Space Mission Step inside the revamped townhouse of H&G interiors editor Kate Nixon.
H&G interiors editor Kate Nixon blends functionality and flair in her compact, family-friendly 1980s townhouse in Sydney.
StylistanddesignerKateNixonpackedalotintoherthree-bedroomtownhouse in Sydney’s east. The footprint may be limited, but the inspiration isendless. “I love solving puzzles and that’s what working in a small space is all about,” she says. Smart remodelling, a restrained palette and seemingly boundless storage combine to help the home seem larger than it is. Kate, her husband Tim and their son Henry, five, moved here from a two-bedroom apartment in 2015, upsizing to accommodate little Agnes, now 18 months. Built in the 1980s, the red-brick townhouse is one in a complex of 12 set around a communal garden. “I was sold on the high ceilings, the natural light and the floor-to-ceiling glazing looking out into greenery,” she says. But Kate was no fan of its tiled floors and under-utilised spaces. The tight kitchen was bland and poorly positioned and the bathrooms were ho-hum.
Kate began by replacing a central support column with a six-metre steel ceiling beam to really open up the ground floor. The new addition also neatly disguises the varying ceiling heights. Next, she extended the kitchen to include wine racks, integrated appliances and generous storage. She also elected t0 remove all cornices, skirting and architraves to create a cleaner, more modern aesthetic.
No opportunity for storage was squandered: there’s a vast wall of cupboards in the double garage, while built-in seating in the entry, living room and courtyard includes cabinets and drawers. Once-idle space
under the stairs includes slide-out storage as well as an office nook. “I wanted a clutter-free home. It takes five minutes to pack the children’s toys away,” she says.
Taking her cues from the architecture, Kate created a modern, urban take on the farmhouse vernacular, with earthy hues, textural contrasts and raw finishes. The jumping-off point was the hexagonal terracotta tiles on the island, repeated on the floor in the entry and bathrooms. Limewashed American oak floorboards are used throughout the rest of the ground floor, repeated on the kitchen joinery for continuity and a clean look.
Crisp white on the walls “makes it feel contemporary”, says Kate. She then added layers of interest with meticulously handcrafted joinery, wall mouldings, bronze hardware and architectural wall lights, fine details which lend the home designer cred. Italian linen fabrics from Busatti are layered throughout for a touch of grown-up luxury. Upstairs, a new fireplace and sitting area in the main bedroom help create a true parents’ retreat. “I used every inch because there are not many inches! A place for everything and everything in its place,” she says. “I had to strike a balance between it being designed and sophisticated and feeling like a home. I wanted it to feel comfortable and lived-in, but not with stuff everywhere.”
In the courtyard, perimeter storage seating was added, which also contains planter boxes and feature uplights; a mirror gives the illusion of extra space. In doing so, Kate has, in effect, created two extra rooms – a dining area and a second living room. Further space has materialised within the family-friendly townhouse complex in unexpected ways. “There’s an open-door policy. It’s great with kids – they can run freely into each other’s houses and entertain each other,” she says. Studio Kate, Double Bay, NSW; (02) 9363 4318 or studiokate.com.au.