the scene for monumental pieces such as the over-scaled, hand-carved marble bath. At once dramatic and cocooning, it’s a bathroom fixture of such beauty that it requires its own dazzling stone plinth. The bath is perfectly paired with a glamorous antique Sciolari chandelier that took months to hunt down. Gutsy gold-veined marbles are given the space to shine, but are then balanced by softer stones and weathered-brass basins. The overall effect is deeply luxurious, faultlessly executed and, true to Dylan and Nicolette’s oeuvre, impressively individual. dylanfarrell.com

Dylan Farrell

DY L A N FA R R E LL D E S I G N

Words SARAH PICKETTE Portrait KRISTINA SOLJO

D E S I G N A W A R D S

D E S I G N A W A R D S

INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

W I N N E RH A L L O F F A M E

W H I L E B K H WAS NOT an entrant in this year’s awards, the presence of this highly influential practice could certainly be felt among the submissions. For more than 30 years it has been one of Australia’s most dynamic and acclaimed architectural and interior design studios, with director Iain Halliday netting Interior Designer of the Year in the program’s second edition along with many accolades across the Residential, Commercial and Hospitality categories. BKH has also been a remarkable incubator of creative talent, priming a generation of architects and designers that includes Tania Handelsmann and Gillian Khaw – recipients of this year’s Interior Designer of the Year, Emerging Design Star and Best Residential Kitchen Design – as well as past winners and nominees such as George Livissianis and Madeleine Blanchfield. BKH has played a significant role in the efflorescence of design in Australia, which the awards have been fortunate to reflect and foster during its first decade. In that time BKH has always remained current, moving easily from minimalist to more eclectic and decorative spaces while supporting this aesthetic overlay with a precise approach to space and sensitivity to the client’s brief. For its ongoing contribution to the Australian design landscape, BKH is the inaugural inductee to the Hall of Fame. bkh.com.au

Iain Halliday

B K H

Words HARRY ROBERTSPortrait WILL HORNER

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Photography ANSON SMART Editing/styling KATE NIXON

CHASING THE SUNThis page, clockwise from top left Essential Cabin carry-on suitcase in White Gloss, $1020, from Rimowa. ‘Congo’ print brown swim shorts, $225, P.Johnson.

Series 6 Apple watch with orange band, $1899, from Hermès. Leather and walnut table-tennis paddles, $1250/set from Tiffany & Co. ‘Bavata’ raffia bag, $160,

from Tanora. Memobottle ‘Slim’ 450ml water bottle, $49.90, with leather sleeve, $79.90, and copper lid, $11.90, from Top3 by Design. ‘Flame’ trainers in Beige,

$415, from Sandro Paris. Knog ‘Oi’ bike bell, $29.90, from Top3 by Design. Sans-Arcidet raffia hat, $225, from Eighteen Ten. ‘Neobain’ yachting pouch case, POA,

from Hermès. Ryan Hanrahan for Addition Studio travertine dumbbells, $109.90 each, from Top3 by Design. Sennheiser ‘HD 450BT’ noise-cancelling headphones,

$299, from JB Hi-Fi. Printworks ‘Play Games’ dominoes, $24.90, from Top3 by Design. A.S.O sunglasses in Havana Brown, $495, P.Johnson. Ralph Lauren ‘Bailey’

wicker wine tote, $799, from Palmer & Penn. Suede espadrilles in Pomelo, $195, from P.Johnson. Georgie Paws ‘Windsor’ dog lead, $68, from Top3 by Design.

Gift Guide

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R I G H TN O W

This page SP01 ‘Jeanette’ outdoor table in Terracotta, $1275, from Space. On table,

clockwise from top left ‘Arancia‘ oval platter with oranges, $220, from Alex and

Trahanas. Krosno ‘Duet’ 560ml wineglass, $29.95/pair, and gin balloon (shown here with

red wine), $29.95/pair, both from Myer. Vintage Japanese red-lacquered teapot, $225,

from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald. Greek brass salt and pepper grinders, $105 each, from The

DEA Store. Krosno ‘Duet’ 500ml stemless wineglass, $29.95/pair, from Myer. ‘Atwood’

marble coaster, $125/set of six, from Coco Republic. Robert Gordon ‘Ceylon’ dinner plate

(at bottom), $39, and Karen Jennings handmade plate (top), $77, both from The DEA

Store. Maarten Baas black stainless-steel cutlery, $940/set of 16, from Spence & Lyda.

Vintage Japanese silk decorative ball, $88, from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald. Veniani dal

1875 ‘Brutti e Buoni’ coconut biscuit, $13.50/100g pack, from Simon Johnson. Busatti

white linen napkin, $90, from CASA by Studio Kate. Krosno ‘Duet’ 225ml Champagne

flute, $29.95/pair, from Myer. David Collins ceramic oil jar, $60, from Planet. On ground

Apulian oval serving platter with fish, $280, from Alex and Trahanas.

Gift Guide

This page SP01 ‘Michelle’ chair, $1350, from Space. On chair clockwise from top left ‘Passifolia’ dessert plate, $260, from

Hermès. eNproduct timber co�ee scoop, $75, from The DEA Store. ‘Brooke’ brass catchall, $270, from Greg Natale. Sterling-

silver co�ee spoons c1934, $375/set of six, from Greene & Greene Antiques. On ground, from top Large ‘Seed’ resin serving dish

in Lemon, $325, and ‘Seed’ resin salad servers in Sandalwood, $125/pair, from Dinosaur Designs. ‘Roman Banquet’ candle,

from $179, from Alex and Trahanas. Krosno ‘Duet’ 700ml and 460ml wineglasses, $29.95/pair, from Myer.

LONG LUNCHESLONG LUNCHES

R I G H T N O W

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This page, from top Zoom Head 10 painting by Peter Berner, $1150, from Project Gallery 90. Poltrona Frau ‘Ren’ dressing table, $13,900, from Cult.

On dressing table, from left Keiko Matsui ‘Gumnut Bird’ porcelain and feather sculpture, $350, from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald. Izipizi reading glasses in

Yellow Tortoise, $59.90, from Top3 by Design. Paperclip playing cards, $155/set, from Tiffany & Co. Futagami solid-brass tape dispenser, $345, from The

DEA Store. Japanese goatskin notebook sleeve, $179, brass travelling fountain pen, $109.95, and MD leather A5 notebook cover, $149, all from The DEA

Store. Origami whale keyring, $24.95, from Becker Minty. Brass incense holder, $48, from Planet. Gubi ‘Grasshopper’ table lamp, $788, from Cult.

C.1860s tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl visiting-card case, $475, from Greene & Greene Antiques. Palmgrens ‘Classic Tan’ rattan handbag, $1095,

from Great Dane. Henry Timi ‘HT119 Immacolata’ solid burnished-elm chair, $5200, from VBO Australia. On chair, from left Big Bang Unico King Gold

Ceramic watch, $51,200, from Hublot. SanDisk Extreme PRO portable solid-state drive, from $259, from Harvey Norman. Bone box, $160, from

Contents ID. Brass and steel tailor’s scissors, $44, from The DEA Store. On floor Aerin ‘Classic Croc’ magazine rack in Fawn, $1695, from Becker Minty.

The Champagne Guide 2020-2021 book by Tyson Stelzer, $60, from Opus Design.

Gift GuideR I G H T N O WR I G H T N O W

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Left, on floor from left Jacques Adnet vintage leather-wrapped lamp with custom shade, $7800, from Tamsin Johnson. Neo Monogram blanket, $2010, from Louis Vuitton. Missoni

Home cushions, from $290/each, from Spence & Lyda. On bench, from left Riva 1920 ‘Curve’ bench, $9590 (excludes cushion), from Fanuli. Terunobu Hirata ‘Shino Rinka’ bowl, $790, from Planet. Japanese basket box, $69, from The DEA Store. Moments of Mindfulness oil

painting by Jessica Guthrie, $650, from Project Gallery 90. ‘L’Air du Jardin’ scented candle, $350, from Louis Vuitton. Gray vase, $345, from Coco Republic. On wall Luce Couillet ‘Blocs’

sterling silver and timber wall art, $4500, from Spence & Lyda.

Right, on top shelf from left Turn Turn Turn handmade salt/pepper grinder, $220, from The DEA Store. Smeg 50s retro-style kettle in Pastel Blue, $229, from

Winning Appliances. Japanese wicker basket, $145, from The DEA Store. On bench, from left Thumbprint Venetian glass bowl, $335, from Tiffany & Co.

Vipp wooden spoon, $140/set of five, and mortar & pestle, $910, from Cult. Robert Gordon ceramic citrus juicer, $32.95, from The DEA Store. 1920s spotted ceramic vase, from $7260/set of three, from Tamsin Johnson. NOPI cookbook

by Yotam Ottolenghi, $59.95, from Opus Design. Pons extra-virgin olive oil, $44.75/500ml, from Simon Johnson. La Marzocco Linea Mini coffee machine

(comes with grinder), $9999, from Winning Appliances. Blue striped ceramic jug, $189, Alex and Trahanas. On co�ee machine, from left Marimekko ‘Oiva Terra’

stoneware teapot, $129, from Top3 by Design. Timna Taylor brown beaker, $89, from The DEA Store. Monista Tea Co ‘Camomile on the Nile’ loose-leaf tea,

$34.95/50g, from Simon Johnson. On splashback Still Life 7 artwork

by Cath Beynon, $650, from Project Gallery 90.

WORK & PLAY

Stocking fillers 1 ‘T-9’ florist scissors by Hidehisa, $89, from shokuninstore.com 2 Art Sleeves

book, $87.75, from Booktopia. 3 Untitled artwork by Elizabeth Newman, POA, from Darren Knight Gallery. 4 Sunil Gupta: From Here to Eternity book, approx. $45, from The Photographers’

Gallery. 5 Panthère de Cartier trinket tray, $840, from Cartier. 6 StarWalker ‘Blue Planet Doué Fineliner’ pen, $765, from Montblanc. 7 ‘Cypress Balls’ and ‘Luscious Peas’ candles, $280 each, from Loewe. 8 Philips ‘PerfectCare Elite Plus’ steam generator iron, $719, from

Harvey Norman. 9, 10 & 11 A Promised Land book by Barack Obama, $65, Kara Walker book, $87.75, and Just Us book by Claudia Rankine, $49.99, all from leading booksellers.

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INTO THE NIGHT

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These pages, clockwise from top left Large resin ‘Rock’ jug in Cobalt, $255, from Dinosaur Designs. 'Niemeyer' small bowl in Rosso, $450, from Greg

Natale. Krosno ‘Duet’ 225ml Champagne flute and 580ml wineglasses, all $29.95/pair, from Myer. Champagne Thiénot Brut Non-Vintage Champagne,

$75, from good bottle stores. Passifolia bread and butter plate, $200, and presentation plate, $565, from Hermès. Krosno ‘Duet’ 225ml Champgane

flute and Krosno ‘Duet’ gin balloon, both $29.95/pair, from Myer. Robert Gordon ‘Ceylon’ dinner plate, $39, and Japanese ikebana vase, $245, from The

DEA Store. Elsa Peretti glass cake stand, $910,from Tiffany & Co. ‘Folia’ rose bowl, $119, from Wedgwood. Solid-brass candleholder, $58 (available for

pre-order) and Japanese black and white stripe bowl with rice-grain decoration, $59, from Planet. Krosno ‘Duet’ 225ml Champagne flute and 460ml

wineglass, both $29.95/pair, from Myer. Busatti white linen napkin, $90, from CASA by Studio Kate. Robert Gordon ‘Ceylon’ dinner plate, $39, from The

DEA Store. Small glazed pink Japanese plate, $65, from Planet. English hallmarked sterling-silver co�ee spoons with yellow vitreous enamel (dated

1934), $375/set of six, from Greene & Greene Antiques. Maarten Baas stainless-steel black cutlery, $940/set of 16, from Spence & Lyda. Thumbprint dish

with 24ct gold leaf, $220, from Tiffany & Co. ‘Passifolia’ bread and butter plate, $200, from Hermès. Antique co�ee spoons, as above. Brass pepper

grinder, $119, and Karen Jennings oval dinner plate with brown rim, $89, both from The DEA Store. Maarten Baas stainless-steel black spoon, as above.

Krosno ‘Duet’ 170ml martini glass, $29.95/pair, from Myer. Karen Jennings red/black leaf dish, $37.50, from The DEA Store. Brass candle snu�er, $40,

from Planet. On wall Singing Frog Hill End artwork by Pam French, $1150, from Project Gallery 90. Smokebush foliage from Mandalay Flowers.

Gift Guide R I G H T N O W

Left, on bedside table from left ’Serena’ rattan trunk (used as bedside table), $995, from Coco Republic. ‘Folia’ rose bowl, $119, from Wedgwood. Vintage Italian lamp with Japanese cotton shade, $515, from

Chee Soon & Fitzgerald. Sunglasses, $520, from Bvlgari. Coast oil painting by Sally Horton, $240, from Project Gallery 90. Bone box, $160, from Contents ID. ‘Clash de Cartier’ rose-gold bracelet, from $9950, from Cartier. ‘Serpenti Viper’ pink-gold bracelet with diamonds and mother-of-pearl, $18,200,

from Bvlgari. Laura Mercier ‘Pure Canvas’ primer, from $60/50ml, from Mecca. On floor, from left

Society Limonta throw in Mastice, $725, from Ondene. ’Anais’ leather pumps, $1130, from Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Louis Vuitton reverse monogram hatbox, $9500, from Palmer & Penn. ‘Twill Up’

silk twilly, $345, from Hermès. French terracotta and gilt urn, $3400, from Tamsin Johnson.

Right, from left Vintage ceramic jar, $445, from Becker Minty. ‘Carres’ double-face 90cm scarf, $915, from Hermès. Brass comb, $34, from Planet. Mr Pinchy

& Co ’Salty the Clam’ bottle opener, from Becker Minty. Spiked Rice Flower

Endangered gouache painting by Pam French, $430, from Project Gallery 90. C.1860 French glass and gilt metal box, $895, from Greene & Greene Antiques. Ponsonby Pomade ‘Triumph & Disaster’ hair pomade, $36, from The DEA Store.

La Prairie ‘White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion’ serum, $850, from David Jones. ‘Rouge Hermès’ lipstick, $94, from Hermès. DW gold pump-pack soap

dispenser, from $335, from Becker Minty. ‘Plateau Garde Robe Pop’ porcelain

tray, $1790, from Hermès. Rose quartz facial roller, $34.95, from Opus Design. ‘Brooke’ brass catchall, $270, from Greg Natale. Pumice stone, $10, from Planet.

Santa Maria Novella ‘Dentifricio Fior d’Iris’ toothpaste, $27/60g, from CASA by Studio Kate. Sisley ‘Skin Infusion’ face cream, $200/cream mask set, from David

Jones. C.1890 cameo earrings in 9-karat gold, $1100, from Greene & Greene Antiques. ‘Ilia’ multi-stick make-up, $72/clean make-up kit, from Mecca. ‘Diva’s Dream Divissima’ white-gold ring, $15,550, from Bvlgari. Clarins ‘Extra Firming’

night cream, $122/set, from Myer. Komodo shell, $175, from Coco Republic. ‘Evelyn’ cuff bracelet, $650, and ‘Un Jardin Sur La Lagune’ fragrance,

$185/100ml, from Hermès.

L ITTLE LUXUR IES

Stocking fillers 1 ‘La Grande Classique de Longines’ watch, $3050, from Longines. 2 Anita Ko ‘Double Fan‘ diamond earrings in 18-karat white gold, $12,904, from Net-A-Porter. 3 Chanel ‘No. 5’ EDP, $240/100ml, from David Jones. 4 Leather loafer pumps, POA, from Bottega Veneta. 5 ‘Sisleya L’Integral Anti-Age La Cure’ treatment, $1450/4x10ml, from Sisley. 6 La Prairie ‘Platinum Rare Haute-Rejuvenation’

cream, $2270/50ml, from David Jones. 7 Byredo ‘Night Veils Sellier’ EDP, $435/50ml, from Mecca.

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AFTER PARTY

This page Sycamore and nickel bar cabinet, $48,000, from Boucher & Co. On top shelf, from front Opera pressed-crystal shot glass,

$8, from The DEA Store. Krosno ‘Duet’ 500ml stemless wineglass, $29.95/pair, from Myer. 1913 cologne bottle, $750, from Greene &

Greene Antiques. On second shelf Crumpled glass whiskey tumblers, $139/each, from The DEA Store. ‘Atwood’ marble coasters, $125/set

of six, from Coco Republic. On cabinet base, from front to back ‘Thumbprint’ bowl, $365, from Tiffany & Co. French c1940 René Lalique

glass dish, $395, from Greene & Greene Antiques. Cast-iron bottle opener with leather handle, $22, from The DEA Store. Aerin shagreen

vanity tray in Cream, $425, and Ralph Lauren ‘Wyatt’ drinks measure, $165/set of three bar tools, from Palmer & Penn. Areaware drink

rocks (three shown), $69.90/set of four, from Top3 by Design. Vintage nut cracker (part of bar set), $95/set, from Becker Minty.

Krosno ‘Duet’ 170ml martini glass, $29.95/pair, from Myer. ‘Atwood’ marble coasters, as above. C.1840 English cut-crystal decanter,

$425, from Greene & Greene Antiques. Whiskey decanter, $69.50, from The DEA Store.

Gift Guide R I G H T N O W

R I G H T N O W Art

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HE ADS WILL ROLLDecapitation seems an appropriate motif for artist Lillian O’Neil, given her epic collages are formed through a cut-up technique that sees pre-digital pictures from a fastidiously compiled archive spliced and sutured into compelling new stories. “The cut is to interrupt, to disarm literally and figuratively,” writes Judy Annear in the text accompanying Lillian’s new series ‘Soft Demand’, which includes Sleeping stones (left). Until November 28. thecommercialgallery.com

P E R T H

LOOKING OUTIn the two-channel video work The Mermaids: Mirror

Worlds (still, left), the Karrabing Film Collective entwines the real-life nightmare of colonialism with dystopic visions of environmental devastation wrought by industrial greed and toxicity. The film is screening at the PICA group show ‘Refracted Reality’, curated by Anna Louise Richardson. Until January 10. pica.org.au

S Y D N E Y

WATER TABLEIn Tulpenmanie (left), photographer Lilli

Waters reanimates Dutch still-life painting by

submerging her tableau in water, capturing a

balletic interplay of fish and luxuriant blooms that glistens against a velvety

blackness. This lush beauty is disturbed by the presence of diaphanous plastic, which points to

consumerism’s ecological impact. Until November 28. curatorialandco.com

M E L B O U R N E

UNEXPECTED JOURNEYThrough a painterly process of layering and excavation, Kirsty Budge unsettles the distinction between foreground and background, preserving the moment where her compositions veer away from figuration into more intuitive, non-linear territory. The surreal abstractions (left) of her latest series evolved from earlier underpainting that drew tonally upon South Gippsland and Otago landscapes. Until December 19. dainesinger.com

THE TIPPING POINTComprising work by 20 artists commissioned at the onset of the pandemic,

‘20:20’ offers a thrillingly immediate picture of the paradigm shift we are living through. Spanning global concerns around inequality, climate change and racism, as well as more intimate and hopeful insights, projects include Take a Deep Breath (right) by Tané Andrews in which organic and artificial

elements are delicately poised. Until January 30. mamalbury.com.au

WINNING WORDSThe second edition of the NGV Triennial

is a global assembly of new and commissioned work from more than 100 artists, designers and architects. From New York, Diamond Stingily’s installation of around 700 trophies

(detail, right) – their plaques replaced with short, elegiac passages – speaks

to our culture’s obsession with triumph and failure, while DRC-born, Adelaide-

based Pierre Mukeba’s Impartiality

(above) reflects on representations of his community and the mixed cultural

connotations of his materials. December 19-April 18. ngv.vic.gov.au

Edited by HARRY ROBERTS

Parts unknownNew bodies of work to probe and peruse.

M E L B O U R N E

LINKING UPTREVELYAN CLAY‘S VIVID PAINTINGS CAREEN CASUALLY ACROSS MANY MARK-MAKING STYLES, FROM LOW-FI GRAFFITI AND GLITCHY GRAPHICS TO OP ART PATTERNS AND BIOMORPHISM. PART OF HIS NEW SERIES, CARABINER (RIGHT) IS TITLED AFTER THE SUB-CULTURALLY SUGGESTIVE HOOKS THAT DANGLE FROM ITS IRREGULAR PLANE. UNTIL DECEMBER 19. NEONPARC.COM.AU

M E L B O U R N E

A L B U R Y

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1238 High Street Armadale VIC14 Dissik Street Cheltenham VIC3-7 Danks Street Waterloo NSWwww.studiogallerygroup.com

Design & Build - mckimm #project337Photography - Derek Swalwell

BRIDGING THE GAPWhether large or small, public or private, Alexander Tzannes

treats all projects with equal importance.

