Houzz Tour: Light, Space and Warmth Transform a 1950s House in Sydney
Functional flow and family-friendly layout were top priorities when a family home in Sydney's eastern suburbs received a beautiful facelift
Architect Tanya Hancock, from T01 Architecture and Interiors, and interior designer Denai Kulcsar, from Denai Kulcsar Interiors, were approached after construction had already started on their client’s 1950s house. The owners were very happy with its size and location, but several renovations had turned it into a labyrinth of small rooms and varying ceiling heights. Co-ordination was needed to bring the works together into a coherent whole, and to provide a more detailed and high-end finish. With three young children under the age of 10, the owners needed a simplified layout that would work for their family life and at the same time cater for adult activities, as they love to entertain. Their brief to Hancock was more generous entertaining and living spaces, while still having separate zones for different family activities.
Kulcsar’s interior design ethic is “to soothe the soul and evoke a strong sense of harmony”. Her primary focus for this interior was to give the owners a home where comfort and relaxation, mixed with a bit of pizzazz, were key. She has achieved this with a combination of different textures and ‘old meets new’ details, set in a serene and stylish contemporary palette.
The talented team worked together on the project to create a home that has made the owners very happy. “They love how it works for them. They entertain a lot so it accommodates large groups of people but also has an intimate family-friendly feel,” says Hancock.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with three young children
Location: Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
Size: 500 square metre floor area, with 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms, open living/dining area, informal dining, kitchen, family room
Designers: T01 Architecture and Interiors and Denai Kulcsar Interiors
Kulcsar’s interior design ethic is “to soothe the soul and evoke a strong sense of harmony”. Her primary focus for this interior was to give the owners a home where comfort and relaxation, mixed with a bit of pizzazz, were key. She has achieved this with a combination of different textures and ‘old meets new’ details, set in a serene and stylish contemporary palette.
The talented team worked together on the project to create a home that has made the owners very happy. “They love how it works for them. They entertain a lot so it accommodates large groups of people but also has an intimate family-friendly feel,” says Hancock.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with three young children
Location: Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
Size: 500 square metre floor area, with 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms, open living/dining area, informal dining, kitchen, family room
Designers: T01 Architecture and Interiors and Denai Kulcsar Interiors
The highlight of the home is how Hancock’s architectural structure and Kulcsar’s interior design have gelled. The open spaces and functional flow are a background to the interior materials used – both rough and smooth, contemporary and vintage, with unexpected touches such as leather and aged timber.
The soft coppery tones and organic texture of the grasscloth wallpaper and antique painted oriental credenza animate the foyer. A tall silver-framed mirror the height of the ceiling reflects an eclectic array of objects and brilliant tropical blooms. A graphic Moroccan-look rug and artwork beyond the space draw attention towards the just-glimpsed living room.
‘Strie Sisal’ wallpaper in Woodrose: F Schumacher; Casablanca rug: Armadillo & Co
The soft coppery tones and organic texture of the grasscloth wallpaper and antique painted oriental credenza animate the foyer. A tall silver-framed mirror the height of the ceiling reflects an eclectic array of objects and brilliant tropical blooms. A graphic Moroccan-look rug and artwork beyond the space draw attention towards the just-glimpsed living room.
‘Strie Sisal’ wallpaper in Woodrose: F Schumacher; Casablanca rug: Armadillo & Co
Despite the predominantly cool neutral colour palette in the foyer and its clean and contemporary lines, the effect is not formal and aloof. It is softened and ‘humanised’ by the warm, tactile furnishings and objects that provide a perfect foil.
Hancock declares this her favourite spot in the house. She loves how all the textural elements and colours bounce off each other to make a friendly and welcoming greeting place for visitors.
Hancock declares this her favourite spot in the house. She loves how all the textural elements and colours bounce off each other to make a friendly and welcoming greeting place for visitors.
A black painted steel blade privacy screen allows a tantalising peek to the living and dining area and garden. The blades have sleek modern visual appeal and direct light deep into the open plan, as well as separating sections of the house without enclosing them in solid walls.
The open plan living and dining area leads to a deck that overlooks the pool and large rear garden, with pleasant outlook into surrounding trees. The generous size of this space enables the frequent (but informal, says the owner) entertaining that the couple love.
The connection between living, dining and kitchen is maintained by a servery that separates the two, but keeps the sight and conversation lines open.
The connection between living, dining and kitchen is maintained by a servery that separates the two, but keeps the sight and conversation lines open.
The entertaining section is delightfully relaxed and inviting, with the owners’ striking artwork dominating one wall. The simplicity of the decor creates a sense of spaciousness and elegance.
Sisal rug: International Floorcoverings; lights: Cloche glass pendants: Ici et Là
Sisal rug: International Floorcoverings; lights: Cloche glass pendants: Ici et Là
An island from Caesarstone Classico in Organic White forms a central work area between the kitchen and the servery adjoining the dining room. It is often used as an informal family eating spot.
