Blush hour
A youthful romance with pink and grey informed the subtle palette for this sophisticated home which o ers a welcoming embrace in its simply elegant curves.
The French art deco in uence is instantly apparent in the home’s curved facade. Architecture, custom balustrades and entry gates all designed by Greg Natale. ‘Cathedral Brass’ pendant entry light from RH Modern. Garden by Myles Baldwin Design.
The curve is also celebrated in the glorious spiral staircase. Sculpture by Dan Murphy from the Greg Natale agship store. Terrazzo stone ooring with brass inlays from Terrazzo Australian Marble. Staircase by Ciolino Constructions. Walls in
half-strength low-sheen Dulux ‘Portrait Pink’.
Pastel pink lets me show my softer side – that’s why I love this house,” says its designer Greg Natale, best known for his masculine black-and-white interiors. Proof he won’t be pigeonholed, the colour departure for this Sydney home resonates for a more pervading reason. “When I was a teenager in the 80s, pink and grey was so hot. That gorgeous pairing made me yearn to become an interior designer.”
Greg took his cues for the palette from the bleached-oak parquet ooring. Chosen by the owners, builder Vince Ciolino of Ciolino Constructions and his wife Melissa, it became the starting point for the scheme and, indeed, the whole house. Frequent travellers to Europe, the couple presented Greg with a mental scrapbook of ideas, festooned with romantic features such as Juliet balconies, French doors, high ceilings and awnings, as well as the herringbone parquet oors. “We bounced ideas off each other like kids in a lolly shop and Greg came up with French art deco,” says Melissa. “The brief was for a classic house, but modern, slick and streamlined, not frou-frou,” adds Greg. “I love the clean lines of art deco because they are elegant and don’t date.” A triumph of the curve, the art deco lines add to the home’s soft touch. On the facade are glamorous Juliet balconies with ornate ironwork against a stucco exterior, while right angles are in short supply inside.
A humble stucco bungalow occupied the wedge-shaped block in 2012 when the couple bought it, aiming to build a home for their young family. They went “up, back and forwards”, says Greg, in a renovation where only the original front two rooms remain behind the new curved facade. The house now accommodates two lounge rooms, four bedrooms, a study, a grand dining room and a bells-andwhistles kitchen with butler’s pantry for these keen entertainers.
On the ground oor, the entry passes a media room, study and laundry, leading to an expansive L-shaped open plan, with formal living, dining and kitchen within the original footprint. At the back of the house an addition for informal living encloses the pool »
Brass accents lend a sense of luxe to the living area. ‘Luisa’ brass chandelier from James Said. Vintage Minotti ‘Albert & Ile’ armchairs from Stephen Conley of Conley & Co. ‘Moore’ coee table from RH. Atelier De Troupe ‘OS’ side table from Spence & Lyda. Greg Natale ‘Hide’ rug from Designer Rugs. Cushions and brass and marble accessories, all from Greg Natale. AFC print collection artworks from Arthouse Co. Minotti ‘Seymour’ sofa from De De Ce. ‘Meurice’ ve-arm wall sconce from Jonathan Adler. Brass and timber joinery by Ciolino Constructions to Greg Natale’s design. Walls painted in Dulux ‘Portrait Pink’. Pretty in pink – in the hallway looking towards the media room with a ‘Bacharach’ swivel armchair in velvet
upholstery and brass base from Jonathan Adler. Artworks by Scott Petrie. ‘Neuve’ herringbone oorboards from Tongue n Groove.
Classic herringbone parquet oors create an elegant unity throughout the downstairs. Minotti ‘Van Dyck’ dining table and Knoll ‘Saarinen’ chairs, all from De De Ce. ‘Lynx’ chandelier and ‘Geometric’ sideboard, both from RH. Vintage table lamp and brass sculpture, both from Conley & Co. Marble sculpture from Greg Natale. Print from Arthouse Co. Artwork by Scott Petrie. Hallway artworks by Scott Petrie. Dining room artwork from Arthouse Co. Vintage bar cart from Conley & Co. Custom brass scullery by Greg Natale built by Ciolino Constructions. Smeg appliances. Door hardware from RH. The graphic kitchen is clearly art-deco inspired. ‘Rome’ backless stools from RH. ‘Montesquieu’ chandelier from RH Modern.
Benchtops in Superwhite marble from Gitani Stone. Artworks from Arthouse Co.