Edited by KAREN McCARTNEY Portrait PHILLIP CASTLETON

Alexander Tzannes at Dangrove,

a storage facility in Sydney’s

Alexandria designed to house

Judith Neilson’s collection of

contemporary Chinese art.

R I G H T N O W Architecture

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Clockwise from top left Daramu

House, a commercial building in

Sydney’s Barangaroo, pushed the

limits of timber construction; the

external view. Irving Street Brewery

illustrates adaptive re-use on

a massive scale. Serene residential

project, Parsley Bay Residence.

Dangrove, an art storage facility,

was built to last. Sculptural spa at

the Point Piper House.

IT IS TES T I MONY TO Alexander Tzannes that he is able to recall in great detail and with immense fondness a two-storey addition to a tiny timber cottage in Balmain for writer Leta Keens, which he designed in 1985. “I still just love that building. Size doesn’t matter – it’s just as hard to do,” he says.

In the residential and commercial space Tzannes is an A-list architecture practice that attracts the big end of town. Think of John Symond’s Point Piper home with its 75-metre waterfront, 22-person spa, a cinema and a double ellipse staircase that drops an astounding 19 metres. Typical of Tzannes there is subtlety as well as theatre, and an additional surveyor was engaged to ensure that the building set out was precisely aligned with key visual points on the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Tzannes admits, quietly, to currently working on a residence with twice the budget of the Symond’s house. It would be wrong to assume that he is in any way boastful about the scale of these projects – rather he is academic (he was Professor of Practice and Dean of UNSW Built Environment 2008-15), rigorous and has the aura of a man guided by integrity. He tells me that at the outset he is very direct with new clients. “I explain to them that this is something I have worked on all my life, my aim is to occasionally protect them from themselves, that I will always make sure they have understood my arguments but equally I will take instruction unless it breaches standards,” he says.

While many of his houses are on sites with a magnificent view he often tries to resist its allure as a design driver, instead ensuring the house both belongs to, and takes advantage of, every aspect of the site. “We have this moment to employ original thinking, to marry the best skills from design, and build to create something lasting.”

There is no reliance on assumed knowledge, and an ethos of deep research and open mindedness pervades the practice. Hence they resist the temptation to identify with one particular material or plans in a particular style. “We strive to embrace what has happened in architecture, past, present and projected,” says Tzannes, “and try to use all the language available to us.”

This has served them well. Tzannes takes nothing as a given, unpicking established council codes, challenging accepted norms and holding up for scrutiny what he sees are inadequacies and unnecessary obstacles. He is intelligent and forensic to the extent that he could have been a lawyer and, as a result, he backs himself, his practice and his clients with vigour. “You have to trust your capacity to do the work and you must have the tools, both practical and intellectual, to do that work properly,” he says.

While Tzannes is a conservationist he found it hard, when developing a scheme for the Irving Street Brewery on a six-hectare site in Sydney’s Chippendale, to reconcile a core principle of the Burra Charter that guides heritage work, which deemed that the new work should be subservient to the old. There is nothing subservient about the solution with its sculptural cooling towers derived from an abstraction of the geometry of the old building and the seamless integration of technology into an important historic structure. It won the 2016 UNESCO Heritage Award for New Design in a Heritage Context, rather proving a point. It was no surprise when awarded the AIA Gold Medal in

2018 Tzannes’s A.S. Hook address was entitled ‘Adaptive Architecture: exploring the ethics of design’.

By always going back to first principles Tzannes has the ability to generate new building genres. For arts philanthropist Judith Neilson he developed Dangrove, an unparalleled storage facility in Sydney’s Alexandria to house her world-class collection of contemporary Chinese art. With a rigorous material selection and precision build, engineered to last more than 100 years, it is another legacy building in the Neilson portfolio.

“What’s terrific about Judith, among many attributes, is that she has an open mind,” says Tzannes. This led to the widening of the brief to include a performance space, display space for curating works destined for the White Rabbit Gallery, restoration areas and a tripling of the initial storage capacity. Her largest work is 19.5m, hence the ceiling soars to about 29.5m to comfortably accommodate it. And Tzannes is now at the final stage of a major refurbishment of an ex-glass factory in Chippendale to house the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.

The practice has a strong sustainability agenda, with Dangrove delivering low net energy use and a low carbon footprint while Daramu House, in Sydney’s Barangaroo (sibling to International House) with its dramatic timber structural grid, is targeting a Six Green Star rating. “I believe that to make a more sustainable future for the planet, we have to use our land resources extremely efficiently,” says Tzannes. tzannes.com.au

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D E N M A R K

SPIRAL VENTURE

Every aspect of this 900-metre boardwalk (left and below) by Danish architectural office EFFEKT has been designed with the experience of Gisselfeld Klosters Skove, a preserved forest, in mind. The continuous ramp of Camp Adventure Park connects to a tower and observation deck 45 metres above the ground allowing a wonderful sense of connection with the surrounding environment. effekt.dk

B A L I

REMOTE ACCE SSPerth architect Nic Brunsdon has won the public vote for hospitality building of the year in the Dezeen awards for his boutique hotel The Tiing (left). Set in a remote part of Bali’s northern coast, he has designed it as a “reward for the intrepid” built in local materials – concrete and bamboo – with local skills. nicbrunsdon.com

S Y D N E Y

CONVER SATION MAT TER SSCCI Cinéphile Hub 2020 presents a conversation between John McAslan CBE of John McAslan + Partners, which in 2016 revived London’s King’s Cross Station (below), and Dolla Merrillees on ‘Making Design Matter’. As the UK practice has opened a Sydney office and is undertaking a major project at Central Station, the talk will focus on design’s capacity to e�ect change: addressing hidden homelessness, connecting cities and communities, and supporting the democratisation of culture. “We need a kick up the backside to be more innovative,” says McAslan. scci.org.au

URBAN FORESTWorking with Aria Property group, Sydney

practice Koichi Takada Architects has designed a mixed-use high-rise in South

Brisbane. With 392 apartments over 30 storeys, a two-level roof garden and a

public park at ground level, the building (left) – plus its 1000 trees and 20,000 plants – has ambitions to become the world’s greenest residential tower. “Urban Forest is probably the greenest we can design with the current ‘greening’ tools and regulations available to

us,” says Takada. koichitakada.com

C H I N A

FINE GRAINROARC RENEW, A SHANGHAI STUDIO, IDENTIFIED THE CULTURAL VALUE IN TWO LARGE GRANARIES FROM THE 1950S IN THE VILLAGE OF WANGJIANGJING IN JIAXING, CHINA, AND TURNED THEM INTO THE TAOCANG ART CENTRE (LEFT). USING A SERIES OF ARCHES AND DEVELOPING CONNECTING CORRIDORS KNITTED OLD AND NEW TOGETHER TO BRING A RICH RESONANCE TO THE PROJECT. ROARC.CN

B R I S B A N E

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R I G H T N O W Architecture

48

Lucy Montgomery showcases

the latest design standouts to

admire and acquire.

On a pedestal

6_TIMELESS CHARACTER

MDF Italia’s iconic ‘Random 2C 3C’ bookcase is now available in a refined Canaletto walnut finish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood, giving a warm layer to a space. hubfurniture.com.au

2_BREAKING THE MOULD

For her debut furniture collection, ‘Bold’, French designer Milena Denis Polania called on local artisans Les Ateliers Selaneuf to bring her vision to life using a special moulded leather technique. kolkhoze.fr

3_SUNNY OUTLOOK

Inspired by the healing powers of light, New York designer Christina Z. Antonio’s ‘Helios’ collection features a precious combination of materials, including silk, alpaca, bonded leather, handblown glass and neon. christinazantonio.com

5_SPARKING JOY

An artful fusion of genre, print and pattern, Laura Gonzalez’s eclectic collection of furniture for The Invisible Collection includes the ‘Pondicheéry’ chair which was inspired by painted Indian pieces from the late 19th century. theinvisiblecollection.com

4_FRESHLY MINTED

Designed by Jonas Wagell for Tacchini, the ‘Julep’ collection is characterised by the exaggerated curved

forms influenced by the 1950s avant-garde movement and its simplicity and grandeur. stylecraft.com.au

1_SIBLING ACT

London-based interior design firm Studio Ashby

invites us into their design world with the launch of ‘Sister’, a limited edit of

shoppable, one-of-a-kind pieces, including refurbished

antiques, homewares and treasures thoughtfully sourced by founder Sophie Ashby and

her team. studioashby.com

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[ Playful debut ] IN THE FUNNY PAGES

For her first exhibition ‘I am a

living room’, French designer Léa Mestres

translated two-dimensional drawings into playful, cartoon-

like furniture and objects imbued with personality and life.

galerie-sceneouverte.com

elivde

dimint

lob

7_SPATIAL GESTURES

Amsterdam-based Mae Engelgeer’s complex compositions using mirroring, splicing and replicating have been translated onto a series of rugs that transport the viewer to another universe. cc-tapis.com

9_HYBRID EYES

Richard Yasmine’s sculptural collection ‘After Ago’ is crafted in foam, plaster, concrete and stoneware to create functional pieces such as a shelving unit, table, tray and vase. richardyasmine.com

10_HELLO AGAIN

Drawn from the brand’s archive, Acerbis has

reinterpreted a careful selection of its best-loved

pieces, including the grand ‘Maestro’ table

by Gianfranco Frattini and the iconic ‘Jot’ chair

by Giotto Stoppino. acerbisdesign.com

8_SPANISH SADDLE

Federicia has launched limited editions of Børge Mogensen’s ‘Spanish’ armchair and dining chair. Solid oak can now pair

with a deep-red saddle leather designed to age beautifully. greatdanefurniture.com.au

11_TWIN FLAMES

Featuring maple wood legs with organic round edges and topped with a curvy seat in fluffy bouclé, the ‘Siamese’ sofa by Pietro Franceschini Studio is an elegant occasional piece. pietro-franceschini.com

Design News R I G H T N O W

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Photography KRISTINA SOLJO

New York-trained designer Thomas Hamel converted

a heritage inner-Sydney terrace into a stylish workspace

that’s also a shining showcase for his studio’s stellar work.

G A M Ec h a n g e r

This page The team at Thomas Hamel & Associates,

from left: Becky Yager, Richard Ho, Mei Ning Lin,

Eberto Escandon, Christiana Fantl, Kirsty McElroy,

Carla Barton, Lynn Charoenchai, Thomas Hamel,

Jessica Whiting, Brendan Guy.

R I G H T N O WCreative Space

51

WHO OR WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR

ENDURING CREATIVE INFLUENCES? The design process is ever-changing and evolving and I am constantly inspired by designers past and present. I was fortunate enough to commence

my career at Parish-Hadley Associates, New York, who will forever be an ongoing influence as they instilled in me the fundamentals of design and I refer to these on a daily basis through my business, Thomas Hamel & Associates (TH&A). Travel is the best form of inspiration, not only from visiting museums, galleries and stores, but I am typically invited into homes of inspirational friends and associates, such as Kate Hume in Amsterdam, Veere Grenney in London, David Kleinberg in New York and Barbara Barry in LA. IS THERE A COMMON APPROACH THAT RUNS THROUGH YOUR

WORK? Under Albert Hadley and Mrs Parish, I was taught to understand the importance of architectural features in a home and how these must be addressed long before actual design or decoration begins. These details are the crucial starting point to a project, then the decorative elements are added, more like icing on the cake. WHAT INITIALLY APPEALED ABOUT THE FOVEAUX STREET SITE? We enjoy tackling projects with a historical background and breathing new life into these buildings. With our new studio, the most unique and desirable aspect was the flood-lit, north-facing area that we immediately knew would be our samples library, the perfect space to let the creative juices flow. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES

OF THE SITE AND HOW DID YOU RESOLVE THEM? To establish a sense of flow throughout we came up with a dramatic, user-friendly staircase that provides access to all levels and is the ideal gallery wall to showcase our work. WHAT INFORMED THE SELECTION OF ART,

FURNITURE, FITTINGS AND SURFACES? We wanted many ingredients to come together in a harmonious way. We have an eclectic selection

This page, clockwise from top left In the

meeting room, Chinese lacquered table

from Kazari with chairs from 55 Parrots.

Artwork by Dr Christian Thompson AO

from Michael Reid. ‘Marcel’ chandelier by

Gregorius Pineo from Kneedler Fauchère.

In the entry, ‘Namesake’ wallpaper by

Gregorius Pineo from Kneedler Fauchère.

Jerome Robbe artwork from Hervé Van

der Straeten. Plinth by Paul Wells with

sculpture by Soroku Toyoshima from

Martyn Cook Antiques. Rug from Behruz

Studio. Flooring by Terazzo Australia. The

elegant facade, Surry Hills, Sydney.

52

This page, clockwise from top left

A gallery wall of projects lines the upper

stairs. Custom baluster by S&A Stairs.

Cleopatra by Petrina Hicks and Untitled

(Pot) 1 and 2 by Lauren Joffe, all from

Michael Reid. Black glass sculptures from

Micucci, LA. On the design floor, desks

in Laminex Alaskan finish and shelving in

Calm White installed by Bober. Bolon sisal

in Mole. ‘Stackholmen’ woven stool from

Ikea and ceramic stool from Jalan Jalan.

Runner from Behruz Studio.

of pieces that we enjoy changing up on a regular basis. We collaborate with Michael Reid Gallery which allows us to introduce new artists on a regular basis and it exposes our clients who visit the studio to possible pieces for their new homes. The stunning Philip Jeffries wallcoverings are from The Textile Company; tapware by Candana and The English Tapware Company; appliances from Winnings, Sub-Zero and Wolf; rugs from Behruz Studio; lighting from Urban Electric; wall coverings from Gregorius Pineo; marble from Granite & Marble Works; exquisite tiling from The Fine Line; and bespoke custom hardware from ADH Studio. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE

THE COMPLETED SPACE AND HOW DOES IT REFLECT THE WORK YOU

DO? We wanted to create a boutique townhouse with influences of London and New York and this is exactly the experience as you walk inside. The space is a bespoke vision of TH&A as it incorporates architectural detailing with historic references in a more contemporary interior. It reflects our global shopping sprees and love of travel, allowing us to introduce our finds. The custom-made lighting in a hammered finish by artisians from Gregorius Pineo, LA, hand-painted wallcoverings by Philip Jeffries and bespoke artwork by Jerome Robb from Hervé van der Straeten, Paris, all fuse to represent our global vision. HOW DID YOU BALANCE THE PRACTICAL

REQUIREMENTS OF THE STUDIO WITH THE SITE’S HERITAGE

CONSIDERATIONS WHILE EXPRESSING TH&A'S AESTHETIC AND CREATIVE

ETHOS? Focusing on architectural detailing while redesigning the internal layout and stabilising the balconies enabled us to respect the original structure of the building which now complements the modern interior. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT WORKING IN YOUR

NEW SPACE? The building offers many different rooms, each with its own ambience. It’s the first time in 30 years where I have my own office so I enjoy ‘quiet time’ on occasion but you will also find me at the meeting room table, floating among the designers in their studio or immersed in fabrics in the sample library. WHAT OTHER PROJECTS

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE COMING YEAR? Visiting some special projects we have been working on via Zoom in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. We also have two other projects in Florida and LA once international travel resumes. thomashamel.com

R I G H T N O WCreative Space

This page, clockwise from top In the

samples library, island in Laminex Alaskan

finish and open shelving in Calm White

laminate, installed by Bober. Light over

island by Gineico. On island, ‘Bonnaire’ tray

by Gregorius Pineo from Kneedler Fauchère.

‘Earthly Delights’ bowl by Ruth Levine from

Studio Levine. Boxes of samples. Roof

terrace and kitchen. ‘Tuilerie’ stool by

Gregorius Pineo from Kneedler Fauchère.

Artwork (top) by Joshua Yeldham from

Arthouse Gallery. Artist’s proof print from

Hedge, LA. Elk hickory engineered boards

from Blackwattle Hardwood Floors.

54

This page In Thomas’s o�ce, custom artworks by Los Angeles-based Gabriel Rivera. ‘Finchley’ armchair and ‘Nanking’ desk, both by Gregorius Pineo from

Kneedler Fauchère. ‘Ramblas’ credenza from Hamel & Farrell Collection with ‘Loloi’ sculpture (left)

from Michael Reid and African mask from Tribal Art Gallery, Capetown. Rug from Behruz Studio.

R I G H T N O WCreative Space

This page, clockwise from top Custom table

by TH&A with woven chairs from 55 Parrots.

‘Belmondo’ chandelier and linen wallpaper in

Natural Finish, both by Gregorius Pineo from

Kneedler Fauchère. Antique painted and

lacquered Chinese cabinets from Graham

Geddes Antiques store books and display

sculptures from Bill Anson Galleries, Palm

Springs. Alabaster Sky II by Matthew Johnson

from Olsen Gallery. Custom brass and bronze

fireplace by Oliver Tanner. Thomas with Jump

Series No. 2 sculpture on plinth by Birgit Piskor

from Kneedler Fauchère. The powder room

features a work by Duncan Dupain. A brass

inlay weaves through the powder room tiles.

IS THERE AN ARTIST WHO HAS BEEN AN ENDURING INFLUENCE? Rachel

Nolan: Sidney Nolan [5]. Patrick Kennedy: John Coburn [18] for his brilliant approach to colour and the allusive abstraction.CONTEMPORARY ART YOU MOST ADMIRE? RN: Nonggirrnga Marawili [8] – her incredibly modern work talking to ancient stories. PK: Rick Amor [9] beautifully depicts shadows, mysteries and memories.DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? RN: Indigenous artworks [from] country we have travelled in. PK: Arabia Ruska crockery [11].WHAT ARE YOUR FASHION MUST-HAVES? RN: I’m partial to a Borsalino hat. PK: Massimo Alba shirts and Common Projects suede boots [14].FAVOURITE WATCH? RN: iPhone does the job. PK: Don’t have one.FRAGRANCE OF CHOICE? PK: Orto Parisi ‘Viride’ [4].BOOKS – WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW – BOTH FICTION AND ART/DESIGN? RN: H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald. Paddy Bedford by Russell Storer [13]. PK: James Salter’s A Sport and a Pastime.MUSIC – WHAT’S ON ROTATION IN THE OFFICE AND AT HOME? RN: Karen Dalton. Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. PK: It’s all at home at the moment. Debussy solo piano – calm and joyous.FAVOURITE FLOWERS? RN: I’m partial to a bull banksia [7]. BEST DOWNTIME (IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY) PURSUIT? RN: Walking by the Yarra River PK: Chamber music – we host concerts in our office.DO YOU ENTERTAIN AT HOME AND/OR WHAT IS YOUR RESTAURANT

OF CHOICE? RN: We love having people over. Di Stasio’s Città. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED TIPPLE? PK: A Negroni [10] does the trick. FILMS THAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU? PK: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Picnic at

Hanging Rock [15] for its exploration of Australian identity and the mystical relationship between First Peoples and the land.SHOPS AND ONLINE STORES YOU FREQUENT? RN: Kloke in Brunswick Street. Cibi in Collingwood. Fibre art at Gapuwiyak’s online gallery. MAGAZINES YOU READ REGULARLY? PK: Great design magazines in our office; at home I like The Monthly which is more words than pictures. DOES YOUR LOVE OF DESIGN EXTEND TO CARS? RN: Not hugely – but I’m loving the technology and performance of the Tesla [16]. TRAVEL – WHERE IS ON YOUR MUST-SEE LIST? RN: We are keen to return to Arnhem Land [3]. We will go wherever there is a total solar eclipse. LIST A FEW OBJECTS OF DESIRE THAT YOU WOULD BUY RIGHT NOW? RN:

Polly Borland from her ‘Smudge’ series [1]. A Casa Codognato enamel skull ring [17]. An antique lion Gabba rug [6]. A giant pot by Korean artist Lee Kang-hyo [2]. PK: A Tibetan tiger rug.WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? PK: An exciting city hotel for Melbourne – a place we can happily recommend to friends.TELL US ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH LAMINEX – HOW HAVE YOU USED

THE SURFACES IN YOUR PROJECTS AND WHAT APPEALS TO YOU ABOUT

THEM? RN: It’s a terrific Australian-made product that has been with us for so long! We have enjoyed experimenting with laminate, particularly with colour and pairing it with favourite materials we use. They were pretty wonderful clients. PK: Laminex [12] is durable, versatile, can provide intense colour, can accommodate curves in continuous planes and is straightforward to use. Our work with Laminex has been to demonstrate the product’s physical capabilities and the possibilities of working with colour. It’s a great partnership because our interests and values are aligned. kennedynolan.com.au

United frontThere’s so much more to

these stellar architects than

their evocative built forms.

