Perfect Blend Family is at the heart of every decision when two households become one.
It’s not always easy to harmoniously combine two families’ treasures into one household, but it certainly helps when there’s an interior designer in the building...
Merging the lives of two families into the one household is always a delicate business. It’s something that was at the front of interior designer Anna McMillan’s mind when she set about redecorating the home she shares with her partner James, their children Liz, 19, Connor, 19, and Gabi, 17, plus two dogs and three cats. “Blending the two families has been an adjustment for all of us,” she says. “Decorating this house was about being respectful to each person’s emotional connection to their home and creating a space we could all enjoy and call our own.”
Located on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, ‘Camelot’ is a two-storey sandstone house built in 1905 with breathtaking views of Chinamans Beach. “Prior to James buying the property, it had been in the same family for 50 years,” says Anna. “He undertook a major renovation in 2010, primarily to modernise the layout.” He flipped the floor plan, bringing the kitchen to the front of the house to make the most of that glorious view, and knocked through a wall to create a generous open-plan kitchen/dining space.
While that layout worked well, Anna couldn’t shake the feeling that the decor didn’t suit the home’s coastal setting. “The interior was quite masculine – lots of dark chocolate, orange and beige, and rather formal furniture – and did little to connect to its glorious outlook,” says Anna. “To me, this house was crying out for something fresher, more welcoming and more relaxed. James told me to do whatever I needed to do to make it work for our family and for it to feel like a comfortable, inviting home.”
Annaputalotofthoughtintoahome that respected both families’ histories plus allowed space for creating a new chapter together. “I incorporated pieces from both of our families: the console in the hallway, for example, was a wedding gift from my first marriage and the artworks are pieces I’ve collected over time. James found the beautiful dining table at Coco Republic a few years ago; the mirrors in the entry and the living room are part of his collection too,” she says. “The key was curating pieces to make them shine within a new scheme.”
The first thing Anna did was lose the “dull beige” on the walls. “I repainted a fresh natural white throughout and removed the heavy window treatments so the view is front and centre,” she says.
Next, she began layering. “I’m very much a texture person – it’s so important for bringing warmth to a space. For the living room, I chose white matchstick-style blinds and had the window seat upholstered in a plush velvet,” she says. A pair of beaded chandeliers provide a playful contrast against a stonewashed Persian-style rug in the living room and classic joinery in the dining room. “I’d had my eye on these chandeliers forever and they’re the perfect fit for this space,” says Anna.
Throughout, the walls are dotted with artworks. “I choose art that I’m drawn to instinctively – often, I can’t explain why I like a particular piece. We move art around a lot in this house. Seeing something in a new spot, in different light, often makes it feel like an entirely new work.”
“THE KEY WAS CURATING PIECES TO MAKE THEM SHINE WITHIN A NEW SCHEME.”
Anna McMillan, interior designer
The kitchen was already a pleasant space to cook and spend time in, so Anna left it as is. “There are bifolds leading to a balcony where James and I often sit in the early mornings with a cup of tea and watch the sunrise. It’s a gorgeous spot,” she says. “We recently put in a new deck on the other side, with a dining setting and barbecue, which we use for entertaining.”
Existing detailing, including original leadlight windows and wainscoting added in the 2010 renovation, were highlighted with complementary decorator pieces. “It was really important to celebrate these features,” says Anna. The one major structural change they made was to the main bedroom’s ensuite. “I wanted to make it suitable for two people,” she says. “I gutted it, retiled it, put in a double vanity and generally lightened up the space.”
Anna already has a studio/office on the first floor but during lockdown, they also updated a guestroom so James could work from home too. “The house is on a busy street but once you step inside you forget all that,” she says. “People coming here for the first time are often surprised at how calm and relaxed it is. Even with three young adults in the house, there are quiet spaces for everyone to retreat to.”
Most importantly, it now feels like home for everyone. “I always felt like we were living in James’ house, but now I have an emotional connection to it too,” says Anna.
McMillan Design, Mosman, NSW; 0449 184 155 or mcmillandesign.com.au.