The owner was keen that she have uninterrupted sight lines for supervising children at play. An outstanding feature of the kitchen is the long frameless glass splashback that allows her to see the garden, lets light in and gives a soothing green backdrop for the kitchen.
A strength of Hancock’s design is how the spaces relate to the outdoors from different vantage points. The kitchen is in touch with nature from the entire length of the cooking and preparation benches and from the island.
Tower sink mixer with spring and vegetable spray: Southcape
The owner was keen that she have uninterrupted sight lines for supervising children at play. An outstanding feature of the kitchen is the long frameless glass splashback that allows her to see the garden, lets light in and gives a soothing green backdrop for the kitchen.
A strength of Hancock’s design is how the spaces relate to the outdoors from different vantage points. The kitchen is in touch with nature from the entire length of the cooking and preparation benches and from the island.
Tower sink mixer with spring and vegetable spray: Southcape
Top-of-the-range appliances and finishes make this a dream kitchen for the owner, who is an enthusiastic cook.
Joinery in EvenSaltwood veneer: Eltongroup; top cabinets painted in ‘Lexicon Quarter’: Dulux; Sienna cooker: Ilve
Joinery in EvenSaltwood veneer: Eltongroup; top cabinets painted in ‘Lexicon Quarter’: Dulux; Sienna cooker: Ilve
A family dining room overlooking trees and the pool is flooded with light. The surrounding glazing gives a sense of affinity with the garden, especially when the bifold doors are opened. The children’s cubby house, which has been with the family for years, is just visible.
Nest Awning rug in Tangelo/Natural: Armadillo & Co; Global Round table: MCM House
Nest Awning rug in Tangelo/Natural: Armadillo & Co; Global Round table: MCM House
The spacious master bathroom is a cool and sophisticated adult retreat, with honed marble tiles and floor in soft pale neutrals, large unframed mirrors and custom cabinetry. Touches of texture, like the woven cane stool and vanity tray, are an example of how the contemporary interior is accessorised with natural materials.
Stool: Papaya
Stool: Papaya
An elegant freestanding bath sits like a piece of sculpture in the ‘grown ups’ bathroom.
Kado Arc bath: Reece; Astra Walker Icon spout: Cass Brothers
Kado Arc bath: Reece; Astra Walker Icon spout: Cass Brothers
Clean modern lines are repeated in the other bathrooms, which are used by the children. A dream ‘boy’s bathroom’ has geometric reproduction concrete floor tiles from Jatana Interiors.
Joinery: Nu Space
Joinery: Nu Space
“We like to make a powder room glamorous and a little different to the rest of the house,” says Hancock.
Large metallic wall tiles add lustre to the small space and the silver-framed mirror reflects the dancing koi on the quirky wallpaper. Note the off-centre placement, balanced by a minimal black pendant light.
Osborne & Little wallpaper in ‘Derwent’ (W5796-04): The Elephant Room; pendant light: Hub Furniture
Large metallic wall tiles add lustre to the small space and the silver-framed mirror reflects the dancing koi on the quirky wallpaper. Note the off-centre placement, balanced by a minimal black pendant light.
Osborne & Little wallpaper in ‘Derwent’ (W5796-04): The Elephant Room; pendant light: Hub Furniture
A bronze basin and black tapware add to the luxury feel of the powder room.
Taps: Astra Walker Icon: Cass Brothers; Torez Cast Bronze basin: The Stone Super Store
Taps: Astra Walker Icon: Cass Brothers; Torez Cast Bronze basin: The Stone Super Store
An open tread staircase links the two floors. The painted black steel balustrading and trim echo the black steel blade privacy screen downstairs while frameless glass preserves visual continuity through the centre of the house.
Existing and new blackbutt flooring was treated with a custom limewash.
Existing and new blackbutt flooring was treated with a custom limewash.
Hancock describes the house as having a modern Moroccan edge. Carefully curated displays of Asian- and tribal-inspired objects, old and new, carry this theme throughout the decor. In the upstairs family and media room, a gorgeous slab of rustic aged timber holds Moroccan tea glasses and chunky tribal beads. This room, which adjoins the children’s bedrooms, is where the couple and their children enjoy cosy togetherness in the evenings.
The children’s bedrooms, with their light and airy outlook, are furnished with easy-care and practical finishes that can take the pace of three boisterous children.
Tuscan Shabha Sisal flooring: International Floor Coverings; furniture: PBteen
Tuscan Shabha Sisal flooring: International Floor Coverings; furniture: PBteen
Oversized double front doors in an Axolotl metal finish open to a foyer with a double height void above, making a truly grand entrance.
Axolotl metal surfaces use liquefied semi-precious metals such as zinc, bronze and copper. This one is Graphite Viper Torn.