RACHEL NOLAN AND PATRICK KENNEDY OF KENNEDY NOLAN.

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R I G H T N O W Luxe Files

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making placescolourful

usm.com

Available at Anibou – www.anibou.com.au

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Season wellMelissa Penfold tells how to whip up a glamorous, safe Christmas.T H I S C H R I S T M AS , entertaining at home becomes more important than ever. The message is clear – have fun with your loved ones and go simple and abundant. Pandemic etiquette is still newish to us all, but making guests feel at ease and welcome in our home is not. Focus on alfresco events to come together safely adhering to government guidelines. SAFE SERVE Leave paper towels and hand soap in your bathroom, along with disinfecting wipes and a spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol for misting handles. Think hand sanitisers in pretty baskets as the accessory du

jour. When pouring wine, ask guests to leave their glass on the table and refill without touching it. For safety, serve food directly from the oven and allow guests to pull a serving from platters with their own utensils. Minimal risk, minimal fuss. CHANNEL NATURE A cheap and chic festive way to decorate is to add greenery with branches of spruce or fir mixed with pinecones, red apples or pomegranates. Bringing the outdoors in feels authentic and individual – and is a great antidote to consumerism. YOUR MENU Pre-prepare as much food as possible. Make the main course and buy the rest. The higher quality the ingredients, the less you have to do. There is nothing wrong with cheating – as long as your shop-bought food is stunning. We always buy our puddings, which are better than anything we could possibly make.

BE KIND When someone starts talking conspiracy theories or politics, or when your uncle goes berserk, do nothing. You are not going to change anyone’s mind at Christmas time. Just smile and listen, then ask for seconds, or thirds, and clear the table when it’s over.TO DO´S Do give a small gift to neighbours or invite them to your Christmas party. Do be kind when you open your gifts. Do keep shoes on at parties. Do post your Christmas cards. Do give homemade presents. SHOP SMART Embrace the shopping list, write a gift list and a meal plan, and overlap ingredients where possible. Christmas is a time to indulge and the chocolates are sure to be out, so look for supermarket brands that you might not usually use which go further. FESTIVE SOUNDS Uplifting carols can transform the ambience. Spotify’s Christmas Pop playlist includes classics by Michael Bublé, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry. CHRISTMA S CO UNTD OWN Retailers are releasing more and more eccentric advent calendars, including ones by Tiffany & Co, Jo Malone London and Aldi. Gin and wine calendars are also popular. It’s not too late to pick one up and have some fun. LET GUESTS GO Anything goes right now. Some guests might stay all day, while others who are older or are compromised health-wise might leave right after lunch. A Christmas day that is simple, adaptable and focuses on loved ones will be the winner for 2020.

1 Waterford Jeff Latham ‘Icon’ flute, $349/two, waterfordcrystal.com.au 2 Christmas catering by Peter Rowland, peterrowland.com.au 3 Peugeot ‘Bistro’ salt mill in Natural, $44, petersofkensington.com.au 4 Aerin ‘Gabriel’ small crystal bowl, $140, beckerminty.com 5 Flamingo Rd large placemat in Antique, $240/set of six, flamingordhomewares.

com.au 6 Vera Wang ‘Grosgrain’ three-piece serving set, $169, wedgwood.com.au 7 Aerin ‘Scallop’ nesting dishes, $725/set of three, beckerminty.com 8 Flowers by Bloomey’s florist, bloomeys.net; L&M Home ‘Cambridge’ napkins, $32/set of four, lmhome.com.au; Wedgwood ‘Gio’ 26-piece dinner set, $499, wedgwood.com.au; food by Peter Rowland, peterrowland.com.au 9 ‘Constance’ outdoor dining chair, $399, harveynorman.com.au P

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R I G H T N O W Style Etiquette

home.liebherr.com.au

home.liebherr.com.au

Quality, Design and Innovation

Life tastes better with a LiebherrYour elegant solution for preserving wine & food

Photography ANSON SMART

Belle’s Jean Wright has a fine eye, honed by work with top

creatives as well as her own innate sense of style, as evidenced

in her perfectly composed bijou apartment in Sydney.

Reflections on design

This page The living room’s sofa was custom made to fit the space. Cushions in Ian Sanderson velvet from Verve

Designer Collections and Rubelli velvet from South Pacific Fabrics. Throw from Ondene. Viabizzuno ‘Roy Lettura’

lamp is Jean’s latest acquisition and contrasts with the Flos ‘Toio’ floor lamp from 1962. The mirrors from MCM

House reflect harbour views by day and city lights by night. Side tables are Maxalto ‘Simplice’ from Space. The

little African Dan chair belonged to the late Sydney decorator Peter Kuring. Above it hangs a pair of canvasboard

works by Imants Tillers. Opposite page Jean wears a cross-body neckpiece by Maria Calderara from Aquel. Leaning

against the bedroom shelving is an Antoni Tàpies poster bought in Paris in 1982. Chair in leather and aluminium

by Trent Jansen and Johnny Nargoodah from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Icelandic sheepskin throw from Hides

of Excellence conceals a filing box. The Fer Forge standard lamp dating from the 80s was brought out of storage.

R I G H T N O WCreative Home

61

This page Looking from the entrance, the workspace to the left was designed more than 20 years ago by BKH with a cantilevered

credenza concealing a pull-out worktop. Günter Umberg’s Untitled artwork from Fox Jensen Gallery (left) and Wing by William

(Bill) Wright (right). In the living area, above the vintage Chinese console, are Norwegian artist Berit Myrebøe’s aluminium transfer

paintings from 2007-08, acquired during the artist’s Artspace residency in Sydney. Above is a Robert Owen ultramarine blue steel

sculpture. On the right is a Marion Borgelt drawing above a 70s Artemide ‘Tizio’ lamp. The little pottery bowl is by the late Anders

Ousback. Below is Kristen Wang’s ‘Re.Bean Coffee Stool’ made from recycled coffee grounds. Perigee sculpture by Julia Davis

in blown mirrored glass sits on a stack of books. Opposite page Untitled, a silkscreen collage by David Noonan, hangs above a

polished graphite on linen work by Matthew Allen. A sculpture by Tarryn Gill, Screen Bodies Study in Black, on a plinth from Paris.

WHAT INITIALLY APPE ALED TO YOU ABOUT THE SPACE? It was the absolute stillness and quiet, close to the water with panoramic harbour views. After my previous apartment, a large penthouse atop a 30s art deco building on busy New South Head Road, the absence of

passing traffic was bliss. The building was designed by modernist architect Aaron Bolot in 1957 (he lived here until his death in 1989). My apartment is unique with its own entrance separate to the main building and a lateral layout that runs north-south across the garden side fronting the harbour. Opening it up to take advantage of that was the obvious thing to do.WHAT DID THE ALTER ATIONS ENTAIL? Before I moved in, I ripped up the carpet, removed doors, had the original floorboards sanded and limed, and painted it white throughout. Once I had approval to add the balcony – originally there wasn’t one – it was full-on. The kitchen and workspace were drawn up by BKH based on what I liked of their work as well as that of minimalist architect John Pawson. The kitchen was influenced by Pawson’s design of Doris Saatchi’s London home with everything concealed behind floor-to-ceiling doors. There are now two open-plan zones. Closest to the entrance is the workspace/nook and the kitchen, which is separated only by a cantilevered island from the dining/living

R I G H T N O WCreative HomeR I G H T N O WCreative Home

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This page Three works by Matt Glenn are in mirrored stainless steel with .38 bullet holes that give a distorted reflection. The smaller one hangs on the return wall above Blue Echo 2009 by Janet Laurence. On the kitchen side is a work by Marion Borgelt, Bloodlight Stack No. 13 (left), and Wing by William (Bill) Wright. Near the entrance is photographer Lewis Morley’s wrapped portrait of Christo taken in the artist’s New York studio. Opposite page The bedroom has a dressing area concealed behind floor-to-ceiling doors at one end. The bathroom and laundry nook (not shown) are hidden behind a pivot door to the right. Shelves filled with magazines are reflected in a large antique French mirror with original glass that doubles as a moodboard. Cushions are in Rubelli velvet from South Pacific Fabrics and Ian Sanderson ‘Rostov’ in Ginger from Verve Designer Collections. On the left are three Janet Laurence works from 1991 in mixed media on paper. Bed light by Viabizzuno. The ceiling-mounted light is Flos ‘Parentesi’.

R I G H T N O W Creative Home

65

room. Then the bedroom, with bathroom and laundry on one side and a dressing area behind floor-to-ceiling doors at the adjacent end. W H AT I N FO R M ED TH E S ELEC T I O N O F F U R N ITU R E, A RT, F I T T I N G S A N D

FINISHES? Furniture is dictated by the space. It is compact so I can’t have curvaceous seating. My sofa is custom made to suit me. I am not tall and don’t need a deep sofa but I do like it to be long (three seater, minimum). I have a weakness for chairs and like to mix different chairs with a sculptural shape and side tables in groups, such as my Saarinen and Platner. Every room is flooded with natural light. I have no overhead lights except tiny Kreon halogens set into the dropped kitchen/workspace ceiling. Everywhere else it is lamps – Artemide ‘Tizio’, Flos ‘Toio’ and ‘Parentesi’. My latest addition is Viabizzuno’s ‘Roy Lettura’ lamp. Candles often are enough at night. Colourwise it’s Dulux ‘Natural White’ throughout. My art and books give me the greatest pleasure. I would adore a whole wall of books. Instead, floor-to-ceiling storage beside the kitchen is crammed with books, and a ‘Ptolomeo’ book tower occupies one corner. My art is mainly by emerging and mid-career Australian artists who I know or have met. Knowing the artist is important; it brings back memories and means a lot more. There are also personal, signed photographs, gifted by the late Lewis Morley

This page The BKH-designed kitchen has floor-to-ceiling doors that conceal eveything, including expansive shelving filled with

books behind the doors closest to the table. Vases in a mix of shapes and sizes (the largest from Parterre and the smallest from

Conley & Co) sit on the Knoll ‘Saarinen’ dining table. Bronze apple and pear sculptures by Camie Lyons. The 70s height-adjustable

stool is by Velca Legnano, Milano. Cherner chair. Untitled, a silkscreen collage by David Noonan, hangs above a polished graphite

on linen work by Matthew Allen. A sculpture by Tarryn Gill, Screen Bodies Study in Black, sits on a plinth bought in Paris.

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R I G H T N O W Creative Home

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who I worked with in the early days at Belle, pottery by the late Anders Ousback, also gifted after a memorable shoot at his Wombarra, NSW, home for my book, Places, and two signature canvasboards by Imants Tillers that remind me of the shoot at his Cooma, NSW, home studio and library with Anson Smart for Belle.HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE INTERIOR? I would say it’s very personal – things I like and can change around (and I do). It’s important not to let it become cluttered. I’m constantly culling. Getting the bones right at the beginning was so important, within the limitations of what can be done in an apartment building. HOW DOES THE SPACE REFLECT YOUR SENSIBILITIES? I would say it is the new French style – chic, understated, but doesn’t dazzle.IS YOUR HOME A SANCTUARY OR DOES IT DOUBLE AS A WORK SPACE? It doubles as a work space, but my work is so much a part of who I am. When I was producing and styling large commercial jobs (Sheridan, King Furniture, and so on), the adjoining garage was invaluable. Right now I would love a separate space for my paperwork and magazines. I can work anywhere in the apartment – it’s easy with a laptop and mobile phone. The custom-designed credenza has a pull-out worktop.WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT LIVING HERE? The light, the peace and quiet, and the view. Sitting on the balcony or inside at night with the reflection of the art and city lights in the mirrors is so relaxing. WHICH DESIGNERS, ARTISTS OR ARCHITECTS INSPIRE YOU? I was fortunate to be mentored by two strong women, Babette Hayes and Andrée Putman. I’m inspired by Vincent Van Duysen, Joseph Dirand, Pierre Yovanovitch and artist Christopher Wool, for starters... @jeanfwright

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R I G H T N O W Creative Home

This page, clockwise from top left The workspace with console designed by BKH has a pull-out worktop concealed as though it were a drawer front. Artwork above is by Newell Harry, Untitled: Numbers 2005. The photographs by Lewis Morley were taken in Jean’s first Sydney apartment. On the right is Untitled

by Günter Umberg from Fox Jensen Gallery. The apartment block, designed by architect Aaron Bolot in 1957, overlooks the stables that were part of the original estate. Jean is pictured on the custom-designed sofa. A vintage Chinese hatbox sits below an Eileen Gray ‘E1027’ side table. Mirrors from MCM House and three works by Matt Glenn. The smaller one hangs on the return wall above Blue Echo 2009 by Janet Laurence. On the kitchen side is a work by Marion Borgelt, Bloodlight Stack No. 13 (left), and Wing by William (Bill) Wright.

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THE COMPLETE BO OK OF COLOURFUL INTERIORSNot everyone wants to live in a beige universe and this volume certainly prosecutes the case for surrounding yourself with brilliant colour and the consequent uplift in mood. With expert tips and pages saturated in hues, all the tools are provided to confidently create a vivid living space. Irene

Schampaert, Iris de Feijter, Lannoo, $85

BRITISH DE S IGNERS AT HOME A follow-up to Australian Designers at

Home, author Jenny Rose-Innes visited top-name designers in the UK from Kit Kemp to Nina Campbell, introducing readers to their beautifully decorated homes. Expect archetypal English chintzes, overstuffed sofas and serious antiques alongside more idiosyncratic pieces such as Rita Konig’s vintage stuffed pigeon and Veere Grenney’s alpaca walls. Jenny Rose-Innes, Hardie Grant, $60

AMERICAN GARDENSKeen gardeners will be well aware of Britain’s favourite horticulturalist Monty Don, and his foray into some of the most splendid gardens in the US will be a drawcard for green thumbs as well as those eager to glimpse the properties of Anna Wintour and Bette Midler as well as the White House kitchen plot among others. Spectacular photographs by Derry Moore accompany the informed text. Monty Don, Derry Moore, Prestel, $90

DE SIGN IN AS IA Innovation is thrilling to witness and on display here is a dynamism emerging across Asia from Korea to Indonesia that will help shape the future of design internationally. Many of the talents featured have studied abroad but all have brought a sensibility born of their heritage to push the boundaries in furniture, product and interior design. Aric Chen ( foreword), Thames & Hudson, $80

THE WORLD OF FEDERICO FORQUETA delicious portal into the life and proclivities of bon vivant Forquet whose design genius embraced interiors, gardens and fashion and left an indelible mark on la

dolce vita. Sumptuous imagery of palazzos he created sit alongside Tuscan gardens of his design as well as lavish gowns from his eponymous couture house worn by the likes of Sophia Loren and Diana Vreeland. Hamish Bowles

plus other eds, Rizzoli, $150

More to loveMPavilion:

Encounters with

Design and

Architecture

This volume chronicles the first six years of

this project and the contributions of architects including Sean Godsell and Glenn Murcutt. Thames & Hudson, $80

More Than Just a

House A delightful mix of bohemian, luxe and original interiors from an inspired group of collectors

and creatives. Rizzoli, $99

The Lives of Others

The subtitle says it all, Sublime Interiors

of Extraordinary

People. A splendid odyssey from a riad

in Tangier to a palazzo in Rome and then some. Rizzoli, $150

Golden Light

Mixing it up is the ethos of US design duo Nickey Kehoe, who create interior schemes that are

mindfully curated but always defined by the unexpected. Rizzoli, $90

A Tale of Interiors

The cover is a teaser for what lies inside – Pierce & Ward’s richly embellished interiors popular

with the A-list and anyone who believes that more is more. Rizzoli, $110

Rattan: A World of

Elegance and Charm

This enduring and beloved material is celebrated in stellar design pieces and

glamorous interiors from the Riviera to California. Rizzoli, $140

Edited by JUDY PASCOEand inspiration.

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R I G H T N O W Library

D O M AY N E P R E S E N T S

F R O M T H E S O F T W H I T E O F S A N D D U N E S

T O T H E P E A C H Y P I N K S O F S U N S E T , L E T T H E

S E A S O N I N S P I R E B E A U T I F U L C O L O U R S A N D

T E X T U R E S I N C U S T O M I S E D F U R N I T U R E

F O R Y O U R H O M E .

EscapeS U M M E R

W I T H A H U G E S E L E C T I O N O F F A B R I C S

A V A I L A B L E , Y O U C A N C R E A T E T H E M O O D

Y O U W A N T , F R O M C O A S T A L C H I C T O B O L D

A N D F U N K Y - T H E C H O I C E I S Y O U R S .

C H O O S E Y O U R F A B R I C

C U S T O M I S E T H E A R M D E S I G N B Y

C H O O S I N G F R O M T H I N , T H I C K

O R C U R V E D S T Y L E S .

C H O O S E Y O U R A R M S

S E L E C T F R O M F O U R D I S T I N C T L E G

S H A P E S A N D A W I D E S E L E C T I O N

O F C O L O U R O P T I O N S .

C H O O S E Y O U R L E G S

C U S T O M I S E D D E S I G N

T H E M O D U L A R D E S I G N O F T H E A U S T R A L I A N M A D E Z U R I

3 - S E AT E R C H A I S E L O U N G E M E A N S I T W I L L F I T Y O U R

S P A C E P E R F E C T LY – A N D N O W Y O U C A N C U S T O M I S E T H I S

S T U N N I N G S TAT E M E N T P I E C E E V E N F U R T H E R V I A A R A N G E

O F E X C L U S I V E O P T I O N S I N C L U D I N G S I Z E , U P H O L S T E R Y,

C O L O U R , L E G S TA I N A N D A R M D E S I G N . C H O O S E F R O M T H I N ,

T H I C K O R C U R V E D A R M S T Y L E S , P L U S F O U R L E G S H A P E S

A N D T H R E E D I F F E R E N T W O O D S T O S E L E C T F R O M .

T A P E R E D - L E G

F U R N I T U R E E V O K E S

S T R E N G T H A N D

E L E G A N C E

FRONT COVER FURNITURE ‘STATTON’ 2.5-SEATER LOUNGE $1999; ‘ZARA’ COFFEE TABLE $199; ‘ZARA’ LAMP TABLE $119; ‘ANDERSON’ VASE IN TERRACOTTA $59; ‘AURA’ WAFFLE THROW IN PEBBLE $169; ‘CORDUROY’ CUSHION IN TRUFFLE $59; ‘TROPICANA’ 50CM CUSHION IN BLACK $69. CURRENT PAGE ‘ZURI’ 3-SEATER LOUNGE WITH CHAISE UPHOLSTERED IN WARWICK ‘FLETCHER’ FABRIC $2499; ‘COCO’ COFFEE TABLE $499; ‘COCO’ LAMP TABLE $479; ‘SARI’ SILK HARPER RUG (160 x 230CM) IN GREY $599; ‘MASON’ FLOOR LAMP IN BLACK $369; ‘HAVANA’ 50CM CUSHION IN ECRU $59EA; ‘SIAN’ 60CM CUSHION IN SHIITAKE $69; ‘SIBELLA’ VASE MEDIUM IN DARK PEACH $59; CONCRETE VASE MEDIUM $69; ‘AURA’ WAFFLE THROW IN NUDE $169.

A N C H O R Y O U R R O O M W I T H

A S T A T E M E N T C O U C H I N T H E

S O F T E S T O F F A B R I C - A D D

C E R A M I C - T O P P E D S I D E T A B L E S

F O R A L O O K T H A T F E E L S

G R O U N D E D A N D S E R E N E .

EscapeS U M M E R

‘CAPELLA’ DOUBLE BUTTERFLY EXTENSION DINING TABLE $2999; ‘CAPELL A’ MODERN FABR IC DIN ING CHAIR UPHOLSTERED IN ZEPEL ‘MEGA’ FABR IC $429; ‘CAPELL A’ 5 -DR AWER BUFFET $1999; ‘ FEL IX ’ RUG (160 X 230CM) IN NATUR AL $999; ‘ LEONE’ STR AP M IRROR 60CM $219; SALT & PEPPER ‘REF INE ’ PEDESTAL BOWL IN BL ACK $89; SALT & PEPPER SET OF 4 L INED H IGHBALLS $39; SALT & PEPPER SET OF 4 L INED TUMBLERS $39; SALT & PEPPER ‘NOMAD’ NOODLE BOWL $14 ; SALT & PEPPER ‘NOMAD’ CONDIMENT DISH $7; ‘ PETR A’ VASE IN RUST $49; ‘ BYRON’ L ARGE VASE IN OL IVE $65 INSET RIGHT ‘ASHLEY ’ D IN ING CHAIR $299.

T H E F U S I O N O F

C R I S P W H I T E

F I N I S H E S W I T H

L I G H T S T A I N E D

T I M B E R B R I N G S A

L I G H T A N D B R E E Z Y

A T M O S P H E R E T O

A N Y R O O M .

EscapeS U M M E R

M A K E T H E M O S T O F Y O U R L I V I N G S P A C E W I T H T H E

A U S T R A L I A N M A D E C A P E L L A D O U B L E B U T T E R F LY

E X T E N S I O N D I N I N G TA B L E A N D M AT C H I N G M O D E R N

F A B R I C D I N I N G C H A I R S , W I T H M U L T I P L E F A B R I C A N D

W O O D S TA I N O P T I O N S . T H E S O L I D V I C T O R I A N A S H TA B L E

T O P C O M F O R TA B LY S E AT S S I X G U E S T S – O R Q U I C K LY

E X T E N D S T O E A S I LY W E L C O M E T E N . C H A N G E U P T H E L O O K

B Y U S I N G A S T R I K I N G LY M O D E R N C H A I R L I K E T H E A S H L E Y.

A D A P T T O Y O U R A V A I L A B L E S P A C E A N D

N U M B E R O F G U E S T S W I T H A Q U I C K -

C H A N G E E X T E N S I O N D I N I N G T A B L E

( E X T E N D S F R O M 1 4 0 - 2 1 0 C M ) .

C H O O S E Y O U R S I Z E

E L E G A N T D I N I N G C H A I R S W I T H L I G H T

O R D A R K F A B R I C A N D S T A I N O P T I O N S

C A N A L T E R T H E M O O D O F Y O U R R O O M .

C H O O S E Y O U R C O L O U R

C L A S S I C D I N I N G C H A I R S A L W A Y S I M P R E S S ,

O R O P T F O R A T A P E R E D - L E G A S H L E Y

D I N I N G C H A I R F O R C H I C S O P H I S T I C A T I O N .

C H O O S E Y O U R C H A I R

C U S T O M I S E D D E S I G N

S E T T H E M O O D

W I T H L I G H T O R

D A R K W O O D

S T A I N S

T H E C L E V E R D E S I G N A N D S E V E N U N I Q U E S TA I N

O P T I O N S O N T H E H U G O 1 - S H E L F Q U E E N B E D F R A M E

A N D M AT C H I N G H U G O 1 - D R A W E R B E D S I D E TA B L E A R E

C L E A N , C O N T E M P O R A R Y A N D E X C L U S I V E T O D O M AY N E .

T H E B E D H E A D ’ S I N T E G R AT E D S H E L F I S C U S T O M I S A B L E

I N H E I G H T A N D C O N F I G U R AT I O N , W H I L E T H E

C O N C E A L E D H A N D L E A N D H I D D E N S T O R A G E O F T H E

B E D S I D E TA B L E O F F E R E X T R A S P A C E - S A V I N G A P P E A L .

S E V E N U N I Q U E S T A I N C H O I C E S F O R Y O U R

B E D R O O M S U I T E G I V I N G Y O U P L E N T Y O F S T Y L E

O P T I O N S T O M A T C H A N Y D É C O R .

C H O O S E Y O U R S T A I N

C U S T O M I S A B L E B E D H E A D W I D T H L E T S Y O U

G O B O L D O R S C A L E B A C K T O S E A M L E S S L Y

S U I T Y O U R B E D R O O M S U R R O U N D S .

C H O O S E Y O U R W I D T H

O P T I O N A L S H E L F C O N F I G U R A T I O N

A N D E X T R A B E D S I D E S T O R A G E M A K E

T H E B E S T U S E O F A V A I L A B L E S P A C E .

C H O O S E Y O U R S T O R A G E

C U S T O M I S E D D E S I G N

G O W I T H

N A T U R A L O A K

F O R A T R U L Y

M I N I M A L I S T L O O K

‘HUGO’ QUEEN BED FRAME WITH EXTENDED BEDHEAD & 1-SHELF $2799; ‘HUGO’ 1-DRAWER BEDSIDE TABLE $659; AURA ‘HERRINGBONE’ QUEEN QUILT COVER IN INK $279; ‘HERRINGBONE’ PILLOWCASE IN INK $39EA; AURA ‘MAISON’ QUEEN SHEET SET IN WHITE $329; ‘CAICOS’ 50CM CUSHION IN BLACK $69; ‘GEORGIA’ BOWL LARGE IN RUST $49; ‘LULU’ TABLE LAMP IN WHITE $89; ‘AURA’ JUMBO MOSS STITCH THROW IN CLAY $199 LEFT INSET ‘HUGO’ QUEEN BED FRAME WITH EXTENDED BEDHEAD & 2-SHELVES $3099.

N A T U R A L E L E M E N T S C O M E

T O G E T H E R I N L A Y E R S O F T E X T U R E ,

C O L O U R A N D T O N E T O C R E A T E

A C O A S T A L C O N N E C T I O N .

EscapeS U M M E R

‘F ITZROY’ QUEEN BED FRAME UPHOLSTERED IN WARWICK ‘FOSTER’ $2399; ‘HUNTER’ LAMP TABLE $479; ‘BYZANCE’ TRIBAL RUG (160 X 230CM) IN BLACK/NATURAL $699; ‘DOMAYNE LUXURIES’ 500TC QUEEN SHEET SET IN SILVER $169; ‘HERRINGBONE’ QUEEN QUILT COVER SET IN WHITE $279; ‘CHELSEA’ CUSHION IN BUTTERCUP $109; GLASSHOUSE 380G ‘MAGIC SPELL’ CANDLE $54.95; ‘CALIENTE’ BOWL $99; ‘BYRON’ ROUND GLASS VASE IN OLIVE $65; ‘ JENSON’ LAMP BASE IN CHROME $129; LINEN LAMP SHADE IN DOVE GREY $69; AURA ‘WAFFLE’ THROW IN OLIVE $169.

B R I N G R E L A X I N G C U E S I N T O T H E

B E D R O O M W I T H L A Y E R S O F G R E E N S

A N D B L U E S I N S P I R E D B Y T H E O C E A N

A N D S E A - T U M B L E D G R A S S .

EscapeS U M M E R

P U R E W H I T E

B E D D I N G H E L P S

A R O O M F E E L

B R I G H T E R A N D

L E S S C L U T T E R E D

V I S I T D OM AY N E . C OM . A U T O B R O W S E O U R F U L L

R A N G E O F F U R N I T U R E , B E D D I N G A N D H O M E W A R E S .

Domayne ® s tores are operated by independent f ranchisees . Advert i sed pr ices va l id at New South Wales stores on ly. Pr ices may var y between states due to add i t iona l f re ight costs . Mattress , bed l inen and accessor ies are opt iona l extras . Pr ices may var y due to customisat ion . Promot ion ends 31/12/2020.

C U S T O M I S E Y O U R B E D S I Z E T O M A K E A

P O W E R F U L V I S U A L S T A T E M E N T A N D C R E A T E

Y O U R D R E A M B E D R O O M F E E L .

C H O O S E Y O U R S I Z E

P E R S O N A L I S E Y O U R M O S T P R I V A T E L I V I N G S P A C E

W I T H A C H O I C E O F F A B R I C S A N D C O L O U R S

F R O M D O M A Y N E ’ S I M P R E S S I V E R A N G E .

C H O O S E Y O U R F A B R I C

M A T C H Y O U R B E D ’ S T I M B E R L E G S T O T H E

B E D H E A D T O G G L E M A T E R I A L F O R A N E Y E -

C A T C H I N G D E T A I L T H A T W O N ’ T G O U N N O T I C E D .

C H O O S E Y O U R L E G S

C U S T O M I S E D D E S I G N

E X C L U S I V E T O D O M AY N E , T H E E L E G A N T N E W F I T Z R O Y

I S A V A I L A B L E F R O M Q U E E N T O U B E R K I N G S I Z E ,

C O M B I N I N G A L O W- B U I L D B A S E A N D TA P E R E D -

L E G S O P H I S T I C AT I O N W I T H S O F T C O N T O U R S A N D

P R E M I U M F A B R I C U P H O L S T E R Y. Y O U C A N F U R T H E R

C U S T O M I S E T H I S P L U S H , C O N T E M P O R A R Y S TAT E M E N T

P I E C E W I T H Y O U R C H O I C E O F W O O D S TA I N S , F A B R I C

C O L O U R S , B E D H E A D T O G G L E S A N D M O R E .

He monitors her phone calls and messages

He gives her an allowance

He tracks her location

He puts her down in front of other people

He checks her receipts

He makes it hard for her to see her family

He has strong opinions of what she should wear

He doesn’t like her going out without him

Persistent humiliating, demeaning and intimidating behaviour in a relationship isn’t something to ignore.

Coercive Control is a sustained pattern

of dominating behaviour which can include

emotional abuse, isolation, sexual coercion,

fi nancial abuse and cyber stalking. It is a

complicated situation that can evolve over

many years, leaving victims feeling trapped

and worthless. While it plays out in all types

of domestic relationships, it is women

who are overwhelmingly aff ected – with

tragic outcomes. It is up to all of us to

recognise the signs and join the dots.

Criminalising Coercive Control will

save lives. If you or someone you

know is aff ected by abuse,

call 1800 RESPECT on

1800 737 732.

He insists on dropping her off and picking

her up

He says she’s better off without her ‘friends’

Jointhe

dots

c r i m i n a l i s e

For more information, visit coercivecontrol.com.au

proudly supported by

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Jack Nicholson in

Something’s Gotta

Give (2003).

Edited by NATALIE JOHNSON

1 Brunello Cucinelli striped linen pouf, $2470, from Matchesfashion.com. 2 ‘Max’ champagne glasses, $69.95/each, from Riedel. 3 ’Amalfi’ armchair, $4950, from Janus Et Cie. 4 ‘La Famiglia’ scalloped serving platter, $220, from Alex and Trahanas. 5 SMR Days camp-collar embroidered striped shirt, $248, from Mr Porter. 6 Tom Ford ‘001’ rectangular watch, $3820, from Farfetch. 7 Orlebar Brown ‘+007 Thunderball’ swim shorts, $145, from Mr Porter. 8 Mister Woof leather leash in Classic Tan, $80, from Styledog. 9 Jacques Marie Mage ‘Baudelaire’ sunglasses, $1319, from Matchesfashion.com. 10 Striped neoclassical table lamps, $2800/pair, from The Vault Sydney. 11 Birkenstock x Proenza Schouler ‘Milano’ sandals, $691, from Matchesfashion.com. 12 ’Ashley’ 2.5-seater sofa, $4395, from Coco Republic. 13 Tom Ford Beauty ‘Fleur de Portofino’ EDP, $345/50ml, from David Jones. 14 Jacquemus S21.

Forever youngYou’ll always keep your cool

with these timeless pieces.

81

R I G H T N O WMan

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1 Maison Francis Kurkdjian ‘Aqua Vitae Forte’ EDP, $311/70ml, from Mecca. 2 Bottega Veneta ‘Messenger’ shoulder bag, $4350, from Net-A-Porter. 3 Albus Lumen keshi-pearl necklace, $412, from Matchesfashion.com. 4 Isabel Marant ‘Macali’ silk shirt, approx. $1292, from Net-A-Porter. 5 Miaou ‘Tommy’ belted jeans, approx. $410, from Net-A-Porter. 6 Gothic antique French light fixture, $4200, from The Vault Sydney. 7 Albus Lumen earrings, $262, from Matchesfashion.com. 8 Vintage Wedgwood ‘Bateau’ vase, $225, from Becker Minty 9 ‘Shrimp’ cocktail napkins, $198/six, from Elizabeth Lake. 10 Oly ‘Diego’ bench, $4995, from Coco Republic. 11 Loretta Caponi embroidered placemat, $795/pair (includes napkins), from Matchesfashion.com. 12 Jil Sander F20. 13 La Cornue ‘CornuFé 110’ cooker, $19,594, from Andi-Co. 14 ’Stripes’ cushion, $280, from Lucy Montgomery. 15 Jacquemus ‘Valerie’ slingbacks, $984, from Matchesfashion.com. 16 Frank Lloyd Wright pedestal, $13,638, from 1stdibs. 17 ’Maxime’ occasional chair, $1995, from Coco Republic.

Edited by NATALIE JOHNSON

Golden ageFor eternal elegance, look to

classic lines and coastal hues.

Diane Keaton in

Something’s Gotta

Give (2003).

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B E L L E P R O M O T I O NB E L L E P R O M O T I O N

When it comes to updating your home and lifestyle, only the best will do – so here’s a round-up of the latest and greatest products out there

BUYERS’ MARKET

31 2

4 5 6

97 8

1 CLASSIC WITH A TWIST The ‘1800’ low armchair by Tectona Paris, conveys an instant touch of elegance. Tectona’s beautiful and timeless outdoor pieces are on display at Château de Versailles and Musée Rodin. RRP $2287. classicwithatwist.com.au 2 COCO REPUBLIC One of the new lighting collection for summer, the ‘Zephyr’ triple alabaster pendant, in black marble and demilune natural alabaster with a frosted glass lamp cover, is a stunning centrepiece over a dining setting. cocorepublic.com.au 3 FANULI Made in Italy, the ‘Mia’ dining chair is made entirely of fi nely handcrafted solid timber. Lightweight but strong and with the option of adding a leather seat pad for extra comfort, the ‘Mia’ is elegant and beautifully balanced. RRP $1995. fanuli.com.au 4 HARVEY NORMAN Savour contemporary style in your dining space with the Tenterfi eld buff et crafted in Victorian ash timber and veneer and available in a selection of stains, this buff et presents a sturdy storage option for your dining room. Exclusive to Harvey Norman. RRP $2499. harveynorman.com.au5 KROSNO ‘Duet’ showcases the exquisite shine of Polish glass in a stylish and striking collection. Signature shapes such as the gin balloon and martini glass will add something unique to any set, with a contemporary feel and a touch of decadence. Each ‘Duet’ shape is available gift-boxed in a set of two. RRP $29.95. krosno.com.au 6 NAKED WINES Discover exclusive wines by the best independent winemakers in Australia and New Zealand! Naked Wines is off ering new customers $100 off 12 wines. Get a case for just $79.99. nakedwines.com.au/wine 7 SNB STONE Luxuriously timeless with the perfect palette of colours, this gorgeous and show-stopping bathroom features the classic and renowned Carrara Gioia marble. Fabrication by Interior Marble.RRP $495/sqm. snb-stone.com 8 WINNING APPLIANCES Handcrafted in Italy, Fhiaba’s elegant range of products takes the function and aesthetics of kitchens to a new level. Meeting the most demanding requirements of food and wine preservation, Fhiaba appliances boast sophisticated designs and stunning stainless-steel fi nishes. RRP $19,000. winningappliances.com.au 9 ZUSTER An all-round sofa for lounging, entertaining and fi nding yourself deep in conversation, the ‘Flow’ circular lounge is designed with family in mind. Designed and handcrafted in Australia by Zuster. RRP $13,500. zuster.com.au

Welcome to

the Festive Season

wedgwood.com.au

Photography JENNIFER SOO

Meet the magnificent nine: a Spanish haven in LA, a grand manor in Brittany, an architectural prize-winner on the Great Ocean Road and a posse of glamour homes that gaze upon Sydney harbour.

H O LI DAY M O O DFor her own Spanish mission-style home

interior designer Olivia Babarczy infused

a Mediterranean air inside and out.

See Misson Accepted, p136.

85

H O M E S

Gallerist Sally Dan-Cuthbert’s Spanish mission abode

may be packed with contemporary art and design but

it’s foremost a family home and anything but precious.

Words + Styling JEAN WRIGHT Photography ANSON SMART

FRAME GAME

86

This page In the garden of her home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Sally Dan-Cuthbert leans on Layman’s Throne, a work in cement and plasticised terry towelling by Andre Bahremand, who is represented by her gallery. One of a pair of white Marc Newson ‘Orgone’ chairs can be seen in the background. Opposite page The focal point of the dining room is Pas de Deux with

Roses, a film still from Isaac Julien’s Looking for Langston (1989). One of a pair of 1930s French ebonised bergères attributed to Jules Leleu. Artemide ‘Boalum’ lamp by Gianfranco Frattini. A c1940s Australian Queensland maple dining table with chairs

covered in a Colefax and Fowler animal print velvet on the front and a solid linen on the back. Custom rug from Tibet Sydney.

H O M ESydney H O M ESydney

This page A dazzling gold mask by Tarryn Gill, titled Belly of the Beast, and Frank Gehry’s iconic cardboard ‘Wiggle’

chair greet visitors in the entrance hall of the home. On the mantel is Pond Body III, a sculptural work by Honey Long

and Prue Stent. To the right is Sally Smart’s painting and collage, Pedagogical Dance (Hand Movement), while to the

left is a drawing by Brendan van Hek with Bronwyn Oliver’s Pair copper wall sculpture installed above it. A custom

bronzed iron table holds Emily Floyd’s I Murdered sculpture. Artwork on hearth, All That is Solid Melts by Sherna

Teperson. Opposite page Dominating the living room wall is an imposing work by gallery artist Lisa Reihana, Mahuika,

from her 2001 ‘Digital Marae’ series. Ivory coloured side tables in laminated paulownia, Figure 1 and Figure 2, by gallery

artist Olive Gill-Hille. Leather and aluminium lounge chair by gallery artists Trent Jansen and Johnny Nargoodah.

A mirror-polished, brushed stainless-steel side table by gallery artist Michael Gittings holds two pear sculptures by

the late George Baldessin. Artworks by Jonny Niesche and Matt Glenn flank the doorway behind the sofa.

88

H O M ESydney

This page In the living room, in front of stacked Chinese lacquer chests used as a drinks cabinet, sits Ngumu Janka Warnti (All Made from Rubbish),

a leather and aluminium chair by gallery artists Trent Jansen and Johnny Nargoodah. On the wall, next to a work by Jonathan Jones, Lumination

Interplay Wall Weave, hangs Brenda L Croft’s Full/blood. Below is Crinkle Side Table No 14 by gallery artist Michael Gittings. On the ‘Caufield’ table by

Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti is a glazed ceramic by gallery artist Zhu Ohmu, That feeling when you �nally decide you want to have kids one day, but the

next day you read that climate scientists are warning we only have 12 years before shit hits the fan #4. Opposite page, from left In the entrance hall Frank

Gehry’s ‘Wiggle’ cardboard side chair from his 1972 Easy Edges furniture series sits with a wrought-iron chair, above which hangs gallery artist Izabela

Pluta’s work, Mirage, a chromogenic print on metallic paper from her 2018 series ‘Abstruse terms and general uncertainties’. Behind the open window

is a 1998 untitled work by Simon Blau. Sally in the entrance hall in front of gallery artist Marion Borgelt’s extensive wall installation, Nothing is Invisible.

The neon work on the plinth is Brilliant Standard Ice by Vanila Netto. Gallery artist David Tate’s At Rest stool is upholstered in emu feathers on cotton.

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For gallerist and art adviser Sally Dan-Cuthbert collecting is a lifelong preoccupation. She grew up in a household that was always engaged in art and design. The ceiling of her childhood bedroom was papered with a Marion Hall Best design, while the first artwork

her father bought her when she was a teenager (after seeing her emotional response to a woodblock print by Austrian expressionist Maximilian Kurzweil) now hangs in her dressing room. To buy from the heart was a lesson she learned early on.

Her parents would travel abroad for holidays, taking Sally and her sisters with them to faraway places such as Petra and she gathered mementos from that time. Collecting is a habit that now extends to her husband, Chris, and their two sons, Christian and Oliver, both in their early 20s.

Sally met Chris when she was working at Blaxland Gallery and he asked her to buy an artwork for him. “Essentially, he was my first client, and the first piece we bought was a work on paper by Fred Williams from Christie’s,” she says. She went on to work at the auction house before opening her fine arts advisory business in January 1992, marrying Chris later that year, and the pair has been collecting together ever since.

“It was such an exciting time to be advising and collecting in the early 90s,” she says. “There was only a handful of galleries and even fewer advisers. Many artists and dealers from those days are among our closest friends.” It is testament to the power of her personality that she is now a gallerist.

Their sons’ interests (Christian graduated in interior architecture last year and Oliver works in the music industry) are reflected in the art and furniture seen in their bedrooms. Each year, from the time they were six, the boys would choose, with guidance, a new piece for their rooms. For Oliver these included

record covers, a David Bowie portrait, and artworks by Lindy Lee, Nell and Fiona Hall, while Christian chose works by artists such as Sydney Ball, John Nixon and Marion Borgelt, and design classics by Jean Prouvé and Ray and Charles Eames).

The Spanish mission-style family home where the couple have lived since they married, with its high ceilings and large formal rooms, is ideal for displaying their extensive and varied collections. The juxtaposition of contemporary pieces within a period house is something Sally likes to illustrate for her clients. We are big entertainers, she says, and “being able to share exciting talent, new and old, is a responsibility I feel we owe”.

An important consideration is that the space is foremost a family home and not an art gallery, where the boys as they grew up could skateboard between the sculptures with their friends. The home was then and continues to be a work in progress. “That’s part of being a collector,” said Sally when her home was featured in the August/September issue of Belle in 1995.

“Artworks are hung and placed for us to live with,” Sally says. “The interplay between putting pieces together, often unexpected pairings, and regularly moving things around (usually to accommodate new acquisitions) keeps the spaces and the works dynamic. You look at them more than if they are always displayed in the same place or looking precious there by themselves. This is not a museum or gallery. I don’t mind a painting sitting halfway behind a door, inviting you to explore. The daily interaction of living with good art and design is an emotional and physical experience that brings with it joy and a huge appreciation for others. This is a real house for living.”

The depth of Sally’s knowledge from working so long within the art world coupled with her obvious innate ability and understanding of curating gives her a unique perspective. »

H O M ESydney

« A striking installation by Marion Borgelt across one wall in the entry way is the first artwork to greet visitors to the home. A more recent acquisition is Isaac Julien’s seminal Pas de Deux with Roses,a film still from Looking for Langston, 1989, which hangs in the dining room. This large, visually arresting work is one of the few figurative pieces in their collection, which mostly comprises abstract expressionism and colour field painting.

An oversized silver sculpture, The Last Drip by Nell, hangs from the dining room ceiling which had to be reinforced to hold the weight. During installation, a section of the roof was removed so that the piece could be fitted precisely into the angles of the ceiling moulding.

In 2019 Sally launched Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert in Sydney to provide a platform for good art and design. With a purpose-built architectural fit-out the gallery allows the pieces exhibited to be seen as they could look in a home.

Many of the works of art and design seen throughout Sally’s home are by artists she now represents, such as Perth-based artist Tarryn Gill’s gold mask sculpture with eyes and shiny lashes that light up which hangs over the fireplace in the entrance. There are also design pieces, such as Trent Jansen and Johnny Nargoodah’s leather-clad chair, David Tate’s emu feather stool and a mirror-polished stainless-steel side table by Michael Gittings, which mingle with custom sofas, a stunning 70s Willy Rizzo coffee table, a rare Eileen Gray tube floor light, a pair of Chinese chests that serve as a bar in the formal living room, and iconic pieces such as Frank Gehry’s 70s ‘Wiggle’ cardboard chair.

Sally exudes warmth and clearly enjoys sharing, explaining and discussing her artists’ intent. The way the art is hung and design placed both within her home and the gallery shows exactly why good art transcends fashion and time and why she is the one to present it. “Now more than ever it is important to collect from the heart but with knowledge,” she says. # gallerysallydancuthbert.com

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This page Poised in the dining room is a striking silver sculpture by Sydney artist Nell, The Last Drip, which required the roof to be opened up to

reinforce the ceiling to safely and securely install the work. The c1940s dining room setting in Queensland maple includes chairs upholstered on the

front in a luxurious animal spot velvet, Colefax and Fowler’s ‘Malabar’, with a solid linen on the back. Opposite page, clockwise from top left A pair of

beaded sheep bought in Africa graze in the library where a portrait of Sally’s sons Oliver and Christian by Lindy Lee hangs on the wall along with two

paintings by Nell. Holding a pile of books below is Sign Stool by Trent Jansen. On the crocodile ottoman designed by Sally is a brass vase from a.c.v.

Studio. A large work by John Firth-Smith hangs on the far wall. On the plinth in the foreground is a blue angular sculpture by Robert Owen. Coen

Young’s Study for Mirror #3 hangs in the dining room with a sculpture by Lionel Bawden on the plinth and a wall installation by Sophie Carnell and

Sarah Rayner. Above the door in Christian’s bedroom is a small red work by John Nixon. Other works include the multi-coloured In�nex Lumina 11 by

Sydney Ball and a circular piece by Marion Borgelt. Bag from Supernormal restaurant, Melbourne. ‘Mandu’ valet by Eckart Muthesius from Anibou.

H O M ESydney

This page Hanging above the bed in the main bedroom is a large work by gallery artist Lisa Reihana, PELT Pilosus. The windows frame enviable

views of Sydney Harbour. Vitra ‘La Chaise’ lounge chair by Charles and Ray Eames and Frank Gehry’s ‘Wiggle’ stool sit around gallery artist Rive

Roshan’s Colour Dial Table. On the Vitra ‘Solvay’ stool by Jean Prouvé is Ross Gardam’s ‘Ora’ desk lamp. Opposite page, clockwise from top left

Hanging in the kitchen are two of four artworks by Peter Atkins from his 1998 ‘Accumulation’ series. Looking through the front door into the

entrance hall where a work by Emily Floyd sits on a bronzed iron table with Marion Borgelt’s wall installation, Nothing is Invisible. The serene

grounds are full of mature trees. The house is surrounded by gardens on each side and different flowers bloom throughout the year.

S P E E D R E A D

» Gallerist and art adviser Sally Dan-Cuthbert began collecting as a child and she

and her close-knit family, husband Chris and sons Oliver and Christian, have followed

suit. » Their Spanish mission home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where Sally and Chris

have lived since they were married in the early 1990s, is packed with collectables, both

contemporary and classic art and design. » Sally runs Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert,

a purpose-built space in Sydney’s Rushcutters Bay, so works from her gallery artists

regularly refresh the collection at her home. » Sally says the space is foremost a family

home and that the everyday interaction with good art and design “is an emotional and

physical experience that brings with it joy and a huge appreciation for others”.

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H O M ESydney

Terraced back on its sloping site this Sydney eastern

suburbs house makes the most of the ocean outlook with

a simple, quietly luxurious design.

Words JUDY PASCOE Photography JUSTIN ALEXANDER

Stepping up

These pages The rumpus room on the first level of the home opens to a lawned terrace and the pool via sliding pocket doors providing the ideal indoor/outdoor connection. B&B Italia ‘Tufty-Time 15’ sofa from Space. Vitra ‘Cork Family’ stools, ‘Gueridon Bas’ coffee table in Walnut and low table, both from

Living Edge on an Armadillo ‘Agra’ rug in Byzantine. USM shelving unit in Steel Blue from Anibou. On the shelves, Vitra ‘Eames House Bird’, ‘Wooden Dolls’ and ‘Desk Clock’ from Living Edge. Totems by Stephen Ormandy from Olsen Gallery. Curtains by Simple Studio. Joinery in smoked oak. A guest bedroom

is behind the timber battened screen. A crepe myrtle lends its shade to the entrance.

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H O M ESydney

Faced with a steeply sloping site that promised a spectacular ocean view in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, architect Matthew Krusin, principal of Tobias Partners, knew that a terraced design was the answer.

“We had a challenge – we knew how many levels we needed to go up and we didn’t want to create a straight-up monster,” says Matthew. However, it’s one thing to terrace down but very different to terrace up. “We had to ensure that as you ascend the site each level is an experience. Otherwise you just feel you are constantly walking up.”

The single-storey house that occupied the site squandered its dress-circle ocean views. Having lived in the neighbourhood for some time the owners wanted to be close to the beach for their two young children and were excited by the possibilities of the block. They needed space but also wanted a simple design where all the levels of the house felt connected.

The family and the architect began discussions on the rebuild in 2013. “We worked slowly and took our time with the design, looking at the different conditions,” says Matthew. “It was a nice collaborative process and we wanted to be sure everyone was happy with how we were using the site. We wanted to create a beautiful finished product but we didn’t want to overcapitalise.”

The resulting house steps back up the slope from a sandstone-encased underground garage and timber-battened foundations at street level. A series of concrete frames form the structure that rises more than 13 metres from the road with a “delicate hat” sitting at the top. The lift and stair are set off to one side to allow the full width of the fairly slender site to be utilised.

Volumes are modest but the design manages to pack in five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, living, dining, rumpus and various outdoor terraces. To ensure plenty of natural light enters the house a massive skylight was specified for above the stair, which is concrete on the first levels giving way to open-tread timber leading to the bedrooms. Gardens designed by Sticks & Stones on each floor create a connection with the outdoors that adds to the sense of openness. Yet, privacy is foremost with timber screens, external louvres, frosted glass and judicious planting creating the feeling of a sanctuary.

While the focus is firmly on the ocean view, glamorous features such as the showstopping 5.4-metre-long kitchen island bench in Verde Tinos marble draw the eye, while the light fixtures such as the Viabizzuno ‘C2 Anelli’ suspension lamps over the dining table and the Gubi ‘Multi-Lite’ pendant lights in the master robe are dramatic punctuation points in the interior narrative. »

H O M E Sydney

This page The kitchen opens to the side garden allowing a connection with the outdoors and admitting abundant natural light. Smoked oak joinery. Benchtop in Verde Tinos marble from Euro Marble. Gebrüder Thonet Vienna ‘Single Curve’ stools from Space. When Objects Work ‘HH’ bowl from

Hub. Artwork is Woolloomooloo Nights by Shaun Gladwell. Sculpture is Figure with Red Crown by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran. Polished concrete floor. Opposite page The heavy front door is in stained cedar with a custom brass handle by Tobias Partners. USM shelving unit from Anibou holds Vitra ‘Eames

House Bird’, ‘Wooden Dolls’ and ‘Desk Clock’ from Living Edge. Totem artworks by Stephen Ormandy from Olsen Gallery. Smoked oak joinery.

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These pages, from left The 5.4-metre-long island bench is clad in glamorous Verde Tinos marble from Euro Marble. Smoked oak joinery. Gebrüder Thonet Vienna ‘Single Curve’ stools from Space. When Objects Work ‘HH’ bowl from Hub. On the back bench,

Zanat ‘Nera’ bowls and When Objects Work pottery bowls from Hub. Custom oil container. Polished concrete floor.

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« Powerful artworks provide punch just where it’s needed but do not overwhelm. The entry, accessed through a heavy cedar door with a custom brass handle, is a gallery-like space where colourful totem artworks by Stephen Ormandy make a strong statement against the dark veneer walls and concrete floor. “This space is formal enough to be a really grand entry,” says Matthew, but with sliding pocket doors that open it up to the rumpus room and pool it never feels precious.

The mood of the home is definitely relaxed, and shoes off is a policy, not just a description. Matthew calls it “quiet”, with the aura of restrained luxury coming from the consistent materials palette of concrete, smoked oak timber and stippled render, as well as the selection of style-savvy furniture pieces such as USM shelving units, Knoll tables and B&B Italia seating. “There’s a luxurious feel to the finish but it’s not showy,” he says. Repetition also helps to reinforce the understated mood – the smoked oak joinery throughout, the Calacatta marble in each bathroom, even the crepe myrtles at the entrance and in the garden off the living room all lend a pleasing harmony.

While the location says beach house this is a much more sophisticated interpretation of the genre. The clients, delighted with the outcome, say it feels “very mature”, reports Matthew.

It’s a hardwearing yet elegant home that will sit comfortably on the site for a long time to come, and the spectacular outlook is the icing on the cake. “The clients were so excited during the build when they realised how good the view was going to be from every level,” he says. #

tobiaspartners.com; sticksandstonesld.com.au

H O M ESydney

“THE CLIENTS WERE SO E XCITED DURING THE BUILD WHEN THE Y RE ALISED HOW GOOD THE V IE W WA S GOING TO BE FROM E VERY LE VEL.”

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This page The living area enjoys panoramic views over the beach. Knoll ‘Avio’ sofa and ‘Diamond’ armchair, ‘Saarinen Tulip’ side table, ‘Grasshopper’ coffee tables, and Minotti ‘Wisp’ rug and bowl, all from De De Ce. Herman Miller ‘Eames’ lounge chair from Living Edge. Digital Organic Mineral V11 table sculpture in white

marble by Stephen Ormandy from Olsen Gallery. Tribù ‘Illum’ outdoor setting from Cosh Living. Opposite page, from top Tribù ‘Illum’ outdoor table and chairs from Cosh Living. On the table is a custom oil container. The dining area has a B&B Italia ‘Alex’ table from Space and Vitra ‘Softshell’ dining chairs from Living

Edge. Viabizzuno ‘C2 Anelli’ suspension lamps. Knoll ‘Avio’ sofa and Minotti ‘Wisp’ rug, both from De De Ce. Herman Miller ‘Eames’ lounge chair from Living Edge.

H O M ESydney

S P E E D R E A D

» The owners of this house in Sydney’s eastern suburbs engaged architect Matthew Krusin, principal of

Tobias Partners, to realise their dream of a stylish yet simple family home that maximised the ocean

outlook. » With a steeply sloping site to consider, Matthew’s design terraces the house back from the road

so each of the levels is connected but the appearance of a monolithic structure is avoided. » A consistent

materials palette of concrete, smoked oak and stippled render provides a hard-wearing yet elegant

backdrop for punchy artworks, stellar light fittings and injections of luxe marble. » Gardens on each level

and a vast skylight ensure the house receives plenty of natural light and feels connected to the outdoors.

This page, from top The house is stepped back up the sloping site allowing an easy connection between levels. External retractable louvres provide privacy for the master bedroom on the top floor. Looking down to the pool, Tribù ‘Illum’ outdoor setting from Cosh Living and butterfly chairs from

Angelucci 20th Century. Pots are planted with herbs. Opposite page, clockwise from top left The master bed has a bedhead in Calacatta marble from Euro Marble. Viabizzuno ‘Royal Parete’ reading lights. Society Limonta throw and bed linen from Ondene. Fritz Hansen ‘Swan’ chair from Cult. Knoll ‘Saarinen Tulip’ side table from De De Ce. The ensuite has a Kaldewei bath from Sydney Tap and Bathroomware. Vanity and floor tiles in Calacatta

marble from Euro Marble. Apparatus ‘Trapeze’ wall lights from Criteria. Herman Miller ‘Eames Walnut’ stool from Living Edge. The powder room has a Calacatta marble vanity from Euro Marble with Vola tapware. Custom mirror designed by Tobias Partners. Viabizzuno ‘Royal Parete’ wall light.

H O M ESydney

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The romance of this 1920s residence flanked by the

Hollywood Hills drew the eyes of a talented couple

who set about enhancing its original glamour.

Words ANNIE KELLY Photography ESZTER + DAVID

Spanish f ling

This page James Houston and husband Brian McGrory smoothed the stucco exterior of the house and added a tiled roof to the tower. James

designed the drought-tolerant garden as a contemporary Spanish landscape. He says he couldn’t wait for the trees to grow so moved them in fully

grown, including the elegant pair of tall cyprus flanking the tower. Opposite page A turquoise front door with gleaming brass hinges and handles

opens to the entry where there is a portrait of Christy Turlington photographed by James. The couple restored the original terrazzo floor.

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Los Angeles

H O M E Los Angeles

This page In the living room, James and Brian featured their artworks in gallery style. Three of the framed photographs are by James and the blue nude is by Annie Leibovitz. The ‘dipped’ painting is by Oliver Jeffers, while the two vintage paintings were bought at a Paris flea market. The 1950s Italian wingback chairs bought at 1stdibs were re-upholstered in blue velvet. Opposite page The leather chairs are from Industry West and the walnut coffee table was designed by James. The 5.5-metre high living room has a small mezzanine balcony. James shot both the monochrome photographs.

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Los Feliz is one of the many beautiful old Spanish colonial neighbourhoods in Los Angeles. Set in the hills above Hollywood, its leafy green streets wind up to the famous 1930s art deco Griffith Park Observatory which is an iconic film and TV location. Attracted by

the charm and style of its picturesque location, Australian designer and photographer James Houston bought this not-quite-fixer house over three years ago with his Scottish husband Brian McGrory, who has a hospitality consultancy. Brian is also creative director of historic Villa Carlotta, a nearby landmark hotel.

The couple had spent 17 years living and working in New York, where they built a widely published lake house in upstate New York (seen in Belle April/May 2012). It was business as usual until one day out of the blue Brian asked, “Why don’t we move to California?” to which James surprised himself by instantly responding, “Yes, done!” When pressed for a reason James says, “Being in New York for all these years felt like being at the party too long.” Of course, deciding to have a child helped – having grown up in Australia James wanted more space for Dylan, the couple’s daughter born in December 2019, than their New York apartment could provide. “In five to 10 years I’d like us to go back to Australia,” he says. “It was such a beautiful time growing up there.”

While James was born in Sydney, he grew up on the Central Coast near Gosford. After school he travelled the world and was drawn to both photography and design. One of his main beliefs is that a house should have “anchors which represent the future reality you want to experience. I call this MindSpaceDesign.”

The couple searched for a house that would inspire a renovation and as a result there is not a corner or surface unrenovated or unworked. As intended it has kept its original character and they have added to the Spanish romance of the property by bringing in ideas inspired by a stay at a friend’s riad in Morocco, as well as replicating details they found inside the house.

From the street, which explodes with the colour of purple jacaranda trees in the spring, concrete steps lead up through a drought-tolerant garden designed by James, and into a small round entryway. “I always wanted to do a contemporary Spanish landscape,” he says, “I couldn’t wait for the trees to grow so I moved them in fully grown.” Bravely he removed a mature palm tree, replacing it with a pair of cyprus trees to better frame the newly renovated exterior tower. »

These pages, from left James and Brian with their daughter Dylan and Hannah the dog. The kitchen was designed with a pitched roof and white oak beams which give it a light, airy feeling. The cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Hague Blue’

and the benchtops are clad in Calacatta marble. Among the appliances is a La Cornue ‘CornuFé 90’ stove in Gloss Black.

H O M ESydney

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H O M ELos Angeles

These pages, clockwise from left The vintage French bistro dining chairs were found at 1stdibs.

The couple added the white-oak timbered ceiling in the dining room and re-laid the floor in

Italian marble tiles. A large colour photo by James can be enjoyed while looking through the

kitchen to the dining room. In the study, a desk from RH sits next to the original fireplace.

Los AngelesH O M E

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« The calm and orderly walls of the house bely the hard work involved stripping its earlier stucco finish to provide a smoother, more elegant surface – James even added a round tile roof to the entry tower which was inexplicably missing, and doubled up when redoing the roof, leaving the original handmade ones on top.

A turquoise front door opens to a large, 5.5-metre-high living room which has been restored and furnished in a palette inspired by the colours of a tile on the original fireplace. These 1920s houses were often constructed by set designers in between films, and the fireplace had to be rebuilt as it was made of wood. Mid-century Italian wingback chairs found on 1stdibs were reupholstered in blue velvet, and sit behind a walnut coffee table designed by James. A gallery wall of paintings and photographs continues the colours of the room, including three of James’s works, an Annie Leibovitz nude and paintings found in a Paris market.

Next door is a small office where James works on future design briefs, including a project for a developer in nearby Echo Park. As a photographer, he says he found it was an easy transition to becoming a designer. “Design is like photography because it is about seeing things with a personal vision and to see this idea in your head come to life is so rewarding.”

The new kitchen was created out of a series of rooms where James and Brian replaced the flat roof with a pitched version to give it more height. Here, they furnished the space at the end of the room with a custom daybed on which friends and family can lounge while the couple are cooking. James also designed the kitchen cabinets and added underfloor heating to the striking, Moroccan-inspired geometric tile floor. The room is dominated by a majestic, glossy black La Cornue ‘CornuFé 90’ stove.

The dining room is an extension of the kitchen, occupying a tiled-floor space next to the living room. Here a colourful framed photo by James overlooks vintage French bistro chairs found »

Los AngelesH O M E

This page In the master bedroom the ceiling was opened up to add height and the windows reworked to take advantage of the views of the Hollywood Hills. A bed from Sawkill in New York sits on a Moroccan rug bought at Atlas Weavers. Opposite page, from

top The mezzanine balcony is dominated by a large photo of a raven taken by James, which hangs above a vintage leather and wood chair. The bathtub in the master bathroom came from Victoria + Albert while the ‘Julia’ tapware was found at Waterworks.

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S P E E D R E A D

» Moving from New York to LA, Australian designer and photographer James Houston and his

Scottish husband Brian McGrory bought this house in Los Feliz over three years ago. » Amping

up the 1920s Spanish colonial style with touches of Morocco, the pair renovated to suit an

indoor/outdoor lifestyle and to accommodate newborn daughter Dylan and dog Hannah. » The

stucco exterior has been smoothed, the tower roof tiled, a drought-tolerant garden planted,

and outdoor dining and pool areas created. » Inside, the ceiling height is now an airy 5.5 metres

with the kitchen given a pitched roof and white oak beams. » The original terrazzo flooring in

the entry was restored and Moroccan floor tiles installed in the kitchen. » James’s photographs

feature throughout as well as the couple’s art collection and vintage and custom furniture.

“Australians really understand the indoor/outdoor way of life,” says James of the generous

courtyard that … increases their living area.

These pages, from left Dining on the outdoor terrace overlooking the pool is a favourite

spot for the couple. The olive tree was imported fully grown. The farmhouse table is a

vintage piece from Belgium. Hannah sits on a custom-made daybed upholstered

in Sunbrella outdoor fabric. The wired Moroccan lanterns come from Pottery Barn.

« on 1stdibs which surround a modern table. James added handmade lighting from New York-based Apparatus Studio.

“Australians really understand the indoor/outdoor way of life,” says James of the generous courtyard that substantially increases their living area and is accessed via new sliding doors. The courtyard extends to a wooden deck where a vintage Belgian table sits under an olive tree. Steps lead down to a large swimming pool that is cleaned using an innovative ionic system by Kem Free Water. A 3.5-metre daybed anchors one end of the pool below a row of Moroccan lanterns from Pottery Barn. At night they cast a romantic light over this corner of the garden which is shielded from view by a tall �cus hedge.

On the floor above, stairs lead up to a long corridor and a mezzanine balcony where a large framed photo of a raven taken by James overlooks the double-height living room. In the restful master bedroom, James raised the ceiling and added a new window, giving it a postcard view of Griffith Park Observatory. This room leads into an authentic 1930s-style master bathroom and dressing room.

What’s next for the busy couple? “Brian and I are very lucky as we are a good design team and there is an unrestored pool house yet to finish – all the plans are in my head!” says James with a smile. #

jameshoustondesign.com; houstonphoto.com

H O M ELos Angeles

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Now a chic platinum grey, this former red-brick residence has

been made over into an airy beauty with interiors to match.

Words STEPHEN CRAFTI Photography ANSON SMART Styling KATE NIXON

HELLO SILVER

This page The front entrance offers the promise of spectacular views beyond. Steel doors and windows by All Metal Projects. ‘Rudro’ sandstone paving in French pattern from Gather Co. Masonry finished in Dulux ‘Grey Pebble’. Michael Bate of Bates Landscape designed the garden. Opposite page Tribù ‘Pure’ outdoor sofas and

coffee table, all from Cosh Living. SP01 ‘Jeanette’ outdoor coffee table from Space with footed bowl from BoConcept. Kristalia ‘Font’ small grey cement table from Fanuli. ‘Soma’ large white planters with cork top from

Gather Co. Striped cushion from Spence & Lyda and pair of blue cushions from Coco Republic. Solar-powered ‘Tika’ lantern from Cotswold InOut Furniture. Outdoor fireplace from Jetmaster. Flowers throughout by Mandalay Flowers.

H O M ESydney

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H O M E

This Mediterranean-style property in Castlecrag, with glimpses of Middle Harbour, could easily be in Portugal. With bougainvillea shooting on the concrete columns framing the new garden room, this relaxed residence is now home to a couple with two children. “One of the owners has

ties to Portugal hence the arches and these beautiful handmade tiles,” says architect Polly Harbison of Polly Harbison Design, pointing to the blue and white tiles inset in a new wall in the dining room.

While this house, now painted a pale grey and featuring a number of steel and glass windows and doors, appears to have been simply ‘tweaked’ by Polly, the before photos reveal why the neighbours referred to it as ‘la bête rouge’. Originally a 1950s house that expanded to accommodate 10 children, there was no rationale behind each ad-hoc addition. When Polly and her clients visited the 1000sqm site, it was the surrounds, rather than the red-brick pile, that caused a positive reaction. “It’s safe to say that most wouldn’t have thought twice about pulling it down,” recalls Polly of the former dimly lit spaces and the various level changes required. “You had to enter the house down a side path and there was no circulation spine,” she adds.

However, she could appreciate the solidity of the house, even though it was closed from the front (oriented to the south) and the north-oriented garden. “What’s lovely about this location are the winds that come up from the harbour during the warmer months. It was important to allow this breeze to be welcomed into the house,” says Polly, who installed new French-style steel-and-glass doors at ground level. While these changes formed part of the modifications to the formerly chunky brick walls, almost one-third of the internal structure was removed. “We didn’t require 10 bedrooms and passages you had to reach by walking through rooms,” says Polly, who rationalised and opened up spaces and created a logical floor plan.

At ground level are the living and dining areas, along with a kitchen to one side (L-shaped plan) with a new staircase forming a link »

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This page Bougainvillea drapes a column in the new garden room with a wood-burning

Jetmaster fireplace. Tribù ‘Pure’ outdoor sofas from Cosh Living and ‘Font’ side table from

Fanuli. Opposite page, clockwise from top left The living room includes a ClassiCon ‘Elvira’ rocking

chair from Anibou and Viabizzuno ‘Minima Terra’ floor lamp from VBO Australia. On the coffee

table from Coco Republic is a Dinosaur Designs jug, marble bowl from The DEA Store, woven

vase from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald and ceramic horse from Becker Minty. An artwork, Swoon by

Waldemar Kolbusz, hangs above the mantel. Ralph Lauren ’Brennan’ saddle clock from Palmer

& Penn, candle in holder from Alex and Trahanas and travertine pillar statues from Coco

Republic. The dining room features a bar space backed with beautiful handmade Portuguese

tiles. ‘Bacchus’ platter from Greg Natale. Carl Hansen & Søn ‘OW2000 Egyptian’ folding stool

from Cult. Plate and glass on table from The DEA Store. In the kitchen, SP01 ‘Thomas’ bar stool

from Space at the island bench. Sculpture in window from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald.

H O M E Sydney

This page Polly opened up the kitchen to light and easy access to the outdoors. Steel doors and windows by All Metal Projects. Carl Hansen & Søn

‘OW2000 Egyptian’ folding stool from Cult. On the shelf, sculpture from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald. On the bench, bowl from Contents ID, striped wine

cooler from Alex and Trahanas and ‘Taffa Tiffy’ large ceramic bowl by Susie Solomon from Fanuli. Opposite page ’Cabana’ armchair and

ottoman from Coco Republic, Viabizzuno ‘Minima Terra’ floor lamp from VBO Australia, ‘Sycamore’ bar unit with secret compartment from

Boucher & Co and vase from The DEA Store, and side table from Space. Coffee table with marble bowl from The DEA Store.

“OUR CLIENT LOVE S TO CO OK, SO SHE C AME TO US WITH QUITE AN E X TENSIVE L IST OF THE APPLIANCES SHE WA S LO OKING FOR,

AS WELL AS THE MATERIAL S (RE AD ‘ROBUST’),” SAYS POLLY.

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H O M E Sydney

« or bridge to the bedrooms on the first floor. To one side is the main bedroom and ensuite and a study, together with a guest bedroom and bathroom. On the other side, above the garage, are the children’s bedrooms, a shared bathroom and a generous play area. “You can now look though from the kitchen to the play area upstairs,” says Polly, who inserted a lightwell into the void containing the new staircase.

One of the most substantial changes made to the existing structure was the addition of the barrel-vaulted garden room leading off from the living area. The in-situ concrete ceiling with its boarded timber finish adds texture to the home’s now smooth, rendered brick walls. Elevated above the back garden and combined with a new sandstone terrace, this outdoor-indoor space, with its built-in fireplace, is used all year round. As transparent is the kitchen with fine steel-and-glass doors that further blur the edges. “Our client loves to cook, so she came to us with quite an extensive list of the appliances she was looking for, as well as the materials (read ‘robust’),” says Polly, who used white dolomite stone for the kitchen island bench top and splashback. Stainless steel benches were also included.

The garden was reworked by landscape designer Michael Bates, including new timber decking around the existing swimming pool. “We had to clear parts of the garden, while other areas had to be built up to the house to make them more accessible,” says Polly, who is especially pleased with the design of the new courtyard at the front of the house. Framed by hedges, this intimate space is the perfect retreat during the peak of summer when there’s a sting of heat in the air.

One success of Polly’s renovation is the way fine detail has been achieved. Brick arches frame doors as if they have always been part of the house and once poorly placed chunky structural columns are hidden by a feature wall separating the central passage from the dining area. “Arches are popular now but they tie back to that Portuguese sensibility, a feature my clients were happy to embrace.”

Now you can see from one side of the house to the other, with large picture windows and doors allowing for highly considered vistas throughout. What was ‘The Red Beast’ is now seen as one of the smart new homes that have graced this coveted part of Sydney. “Our client was delighted when one of the 10 children who formerly lived there knocked on the door and thanked them for saving it rather than simply pulling it down,” says Polly, who was as keen to give the place an entirely new lease of life. # pollyharbison.com.au; bateslandscape.com.au

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This page Outdoor cushions from Spence & Lyda in the sunken garden with ‘The Skillet’ wood-fired hotplate from Gather Co. Opposite page, clockwise

from top left In the bedroom, the bedside table holds a vintage Italian ceramic lamp with handmade shade in striped Japanese cotton from Chee Soon

& Fitzgerald and a horse sculpture from Becker Minty. Landscaper Michael Bates installed new timber decking around the existing pool and cleared the

garden to take full advantage of the spectacular water views. On the bathroom vanity, vegetation from Mandalay Flowers in a grey ceramic vase from

Coco Republic and white resin box from Contents ID. ‘Astoria’ towel from Greg Natale on large ‘Otto’ cube from King Living.

S P E E D R E A D

» Architect Polly Harbison took on the transformation of a dowdy 1950s

red brick house, painting the exterior an elegant pale grey, for a couple

and their two children. » Drawing on one of the couple’s Portuguese

heritage, Polly has given the property an Iberian air with arches through

the garden and evocative planting by landscaper Michael Bates, who

also added timber decking to the existing pool. » Adding to the effect is

a beautiful garden room that enjoys sweeping views of Sydney’s Middle

Harbour. » Much of the cluttered internal structure was removed to free

up space for a generous living area on the ground floor. » Bedrooms on

the next level were reconfigured and a sleeping and play area over the

garage created for the children. » French-style steel-framed doors and

windows capture cooling summer breezes.

Anchored amid native bush, this exceptional home stands st

where frothy breakers roll in below and mesmerising views

Words KAREN McCARTNEY Photography MARK ROPER

MAR I NE CULTURE

trong on a prize plot of the wild Victorian south coast

extend in all directions.

These pages, from left Taking best advantage of the site, the house sits between a stand of native trees – banskia, eucalyptus, tea-tree and wattle – facing the dramatic ocean panorama. The positioning called for careful handling by the architect as, according to planning regulations, the presence of Eagle Rock and the nearby historic lighthouse meant nothing could interfere with the sightlines of either landmark. The floating roof gives a refined sense to the robust structure designed to protect against the elements. The ocean view is framed by the earthy material selection of Coolum limestone on the wall and zinc cladding on the eaves.

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H O M EVictoria

There are three things that preoccupy an architect when they are about to approach a new project: the site, the client brief and the budget. All three have to be held in balance to create the optimum result as is clearly illustrated by this exceptional house by Rob Mills Architecture &

Interiors in Aireys Inlet on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. For Rob, the site presented a challenge that was emotional as

much as practical. “I had holidayed in this area as a child and knew it well, so I was aware of the great privilege of building on this rare block of north-facing land. There are very few plots of this calibre in the world and I had a duty of care,” he says.

A 90-minute drive southwest of Melbourne, Aireys Inlet is a small coastal town set between Anglesea and Lorne with a longstanding surfing culture. There are two significant landmarks which define the coastal experience, one man-made and one natural, which have been respected in the design process: the Split Point Lighthouse built in 1891 and Eagle Rock, a large volcanic stack capped by limestone. The land itself is set within a conservation precinct that borders national parkland and a marine park. Rare indeed.

Rob had also built a holiday house for himself and his family, the Ocean House (which featured in Belle December/January 2011/12), in nearby Lorne, so he knew the terrain and the potential for the clients to experience, as he had done, the magic of living between a forest of tea-trees, eucalypts, banksia and native grasses and the wildness of the ocean.

The client was also clear that he wanted both a multi-generational house and a building that would last generations. “Space had to be arranged to accommodate the clients when they were there on their own, but also adapt to large family groups,” says Rob. “And materials had to be rigorously selected to ensure longevity.”

Skilled local builders Spence Construction worked with a restricted earthy palette of limestone, crown-cut American ash limed to highlight the grain, off-form concrete and zinc cladding for its soft ‘cushioned’ appearance and nuanced response to changing light levels.

“In my mind, it had to be a house that was incredibly masculine to cope with the robustness of the site and the challenges of the climate, while delivering protected spaces and great views,” Rob says. »

H O M E Victoria

This page In the library the walls and ceiling are clad in custom-stained crown-cut American ash and the floor is covered in a carpet from

RC+D. The Flexform ‘Crono’ armchair and the Fanuli ‘Keely’ sofa in natural saddle leather, both from Fanuli, are positioned around the

‘Simplicity 1000’ gas fireplace from Real Flame. Bronze sculpture by Camie Lyons and artworks by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri from Scott

Livesey Galleries. Opposite page, from top The house creates many opportunities for outdoor dining and relaxing while engaging with the

natural context. Materials are kept muted as seen in the Tribù ‘Vis à Vis’ outdoor table and ‘Mood’ armchairs in solid teak, all from Cosh

Living. The entrance is pared back with flooring in Moroccan Colmar limestone from Eco Outdoor and walls lined in American ash.

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These pages The main living space pays homage to the view framed by the timber-lined ceiling and the zinc cladding

on the eaves. The generous, 14-seater Lowe Furniture dining table from Hub is surrounded by Cassina ‘Cab’ chairs in

saddle leather from Space. More dining options extend to the deck where the Tribù ‘Vis à Vis’ table from Cosh Living

awaits. Tribù ‘Mood’ armchair in solid teak from Cosh Living. Moroccan Colmar limestone floors from Eco Outdoor.

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H O M EVictoria

These pages, from left A Kevin Reilly ‘Kanaal Pendant 01’ light from Hub hangs above the custom Lowe Furniture dining table from Hub and is

surrounded by Cassina ‘Cab’ chairs in saddle leather from Space. The splashback and island benchtop are in one of Rob’s favourite finishes

– Cristallo quartzite – and custom-stained timber, Moroccan Colmar limestone floors from Eco Outdoor and a bespoke, mirrored extractor

complete the kitchen palette. Untitled artwork by Johnny Yungut Tjupurrula. Faema ‘E61’ espresso coffee machine. Zip HydroTap ‘G4’. The

dining room which links to the outdoor pool terrace is enriched by Lilly Creek Waterhole, an artwork by Churchill Cann. Home Hotel black elm

bench from Poliform. Custom ‘Butterworth’ table from Lowe Furniture with lazy susan from Hub. Carl Hansen ‘Elbow’ chair from Cult.

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VictoriaH O M E

« While robust it avoids appearing bulky and the refined fly-over roof has something of a modernist sensibility in the way it appears to float above the main structure.

“I think the father of modern architecture is Mies van der Rohe as expressed in the Barcelona Pavilion, built as the German contribution for the 1929 International Exposition. It is a refined series of intersecting planes and whenever I design a contemporary building I try to channel that aesthetic,” says Rob.

He acknowledges that building a new house is not in itself a sustainable exercise so the things that you can do to mitigate it are to build enduring spaces and embed ecologically sustainable development principles in the design, such as solar access and shading, geothermal heat-exchange systems and a 100,000-litre water tank in case of fires.

Internally the house is formed in three levels. The first floor, with its 3.2-metre ceilings and generous outdoor living spaces, houses the master bedroom and ensuite alongside living, dining, kitchen and library and is a completely contained space for the clients to occupy on solo visits. The ground floor has four bedrooms and independent kitchen, dining and living spaces dedicated to extended family, ensuring the right balance of separation and togetherness when everyone is there together.

The subterranean lower ground floor is an entertaining and wellness level which was not part of the original plan. “As I got to know the clients I realised that they would really enjoy this combination of sauna and plunge pool zone with a bar, billiards and TV room. It was a late addition but it really emphasises the house as a place of complete retreat,” explains Rob.

Rob’s practice excels at kitchens and bathrooms and this house is no exception. The master ensuite with its expanse of glass and Boffi bath facing the view is tiled in Cristallo quartzite which has soft veining of pale rust. The material is used again to great effect as the splashback and island benchtop in the kitchen, adding a quiet luxury. Much of the house is restrained and cocooning with timbers and uncomplicated, simple forms playing backdrop to the natural setting and the unparalleled views. “When you have a site like this, the best thing you can do is celebrate it, not compete,” says Rob. #

Great Ocean Road Residence by Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors was

awarded the 2020 Architecture MasterPrize for Residential Architecture

(Single Family). robmills.com.au

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VictoriaH O M E

This page Set with a pair of Tribù ‘Mood’ club chairs from Cosh Living, the sheltered pool area offers an excellent place to relax. Opposite

page, clockwise from top The absence of decoration in deference to the alluring view from the bathroom is the ultimate in luxury. Bespoke vanity, splashback and flooring clad in Cristallo quartzite and custom-stained solid-timber unit by The Restorators. Bo� ‘Swim-c’ bath

with shelves by Piero Lissoni, Icon hob-set taps from Astra Walker, towel from Loom Towels and accessories from Abode Living. Moroccan Colmar limestone from Eco Outdoor clads the plunge pool walls and flooring. The powder room with custom vanity and mirror in the

wellness retreat makes the most of the luminous quality and delicate veining of Cristallo quartzite. Towel from Loom Towels.

S P E E D R E A D

» Asked to build a three-storey home on a spectacular site at Aireys Inlet, architect Rob Mills was simpatico with the area having built a

holiday home in nearby Lorne for his own family. » The clients desired an adaptable house with longevity to accommodate them on solo

visits and open up to their large, extended family as needed. » Rob chose limestone, crown-cut American ash, off-form concrete and zinc

cladding to build a robust house that heroed the view, could withstand the marine climate and offered protected spaces. » The first floor is

self-contained, hosting the master bedroom and ensuite, and living, dining, kitchen and library areas. The ground floor has four bedrooms

and independent living spaces. On the lower ground floor is a sauna and plunge pool accompanied by a bar, billiards and TV room.

“ WHEN YOU HAVE A S ITE L IKE THIS, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS CELEBR ATE

IT, NOT COMPE TE,” SAYS ROB.

Challenged with making over her own period villa home, Mediterranean features and airy mood of the 1920s original

MISSION ACCEPTED

136

interior designer Olivia Babarczy played up the with a palette of subtle tones and carefully curated pieces.

Words + Styling NERIDA PIGGIN Photography JENNIFER SOO

These pages, from left Flanking the arched front doors, a pair of original Ross Street pots hold scarlet geraniums and olive trees. Travertine pavers from Aeria Country Floors. A vintage Belgian chandelier hangs in the entry over a Spanish Carlos II round table with churrigueresque base in

European oak. Pair of artworks by Ana Pollak. Black and white photograph by Laurence Aberhart. Italian marble floor tiles from Aeria Country Floors.

H O M ESydney H O M ESydney

This page Above an antique metal console with brass trim is a pair of Hollywood Regency wheat brass sconces and an artwork by Newcastle-based artist Lottie Consalvo. Opposite page The custom timber dining table by Mark Tuckey is surrounded by mid-century ‘Chandigarh’ teak and cane chairs by Pierre Jeanneret from 1stdibs. Brodmann baby

grand piano. The exterior black and white-striped awning is from Nuevue Window & Soft Furnishings.

138

Looking beyond the faded exterior and interior of Villa Verano, designed and built in the 1920s by architect F. Glynn Gilling, a devotee of the Spanish mission style, Olivia Babarczy saw a bright future in buying the house for her large family. Surrounded by established gardens

and trees, the house sits in an elevated spot overlooking Sydney Harbour with views out to the Heads and Manly.

“When we came across the house six years ago, we had absolutely no plans to buy but it was all extremely fortuitous,” says Olivia. “We happened to drive by and immediately were struck with the romanticism of the house, despite its decrepit state. The previous owner was in her 90s, the electrics were shot, there was water damage throughout and the gardens were a force to be reckoned with. But once inside we knew immediately that we had found ‘our spot’ in Sydney and recognised that a house of this architectural style with its inherent European influences was a rare find.”

Inspiration for Olivia has always come from her childhood and her travels. She comes from a large family having two brothers and two sisters, brought up in Mount Macedon and South Yarra in Melbourne. Her mother became an interior designer later in life and her father was a property developer so change and renovating were a part of her life growing up. “My interior design style has developed over time, having lived in London and travelled extensively, I found my own niche. Thirteen years ago my husband Julian bought a derelict flat in Elizabeth Bay, which we renovated from head to toe, that got the ball rolling.”

Energetic and enthusiastic, Olivia has a passion to turn something old into something new. In addition to her interior

design business, she has four children and has renovated five of her own houses.

The house has three floors, with two bedrooms on the lower ground floor that looks onto a lush green wall designed with Vertikal. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and three bathrooms. When Olivia started to renovate, she tried to be as sympathetic as she could to maintain the original Mediterranean features. “Over two different renovations, we constantly worked on bringing integrity back to the house.” Every part of the residence was touched, and the floor plan opened up to make the most of the beautiful northern light and vistas. The swimming pool was designed in a location to overlook the treetops out to harbour views. “There is a real sense of continuum, both horizontal and vertical in the house, so by creating the open-plan living, dining and kitchen, it gives the inner sanctum of the house a serene flow. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open from the living room and dining area onto a large terrace for outside entertaining and views.”

Working with her builder, Peter Coppleson from Red Empire Constructions, made her vision come to life. “Peter and I worked well together. We extended above the front facing garage to house additional bedrooms and added arched windows along the entire front facade to tie in with the original European elements of the house. Now, the front of the house and entrance could be a house sitting on the coast of the Mediterranean. You are welcomed into a parterre garden through a wrought-iron gate, enhanced with a row of pear trees on white travertine pavers. A high double-oak front door replaces the previous one, with two large pots either side planted with a border of red geraniums and centred with olive trees. »

H O M ESydney H O M ESydney

These pages The focal point of the living room, the original arched fireplace announces its Spanish heritage. Vintage sofas re-upholstered

in Colefax and Fowler ‘Asta’ fabric by Jane Churchill and black Italian piping from Domus Textiles. Vintage Spanish chandelier from

1stdibs. Italian travertine plinth coffee table. Timber dining table from Mark Tuckey with Pierre Jeanneret ‘Chandigarh’ chairs from 1stdibs.

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H O M ESydney

This page The Calacatta marble on the kitchen bench tops and island is from SNB Stone. Kitchen joinery by Art of Kitchens. Otsumigaki wall finish

by Triple A Rendering. Artwork by mid-century Swedish artist Alf Lindberg. Vintage French sconces from Chiara Colombini. Opposite page, clockwise

from top left In the main living area, a specially commissioned artwork by Aaron Kinnane hangs above the USM console from Anibou. ‘Rostrato’ sconces

by Barovier & Toso. Aged oak flooring with custom stain. The external spiral staircase leads down to a balcony. Original arches were retained in the

grounds. An Alf Lindberg artwork hangs in the kitchen next to steel-framed black doors from Skyrange Windows.

« The vestibule entry features an Italian marble floor, grounding the space and adding to the authenticity of the house and its experience. A new staircase was designed on the same side as the original one with black wrought-iron banisters. The interior changes over the ground floor were immense and the whole house was touched to make the most of the northern light and vistas. While Olivia loves the romanticism of old houses and all their voluminous attributes, the front entrance also needed a lot of work. “The original entrance was complicated. It was important to me to create a wonderful journey from the moment you arrive at the front gate. The most important part of that journey is the connection to nature and the ocean beyond. The entry was redesigned so you could look into the sitting room and out beyond towards the terrace and the view.”

The original kitchen and dining room were dark and poky and not at all sympathetic to today’s living. Olivia decided to open up the living room wall and connect the newly enlarged kitchen to the living and dining area, incorporating light and the magnificent panoramas. The nature of the space demanded a long dining table and an army of designer chairs for Olivia’s large family. Upstairs additional bedrooms and bathrooms and a study were fitted. »

H O M E Sydney

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« The rear garden was totally overgrown and swamped by bamboo. “My vision was to create a Mediterranean garden with walks and archways surrounded with olive trees and crepe myrtles flanked by a green vertical garden,” says Olivia. Unlike the parterre flat-levelled garden at the front of the house, the rear garden is an intimate walk through cool and lush greenery.

The interiors on the ground floor chime with a worldly, well-travelled air. Olivia has used her collection of artworks as a colour guide throughout. “I feel colour is so important when putting pieces of art together,” she says. “The important element of design for me is not only to create a sense of place, both architecturally and within nature, but also to be sympathetic to the way people live and, naturally, that includes my own family. The visceral element, the sense of happiness in a space, is really the key to success. I have been extremely grateful to witness that playing out for my own family. They are never happier than when they are at home.”

Olivia is excited about her latest venture, Studio S.O., an integrated architecture and interior design practice she has founded with business partner and architect Sarah Foletta. Their ethos is to craft timeless and meaningful spaces that create an emotional response.

“Sarah and I have diverse skills, talents and experiences and our varied body of work, from modern brutalism and Spanish mission to Ibizan finca, reflects this,” says Olivia. “We are working on a number of beautiful projects at the moment. We’re excited for what the future holds.” #

studio-so.com.au; redempireconstructions.com.au

SydneyH O M E

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This page Adding to the Mediterranean air, shutters from Longma Joinery, steel-framed doors from Skyrange Windows and black and white-striped awning from Nuevue Window & Soft Furnishings. Opposite page, from top Custom bedhead in Italian linen from Susan Ottowa Upholstery. 19th-century French chest of drawers. ‘Linden’ bedside lights by Kelly Wearstler. Linen curtains by Nuevue Window & Soft Furnishings. The bathroom features a benchtop in Carrara marble

from SNB Stone. Brass tapware by Brodware. Custom aged brass mirrors from All Aspects Joinery. Smoked limestone floor tiles from Aeria Country Floors.

S P E E D R E A D

» When interior designer Olivia Babarczy bought this 1920s home in Sydney six years ago she looked past its rundown state to

the property’s potential as an expansive home for her growing family. » She loved the Spanish mission style and wanted to stay

true to the Mediterranean mood and respect the original features. » The renovations have been ongoing and Olivia has worked

with her builder to bring in the beautiful northern light and capitalise on the views of Sydney harbour and Manly. » The three-

storey house has two bedrooms on the lower ground floor and four bedrooms and three bathrooms upstairs. » Olivia merged the

formerly dark and poky kitchen into the new living and dining area which luxuriates in light and magnificent panoramas.

Postcard-perfect views and a newly inviting space

rewarded this family who, posted overseas, trusted

interior designer Thomas Hamel to deliver the

living area of their dreams in their absence.

Words CHRIS PE ARSON Photography ANSON SMART

Party faithful

H O M E Sydney

These pages In the living room, a massive picture window is like an ever-changing artwork. Jiun Ho ‘Maras’ armchairs and matching ottoman

from Thomas Lavin, LA, upholstered in a Link outdoor fabric from Tigger Hall Design. Sofas custom-made by Thomas Hamel upholstered in Pierre

Frey ‘Crozon Lin’ from Milgate. Cushions covered in Jim Thompson ‘Monterey Fog’ from Milgate. Custom coffee table with travertine top. Julian

Chichester ‘Felix’ side tables from Laura Kincade. Crinkle side table no. 10 by Michael Gittings in mirror-polished stainless steel and At Rest (2019)

stool in emu fathers by David Tate, both from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Elan Atelier ‘Jaya’ floor lamp from Coup D’Etat, LA. Gregorius Pineo

‘Archytas’ table lamp on side table from Kneedler Fauchère, LA. Trinket box from Formations, LA. Tibetan wool silk rug from Behruz Studio.

Maternité sculpture on side table by Aude Herledan from 1831 Art Gallery, Paris. Florals throughout by Mandalay Flowers.

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This page The generous dining room now comfortably seats 10. Gregorius Pineo ‘Hansen’ dining table in bleached walnut from Kneedler Fauchère, LA. ‘Husk’ wrap-around dining chairs from Zuster. Philip Nimmo ‘Montage’ sideboard and Fisher Weisman ‘Gilded Cage’ round chandelier, both from Jean de Merry, LA. Platters on dining table from Studio Levine. Opposite page, from top Originally the family room, the dining room traded places so it could

enjoy the views and sense of space. When We’re Gone plinth by Michael Gittings with Mythical Split sculpture by Heidi Melamed, both from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Flooring in multi-honed grey marble from Granite & Marble Works. In the living room, Gregorius Pineo ‘Saussure’ console from Kneedler

Fauchère, LA. Mythical Space: Blue sculpture on console by Heidi Melamed from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Echoes of Amphora: Column Vessel sculpture on plinth by Eleanor Lakelin from 1831 Art Gallery, Paris. Gregorius Pineo ‘Tribal’ wallpaper in Inuit from Kneedler Fauchère, LA. Artwork, clients’ own.

148

W hat a spectacle to come home to. For the owners of this four-level house in Sydney’s eastern suburbs while a year living in Europe was transformative perhaps their return was even more so. Their harbourside home had

experienced its own sea change, partly steered by the watercolour panorama that spreads out before it like an ever-changing artwork.

Leaving in January 2019, the owners entrusted the keys to their long-term interior designer, Thomas Hamel, and returned 12 months later to find their home miraculously altered. “I rarely get to do an unveiling like that. It was very exciting,” says Thomas. “They hadn’t seen the house for a year. Everything was picture perfect – many people feel sad when they return from overseas, but for them it was a whole new chapter.”

This renovation in absentia reflected the faith they had in Thomas, who had tweaked the home in the years since they bought it in 2006 – the main attractions being the “gun-barrel view” and the secluded beach below, ideal at the time for the owners and their three young children. While little has changed structurally since then, the interior furnishings and fittings have been a work in progress, with Thomas steadily refurbishing them as the ensuing years and the children’s rough and tumble left their mark.

In a 2015 makeover, he reshuffled the sleeping areas. While the children were young, they occupied a bunk room beside the main bedroom on the third level. Then they decamped to the back of the house and the top level, while the former main bedroom became the walk-in robe and the bunk room morphed into the generous main bedroom of today. So five bedrooms became four.

Then, with the couple’s more recent continental sojourn, came the opportunity to remodel the living areas on the second, »

H O M ESydney

« living room level. “The decision to renovate then was a no-brainer,” say the owners. The children had grown into teens so it was time for the interior to be updated and the family would be far away from the dust and debris. “We waited for them to go overseas and then we pressed the button,” says Thomas.

There were two issues to remedy, he says. First, the second level squandered the spectacular vista laid out before it. “It was crazy that as you walked up the stairs at the top, instead of the view, you looked at the kitchen with its row of cabinets and a long corridor. Then you had to walk past the cabinets to reach the living room.” The cramped dining room was undernourished for the family of five and the friends and relatives who regularly visit.

Central to Thomas’s plan was to shift the kitchen from its grandstand position, bagging the views, which it shared with a breakfast room at the front of the house. He placed the kitchen to the northern side, where he extended the footprint to accommodate it, also including an informal eating area beside it. Meanwhile, in their place at the front was a living room where the family could soak up harbour views from the comfort of their armchairs. He added a fireplace as a focal point. He also swapped over the family room and dining room, so the former is now at the rear while the latter sits at the front of the house connected to the living room and that gobsmacking view by a bank of sliding doors.

While Thomas says the changes are more planning rather than cosmetic, his trademarks are there, such as neutral palettes invigorated with splashes of colour, tactile texture and tailored furnishings, with much of the latter bought on shopping excursions to the US. “Thomas’s look is so inviting and calming,” say the owners.

While the decorating palette picks up hues of the harbour, Thomas has added hints of pink and green, too, so nothing is predictable, “but grey-blues still give it sophistication”. Texture as always takes a front seat – shared with that view! – in the refurbished living areas as it does throughout the house. Patterned marble floor tiles replaced ceramic on this level, complemented by a concrete-rendered fireplace and textured tribal-inspired wallpaper. Meanwhile, he re-covered the sofa and extended the existing wool and silk rug in the living area. Because the rooms at the front are sun-drenched, Thomas used indoor-outdoor fabrics for durability and to prevent fading.

As the owners are keen art lovers, curated pieces have been collected from the US, Europe and locally, with sculptures concentrated in the bright, sunny living areas at the front, while paintings – a precaution against fading – enhance the more shaded areas towards the back. And a whimsical piece at the top of the stairs remains an instant reminder that this is a family home with fun and timeless style cohabiting under the one roof. “That bubble console table from Portugal is a bit of playfulness as you come up the stairs,” says Thomas. “We have used playful, light materials with sophistication.”

As the home is equipped with a lift, the couple hope to live there after the children leave home. “We are in it for the long haul,” they say. “And, when we go away, we can just lock it up and go.” Next time, though, Thomas won’t be taking it over in their absence. But he will be always keen to visit. “Now there’s a real sense of wow as you walk up the staircase,” he enthuses. “You feel as if you are in a penthouse suite or on the bridge of a luxury yacht.” # thomashamel.com

H O M E Sydney

This page The mood is a little more laid-back in the family room with custom-made sofas upholstered in Fox Linton ‘Hengistbury’ in Day Break, and Holly

Hunt ‘Mojave’ cocktail table, all from Kneedler Fauchère, San Francisco. On table, ‘Twist’ and ‘Spin’ vases by Rive Roshan from Gallery Sally Dan-

Cuthbert. Elan Atelier ‘Necked’ side table from Coup D’Etat, San Francisco. Ngumu Janka Warnti (All Made From Rubbish) chair in leather and aluminium

by Trent Jansen and Johnny Nargoodah from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Scatter cushions in Dedar fabric from South Pacific Fabrics. Custom rug from

Behruz Studio. Lauren with Sunglasses and Soothsayer artworks by Petrina Hicks from Michael Reid Gallery. Opposite page, from left In the formal living

room, ‘Newton’ console in black lacquered aluminium and gold-plated brass from Boca Do Lobo, Portugal. Keep the Earth Clean, It’s Not Uranus

sculpture by Zhu Ohmu in glazed ceramic from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Between mixed-media artwork by Aude Herledan from Kneedler Fauchère,

LA. In another corner of the formal living room, Jiun Ho ‘Maras’ armchair and matching ottoman from Thomas Lavin, LA, upholstered in Link outdoor

fabric from Tigger Hall Design. Julian Chichester ‘Felix’ side table from Laura Kincade with Maternité sculpture by Aude Herledan from 1831 Art Gallery,

Paris. Crinkle side table no. 10 by Michael Gittings from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Lumière artwork by Aude Herledan from 1831 Art Gallery, Paris.

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This page, clockwise from top The dressing room island was custom-made as was the chaise in the window. Stone sculptures on island from Bill Anson Gallery, Palm Springs. Ivana Taylor ‘Beau’ stool from Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. ‘Victory’ floor lamp from Christopher Boots. On the shelves are a mix of tealights from Conley & Co and a platter from Studio Levine. In the master bathroom, towel from Loom Towels. In the entry, Gregorius

Pineo ‘Orion’ bench from Kneedler Fauchère, LA, and custom console with stone sculpture from Bill Anson Gallery, Palm Springs. Wall artwork in stainless steel mesh by Mike Baird from Graphis. Rug from Behruz Studio. Opposite page Texture rules throughout, including in the main bedroom. Bedhead custom-made by Thomas Hamel & Associates and upholstered in Castel ‘Guero’ fabric in Pigeon. Bed cover in Kohro Citylights fabric in

Methane from South Pacific Fabrics. ‘Arc’ wall sconce in Antique Bronze from Pottery Barn. Custom bench in oak and leather. Armchair upholstered in Castel ‘Lauranne’ fabric in Avoine. Holly Hunt ‘Juniper’ side table from Kneedler Fauchère, San Francisco. Wool and silk rug from Behruz Studio.

S P E E D R E A D

» While the owners of this four-level home on Sydney Harbour went to live in Europe for a year, they

left the keys with their trusted interior designer Thomas Hamel. » A few years earlier he had made

over the bedroom level, creating a master ensuite with walk-in robe. This time, he focused on the

living room area which failed to take full advantage of the view. The dining room, too, was underfed

for an active family with frequent visitors. » Thomas moved the kitchen to the side of the house and

used that space together with an adjacent breakfast room for a generous living room with iconic

harbour views. Meanwhile, he swapped over the family room and the dining room, so that the former

shifted to the back of the house, while the latter shared the views with the new living area. » While

the palette draws on the view, Thomas has added splashes of energising pinks, greens and blues.

Texture plays a leading role, expressed in the marble flooring, tactile wallpaper, hardwearing indoor-

outdoor upholstery fabrics and wool/silk blend rugs. » The impressive art collection throughout,

including sculptures and oil paintings, was gleaned locally and from across the globe.

H O M ESydney

153

The formula for the magical makeover of this

transformed harbourside home was one part

golden opportunity and one part inspired vision.

Words OWEN LYNCH Photography PRUE RUSCOE

CHEMISTRY CLASS

154

This page The welcoming front door is painted in a glossy black from Dulux. ‘Malawi’ rattan

loveseat from MCM House. Opposite page A pair of Visual Comfort ‘Clarkson’ pivoting wall

sconces in brass with linen shades by Aerin from Montauk Lighting Co illuminate the entrance

where the door is finished with a brass handle from Designer Doorware. The existing solid-

timber floor was resurfaced and finished in a matt whitewash.

H O M ESydney

These pages, clockwise from top left BassamFellows ‘Sling’ leather-covered club chair and &Tradition ‘Formakaki’ light, both from Cult. Rug from Tigmi Trading. In the living room basking in the newly opened up space, &Tradition ‘Develius’ modular sofa from Cult, Minotti ‘Ellis’ metallic side table and ‘Cortina’ tubular lounge chair, both from De De Ce, and Herman Miller ‘I-Beam’ coffee table from Living Edge, all on a rug from Robyn Cosgrove. Ginkgo brass floor lamp and leaning vintage mirror, both from Conley & Co. Black Tom Dixon ‘Beat’ floor lamp. Wool and yak hair loop-pile runner in Moon from Whitecliffe Imports on the staircase, which has a custom plaster

balustrade, curved oak handrail and brass stair rods. A glimpse of the beautiful Calacatta Viola marble in the powder room.

156

This three-storey property in Sydney’s east had fallen victim to decades of crude, inconsistent renovations, presenting its new owners with an adequately proportioned home of five bedrooms and four bathrooms

but with tired, timeworn interiors. But the promise of coveted Sydney Harbour views for the couple and their young family proved irresistible.

Initially, the current owners had engaged Sydney interior architect Debbie Pollak of Pollak Design to apply minor functional and cosmetic updates to the house. “I’m crazy about light and ventilation. For me, that’s everything,” says Debbie who honed her skills for a decade at architects Tobias Partners as an associate. “When I first entered the home every room was dark and reeked of smoke from the previous owners. It was quite depressing.”

She immediately became aware that the site had great potential but there was “little sense of its harbourside

position as the interiors were just a series of dark, closed boxes”, she says. “It was almost a tragedy for me to see how the place was designed despite its beautiful outlook.”

Recognising the inherent opportunities for the owners, Debbie’s proposal transcended mere prettification, advocating instead that the budgeted works be re-scoped to make use of what was already at the core: a sound, substantial family home, one that through shrewd replanning – rather than either superficial edits or a complete rebuild – could offer something more clever, brighter and better suited to its occupants. “I was fortunate that the clients trusted my judgement and saw the logic in taking out walls to access northern light and view corridors.”

Working to the radically redefined brief, Debbie and her associate, Kate Springer, set about creating a largely open-plan home that still held the capacity for each space to feel contained. »

H O M ESydney

“The owners are huge foodies and entertainers maestros – so the kitchen was to be the absolute

These pages, from left &Tradition ‘Develius’ modular sofa from Cult, Minotti ‘Cortina’ lounge chair from De De Ce and Herman Miller ‘I-Beam’ coffee table from Living Edge. Robyn Cosgrove rug. ‘Ginkgo’ floor lamp from Conley & Co. In the dining room, Sublime by Kate Shaw from Olsen Gallery. Vintage Thonet ‘S533’ chairs by Mies van der Rohe surround the ‘Global’ dining table in Slate Black from MCM House. Workstead ‘Signal’ sconce on the wall by the kitchen. ‘Partridge’ bar stools from DesignByThem at the custom kitchen island by Pollak Design. Brodware ‘City Stik’ kitchen mixer from Candana. Honed Elba splashback from Artedomus.

The upper walls are finished in polished plaster and a brass strip. Aerin ‘Clement’ sconces from The Montauk Lighting Co. New Volumes ‘Spomenik I’ fruit bowl from Cult. ‘Linear’ pendant light from Gi�n Design.

H O M E Sydney

« “The design concept was to reclaim a sense of those spaces being individual but connected so where we demolished walls we also retained and expressed oversized bulkheads and beams,” says Debbie, who used these beams to delineate interior zones, endowing each with a different ceiling treatment and lighting concept.

The entryway, halls, dining room and kitchen leaned towards a more traditional character with panelling, cornices and architraves whereas the newly unobstructed flow from living room to outdoor terrace was expressed by stripping back all embellishments for a more modern line that was less enclosing.

Enhancing the home’s openness and drawing in more natural light on the entertaining level was achieved by amalgamating a series of low-hanging French doors and replacing them with a single-span, 4.5-metre opening that was framed in steel. This instantly improved light, ventilation and access but also opened up those enviable gun-barrel views down to the harbour and the bridge.

Debbie took the same approach in the master ensuite where new twinned windows were installed over a pair of handbasins. Previously, a double-bricked wall had hindered any view outside and blocked natural light coming in.

The five-year project was “a protracted process”, says Debbie, due in part to the evolution of the brief. But once that was resolved the project was deftly completed in only eight months of on-site construction.

One of the spaces that drew the most attention in detailing was the kitchen. “The owners are huge foodies and entertainers – they’re culinary maestros – so the kitchen was to be the absolute epicentre of the home.” »

– they’re culinary epicentre of the home.”

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S P E E D R E A D

» The new owners of this five bedroom, four bathroom house in Sydney’s east originally

briefed Debbie Pollak of Pollak Design to make cosmetic changes to the timeworn

interiors for their growing family. » Spotting the potential for a magnificent property

opened to northern light, leafy surrounds and gun-barrel views of Sydney harbour,

Debbie boldly proposed a revised plan. » By removing internal walls a largely open-

plan home was created that still held the capacity for each space to feel contained.

» Debbie applied an abundance of luxury finishes to make rooms unique, from bands

of marble and polished plaster traced by a thin line of brass in the kitchen to stunning

bookmatched marble in the master bathroom.

This page Rama-Jaara, The Royal Shepherdess by Jacqui Stockdale from Olsen Gallery. Wool

and yak hair carpet in Moon from Whitecliffe Imports. In the walk-in robe, custom dresser

in Rosa Levante marble from Carrara Marble & Granite. Knoll ‘Platner’ stool from De De Ce.

Lacquered rattan wall. ‘Candle’ sconce from Giffin Design. Vintage brass and opaline glass

lamp from Conley & Co. Opposite page, clockwise from top left Over the stairs, Davey Lighting

‘Mercer St.’ pendant light from Dunlin. Striking bookmatched Calacatta Vagli marble

features on the shower walls and floor with the custom vanity clad in Nero Marquina marble,

crown-cut American oak veneer and blackened brass frame. Brodware ‘City Plus’ brass

wall shower set in brass. ’Bow’ chair from DesignByThem, Tigmi Trading rug, Gubi sconce

from Cult and Bitossi vases and bowl by Ettore Sottsass from Hub in the study.

H O M E Sydney

« Accommodating ample storage for the busy family of five quickly became a chief consideration, but the concept was that it had to be integrated and concealed. The result is a handsome, dine-in space for six, including an adjacent butler’s pantry, doubling the size and amenity of the kitchen it replaced.

Holding firmly to her love of minimalism, Debbie says that since having her own children she navigates residential living for families with a renewed creative agenda. “I probably am a bit looser and more organic in my approach these days but it’s still heavily rooted in architectural principles.” This is evidenced in the kitchen. “We took the concept of banding finishes and rooted the heaviness and the blackness of the joinery at floor level with integrated handles but no embellishments so as to not make the storage aspect a feature,” she says.

The need for overhead cupboards was eliminated by banding a marble splashback at eye level with polished plaster on the upper walls, then trimming between them with a pencil line of solid brass that runs around the perimeter of the room. The result is a lightening of the kitchen space, with a stripping back of its functional focus and better assimilation with its immediate neighbour, the living room.

Elsewhere in the house sporadic injections of colour, such as the green upholstered sofa, a variety of artworks in different mediums as well as the application of bold materiality in richly veined slabs of Rosa Levante marble and deep-hued paint colours, offer a characterful counterpoint to the serenity that pervades the shared family spaces.

“That’s partly the merit of building a blank canvas for the shell,” says Debbie. “It becomes something that can withstand changing trends but can also play host to a growing family that is ever evolving and has changing tastes.” # pollakdesign.com

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SAPPHIRE SANCTUARYSparkling in its maritime setting this

palatial home, built as a love nest by

a captain of industry for his mistress,

has been restored to its former glory.

Words PASCALE DE LA COCHETIÈRE Translation JEREMY CALLAGHAN

Photography GAËLLE LE BOULICAUT

This page The 19th-century manor house is built in granite, a material

typical of the traditional architecture in Brittany. The balusters, mullions

and surrounds of the English-style windows were made in stone from Sireuil

in south-west France. Opposite page Vincent Sheppard sunloungers stand at

the ready by the swimming pool which is lined in black porcelain mosaic tiles.

H O M ESydney H O M EFrance

163

Standing on a rocky promontory near Pornichet on the Atlantic coast in western France, this neo-medieval manor house looks out over a popular surfing beach and faces the tidal island of Noirmoutier in Brittany.

Accessed via large parklands where the tall maritime pines established themselves over a century before, the property abruptly ends at a cliff overlooking the ocean. The nearby transatlantic departure point of Saint-Nazaire, birthplace to such cruising icons as the Queen Mary 2, regularly pushes out these graceful floating cities, a quiet and meditative passing spectacle this grand old dame has witnessed for over a century. If these walls could talk!

Built at the end of the 19th century by Nantes architect Claude Devorsine for a captain of industry as a residence for his mistress, the manor house and its extensive parklike gardens is a discrete jewel of the local coast. A landmark when viewed from the ocean, Géorama is otherwise hidden in an almost secret cove not far from the Brittany resort town of La Baule-Escoublac.

The word géorama was originally coined to signify a giant globe, a representation of the earth, complete with continents and crude depictions of the exotic ‘otherness’ of foreign cultures. These were popularised as tourist attractions in the 1820s in the world’s biggest cities, such as Paris and London. Visitors could climb scaffolded stairs and ‘discover’ the world as it was understood back then. It was that epoch’s version of a virtual world tour.

It was in 2012 that the property, which had served as a summer camp following the end of World War II, was bought by couple Yves and François: one is passionate about architecture and admits to having an addiction to the search for exceptional sites with full ocean views that he spots during his various travels; the other is a designer and expert in the harmony of colours and materials.

The house had been altered and ‘sanitised’ with the interior elements of its grand past almost obliterated by previous owners. Yves and François were instantly smitten by the beauty of the site and began imagining how the building and its surroundings could be returned to its previous grandeur. The answer was in tradition. They simply needed to adhere to the guidelines established in its initial construction. A major renovation (in absolute respect for the rules of each métier d’art or artisan trade) was carried out over two years, rebalancing the openings, returning the internal volumes to their original form, restoring and manifesting, in addition to the general restoration, an ultra-comfortable layout worthy of such a majestic seaside summer house.

Surrounded by long stone walls that preserve its precious privacy, Géorama sits on a cliff, displaying its elegant symmetry to the sea. Unlike the imposing, classical front of the building, the ocean side exposes an impressive verrière or winter garden, which spans the distance between two outer wings that recess into the »

H O M E France

These pages The dramatic Sputnik-style pendant light was found at the Paul Bert Serpette antiques

market in Paris. Cassina sofa, Maxalto armchair and FontanaArte coffee table on wheels by Gae Aulenti

on a Toulemonde Bochart rug. ClassiCon ‘E 1027’ side table by Eileen Gray. The large ‘Brasilia’ lamp to

the right was designed in 1974 by Michel Boyer for Verre Lumière. On the left side of the living room is a

floor lamp made from a Paris Métro light, which comprises a moulded glass sphere topped with a copper

disk. Standing totem from New Guinea. The walls are covered in a wallpaper from Farrow & Ball.

165

166

These pages, clockwise from top left An artwork by French artist Fabrice Hyber hangs above a Maxalto armchair from B&B Italia.

The custom staircase was inspired by a Portuguese design. In the verrière or winter garden, Gervasoni dining table and

upholstered armchairs on a rug from Tai Pin Carpets. The intricately tiled floor was designed and re-imagined from fragments

found in the rubble of the renovation and reproduced by the Carrelages du Marais, Paris. C1900 metal and plaster chandelier

signed by artist Jacques Darbaud. Cassina ‘699 Superleggera’ chairs by Gio Ponti in the custom English-style kitchen.

H O M EFrance

This page Adirondack chairs are arranged in a sheltered, sunny spot in the mature

garden. Opposite page, from top The ensuite bathroom is papered in a Farrow & Ball

design. Enamelled cast-iron bath from Jacob Delafon and Imperial handbasins.

An artwork by Fabrice Hyber hangs above the bed. ‘Source 1’ desk and c1960s

‘Champagne’ lucite swivel office chair by Erwin and Estelle Laverne for Formes

Nouvelles. ‘Koura’ woven pendant light by New Zealand designer David Trubridge.

H O M E France

« house’s main volume. Inspired by classical Breton constructions in granite, but also by the elegant seaside resorts of La Baule with their large window openings and rich interior decorative elements, the architect designed a hybrid style of the two influences.

An ever-changing variety of daily oceanic spectacles is gifted to the inhabitants: a surfer dancing on a perfectly formed wave, a cruise liner gliding across the ocean, historic tall ships unfurling their sails, each with its own elegance. Here the sea is multifaceted; simple, sporty and active, chic, industrial and luxurious. From Géorama’s point of view it’s all visible.

Yves is a collector and lover of fine craftsmanship so each room has been customised with great attention to finishings and details. The grand staircase firmly anchors the house in its original tradition, while the kitchen skews towards the English style and the bathrooms with subtle mosaics borrow from the Italian tradition and style. At its heart the house’s triple reception room offers an unimpeded crossing from the front of the house to the sea yielding views to both land and water, green parklands and endless blue. Now basking in a refined combination of restored tradition and the collection of fine design and contemporary and decorative art gathered on the couple’s adventures, Géorama continues to live up to its namesake.

In the consummate French style of art de vivre, with luxury that carefully avoids ostentation, this house offers the optimum conditions for many moments of pause and contemplation. #

169

These pages The house is a landmark when viewed from the ocean but its privacy is assured by a

long stone wall around the boundary. A verriere or winter garden spans the centre of the building

with its grand double entry staircases. The swimming pool has been tiled in black giving it an

inky depth. ‘Safi’ wicker sun loungers with foam cushions by Belgian maker Vincent Sheppard.

FranceH O M E

S P E E D R E A D

» Built in the late 19th century by an industrialist for his lover,

the house with its parklike grounds sits on a clifftop in a private

cove in Brittany. » Known as Géorama, the house is elegantly

proportioned with a wide sea-facing frontage that holds a central

glazed winter garden and two recessed wings. » Bought in 2012

by a couple who are passionate about architecture and design,

the property was faithfully restored by artisans. » Following

the restoration the couple added the final touches with their

collection of fine design and contemporary and decorative art

to complete their ultra-comfortable seaside escape.

171

Whispering of mid-century Cali cool, strappy

palms in graceful poses flourish under the

limelight in a garden of glossy greens.

Words CHRIS PEARSON Photography NICHOLAS WATT

T A L L S T O R Y

172

This page At the back of the property, beside the existing pool, which was re-tiled, a raised bed includes Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica ‘Oriental

Pearl’) bushes, Bull Bay magnolia (Magnolia grandi�ora ‘Exmouth’) and giant white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai). Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ cascading like

water down the wall provides softness and depth. Opposite page At the entrance, a mature screwpine (Pandanus utilis) was craned in and dwarf date palms

(Phoenix roebelenii) and blue nolina (Nolina nelsonii) planted to provide verticality and soften the home’s modern facade. Mass plantings of leopard plant

(Ligularia dentata) and ornamental Korean velvet grass (Zoysia tenuifolia) provide dense ground cover.

G lamorous, dramatic and redolent of Palm Springs, this streetscape and garden in Sydney’s eastern suburbs would look perfectly at home in that playground of Hollywood A-listers. As in that resort town of iconic mid-century retreats, landscape and

architecture are intricately interwoven, the two engaged in a scene-stealing dialogue.

After returning home to Australia in 2017 following a stint living abroad the owners, a professional couple with young children, bought this handsome house near the harbour. Topping their wishlist for their new home were indoor-outdoor spaces that would make the most of that mild weather they had missed in their absence. But, while the house had been recently remodelled by architect Andre Baroukh + Associates and Paul Brough Design to spectacular effect, the garden had been left adrift and shortchanged the architecture. Its sparse vegetation, consisting largely of lawn and shrubs, was immature, making the home feel exposed and offering little privacy, with strelitzias along the back boundary one of the few vertical elements.

“The garden was also without a clear or defined entrance, with no real path to the front door,” says landscape designer Anthony Wyer of Wyer & Co who, with interior designer Cameron Kimber of Cameron Kimber Design, was hired to revitalise the garden and indoor-outdoor spaces. And the facade, while a head-turner, was overpowering and in need of relief. “It was stark and in your face,” he says. “I wanted to introduce scale and softness, while framing and enhancing the architecturally designed house.

The owners also wanted spaces for enjoying time with family and friends. It had to be an entertainer’s garden, the design dynamic and engaging, taking advantage of the property’s north-facing aspect.”

Taking his cues from the Southern California resort town, Anthony designed a garden that is “contemporary, clean, simple and glamorous. With such an imposing facade, everything had to relate back to the architecture and build upon it.” His garden plan included simple yet lush massed plantings playing on contrasts in foliage shape and texture, combined with the soaring verticality of – in true Palm Springs style – palm trees.

As with that desert location, the landscaping was hampered by poor sandy soils, which Anthony rejuvenated with organic material. Then he, Cameron and the original architects, who were recommissioned, collaborated in melding home and landscaping.

There are three distinct garden rooms – the street frontage; an area to the side abutting a covered outdoor living area; and, to the rear, the pool and its surrounds. At the entry, three tiered “pads” of concrete create a grand entrance, leading to a black steel gate framed by a masonry canopy that opens to a floating staircase leading to the front door. The team tamed the facade by adding black slatted-steel screening and painting the garage doors black. Those stepped pads navigate layers of grouped plantings, including Philodendron xanadu, Ligularia dentata, Japanese star jasmine and Korean velvet grass (Zoysia tenuifolia) interspersed with massive boulders for added texture and rugged contrast.

G A R D E NG A R D E N

Meanwhile palms, including a pandanus, dwarf date (Phoenix

roebelenii) and kentia (Howea forsteriana), frame and create striking textural counterpoints to the modern facade. Swift-growing Slender Weaver’s bamboo (Bambusa textilis var. gracilis) in planters provides ready screening along the driveway, while beyond that, abutting the outdoor living area, a generous 50sqm lawn is flanked on three sides by dense swathes of yellowwood (Philodendron

xanadu) as ground cover, with three cabbage-tree palms (Livistona

australis) adding verticality. A hedge of Podocarpus falcatus provides screening and privacy.

Updates to the pool area included a new, lighter tile and the construction of a raised masonry planter wall, while rough-sawn timber cladding, “lining the boundary for a unified look”, features in integrated seating and highlights a massive angled daybed. Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ cascades down the wall, which encases swathes of giant white bird of paradise (Strelitzia

nicolai), saved from the original garden and underplanted with Philodendron xanadu and Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica ‘Oriental Pearl’).

The garden is a brilliant example of less is more for maximum impact. “We used mass plantings for drama and simplicity,” says Anthony. “It looks pared back, but look closely and there’s actually a lot of detail and layering. I was careful not to crowd the areas – it would have been easy to go overboard, but this way, we have achieved scale and balance.”

Rather than merely providing a backdrop, the garden has become one with the house, adopting a Palm Springs design philosophy by highlighting indoor-outdoor living and using clutter-free hardscaping and softscaping.

Somehow it looks just right, with garden and architecture in perfect harmony. “Now the house is grounded. With the mature plants such as the pandanus and lush underplanting, it looks as if the garden has always been there,” says Anthony. But, perhaps most important of all for a family garden, he adds, “It beckons you to come out and have fun.”

wyerandco.com.au; cameronkimber.com.

G A R D E N

174

This page, clockwise from top left Shade-tolerant dwarf cardamom (Alpinia nutans) and hardy and fast-growing Slender Weaver’s bamboo (Bambusa textilis var. gracilis) offset the sharp lines of the floating staircase leading to the front door. To the side of the house, without impacting on the openness of the

garden, privacy screening has been achieved with a hedge of Podocarpus falcatus. A new, level lawn has been installed and three mature cabbage palms (Livistona australis) that were craned in achieve scale and verticality. The newly tiled pool and its inviting angled daybed – recline at one end, simply sit at the other – sit under the fronds of a cabbage palm. Opposite page, from top Cameron has used texture and natural hues in the outdoor room to forge an indoor-outdoor connection. It fronts onto the expansive side lawn, where a hedge of yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus), providing screening, has been underplanted with the dense ground cover Philodendron xanadu. Three cabbage-tree palms soar overhead. Looking down from the upstairs towards the entry, aggregate

softens the built form and is a neat counterpoint to the fronds of one of several palms framing the staircase.

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Garage band

The MCA chair is on a mission to bring people to art, honing the board’s social vision in her

heritage home o�ce.

L o r r a i n e T a r a b a y

Photography KRISTINA SOLJO

SCULPTURE BY JAMIE NORTH AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTWORK BY

ROBYN BEECHE. CUSTOM BRONZE TABLE BY INTERIOR DESIGNER DYLAN

FARRELL BENEATH A PIETRO RUSSO DESIGN PENDANT LIGHT AND

CHARRED-TIMBER CEILING.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SPACE?

New York loft meets Sydney. WHAT INITIALLY

APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT IT? DID IT REQUIRE

ALTERATIONS? My office is the old garage of our heritage-listed home designed by Professor Leslie Wilkinson. It’s detached from the house and has its own entry. It is of heritage significance because it has the original cupola as a feature through the ceiling and loft-style roof and beams. It required significant reimagination of the space and a gut renovation. WHAT ARE YOUR

DESK ESSENTIALS? My iMac, design notebooks from the MCA store, a rotating art book (currently Carmen Herrera) and my Brazilian agate coaster. HOW WOULD YOU

DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE AS CHAIR OF THE MCA

BOARD? I’m a custodian of Australia’s leading museum dedicated to exhibiting, collecting and interpreting the work of today’s artists. We celebrate the work of living artists, bringing exceptional exhibitions of international and Australian art to as many people as possible – welcoming over a million visitors a year – in the belief that art is for everyone. It also entails ensuring good

governance, financial stability, setting strategic direction and ensuring accessibility to all for the general public good. WHAT IS

UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR SPACE? My workspace provides great architectural interest filled with art, design collectibles, unique objects and a multitude of art and design books. Working in that environment brings pleasure, inspiration, is mood lifting and provides a place I love spending time in. COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE VIEW FROM YOUR

OFFICE? I look onto Shark Island in Sydney Harbour, across the bay to the Hermitage Foreshore and down to Manly. COULD YOU

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY? Reading newspapers online and clearing emails first up. Preparing for meetings which I prefer to start from 10am onwards. I’m typically out for a couple of meetings a day (at the MCA or other boards and councils I’m on) and in my office the rest of the day (with some school runs in between). DO YOU USE YOUR OFFICE TO

ENTERTAIN CLIENTS? I often use my office for meetings. I have a communal table and a lounge area for more casual meetings under the cupola. If it’s a nice day we might sit out

on the office terrace (with my potted lemon trees and vege patch). WHAT IS A DREAM DESK/

WORKSPACE OBJECT YOU WOULD BUY NOW? A beautiful Lindy Lee mirror-polished bronze sculpture. IF YOUR OFFICE WERE LOCATED

ANYWHERE ELSE, WHERE WOULD THAT BE? Paris, where I find endless inspiration from the museums, galleries, architecture, furniture design and fashion. WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU

LOOKING FORWARD TO? Leading the MCA’s newly established philanthropic venture, the Social Impact through Art Fund, which raises money for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learning programs; Artful our art and dementia program; Bella for those with access needs, early learning and school programs; Genext for teens; and C3West for Western Sydney. COULD YOU DESCRIBE

YOUR APPROACH TO COLLECTING ART? I have an international contemporary collection with Australian artists placed alongside their overseas peers. I often collect pieces that are socially engaged or political. I love travelling to art biennales and fairs and my role on the Tate’s International Council keeps me well-engaged with international art. mca.com.au

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T H E O F F I C E

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