Home Beautiful

Shades of pale Elegant finishes and details make this home a stunner

ELEGANT FINISHES AND BEAUTIFUL DETAILS MAKE THIS HOME IN SYDNEY’S NORTH AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER

- Story VANESSA KEYS Styling BREE OLIVER Photograph­y SUE STUBBS

Some people are content to leave the design of their home to a battalion of architects and interior designers, but when it was time to renovate her family’s home on Sydney’s north shore, Kylie was determined to do as much as possible herself. “I knew exactly what I wanted,” says the former womenswear and homewares buyer. “I’d prepared an extensive design brief outlining the finishes, fixtures and fittings.”

Kylie’s organisati­onal skills and eye for style have been the driving force behind the renovation of the sun-soaked Federation home she and her husband, Chris, bought five years ago. The pair, who met in London in 2005, had spent seven years living in apartments in the UK and Hong Kong, so when they returned to Sydney in 2013, they were desperate for wide-open spaces and a sea breeze. “We moved back to Sydney so our daughters [Charlotte and Madeleine, now 11] could start primary school, and we had a clear wish list for our family home,” says Kylie, who dreamt of a rear-to-north aspect within walking distance of the beach, the shops and the girls’ school. “We ended up engaging a buyer’s agent, and when we saw this house, I knew it was the one,” she adds. Though the interiors were dated, the soaring ceilings, Federation period features and establishe­d garden and pool sealed the deal.

With only a few months left on their rental, Kylie leapt into action. “Because we’d been overseas for so long, I contacted interior designer Bree Oliver, whose design aesthetic aligns with mine,” says Kylie, an unabashed admirer of clean, classic lines and a monochrome palette. What started out as an interior refresh with new paint and carpet soon turned into a renovation of most of the home, including new cabinetry in every bedroom. A quick last-minute decision was made to convert the fifth bedroom into a walk-in-robe and ensuite for the couple, and the original Federation staircase at the entrance foyer that had been altered in the 1980s with wroughtiro­n balusters, was brought back to its all-wooden original glory. (Kylie found a craftsman who took apart the entire staircase.) “The result was absolutely worth the effort,” she says.

Four years later, the kitchen, downstairs bathroom and laundry – the only pre-renovation elements left – all began to fall apart at once. “It was a sign,” laughs Kylie, who’d spent those years envisionin­g how she’d transform the remaining rooms. “I knew exactly how I wanted it to look, down to each cupboard detail.” The end creation – a perfect marriage of elegance and comfort – is testament to Kylie’s unwavering style approach. “I only buy in the palette I love,” she says. “Not only is it restful and relaxing, but we could move from this home and everything would still look fabulous in a completely different setting.” Not that this family will be on the move any time soon. “Many afternoons are spent on the back deck catching up with friends over a glass of wine while the kids swim in the pool,” says Kylie. “We feel very lucky.”

“OUR HOME TELLS OUR STORY - WHERE WE’VE LIVED AND OUR journey SO FAR” ~ KYLIE

“THE WALLPAPER IS SOFT WITHOUT BEING TOO FEMININE LEAFY AND ECHOES THE LOVELY OUTLOOK” ~ KYLIE

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?? ?? SPRING SPLENDOUR With a crisp white exterior and stunning flowering arbour, the welcome could not be warmer in this stunning abode on Sydney’s north shore that’s home to style-savvy Kylie, her husband Chris and twin daughters Charlotte and Madeleine (pictured above left & right with Lachie the West Highland terrier). “While everyone around us was painting their houses in various shades of grey, I went for a soft white [Dulux Natural White] with a black trim [Dulux Black Caviar],” says Kylie, who for the home’s exterior (opposite) was inspired by the heritage bungalows of Singapore. The welcome extends to the reconfigur­ed television room that adjoins a casual eating area at the rear of the home (above), with a custom piped sofa from Oliver Interiors in Romo ‘Linara’ Feather Grey acting as a drawcard and a cane chair from Xavier Furniture providing a textural contrast. The palette is calm and chic, with Dulux Vivid White the hue of choice here. >
SPRING SPLENDOUR With a crisp white exterior and stunning flowering arbour, the welcome could not be warmer in this stunning abode on Sydney’s north shore that’s home to style-savvy Kylie, her husband Chris and twin daughters Charlotte and Madeleine (pictured above left & right with Lachie the West Highland terrier). “While everyone around us was painting their houses in various shades of grey, I went for a soft white [Dulux Natural White] with a black trim [Dulux Black Caviar],” says Kylie, who for the home’s exterior (opposite) was inspired by the heritage bungalows of Singapore. The welcome extends to the reconfigur­ed television room that adjoins a casual eating area at the rear of the home (above), with a custom piped sofa from Oliver Interiors in Romo ‘Linara’ Feather Grey acting as a drawcard and a cane chair from Xavier Furniture providing a textural contrast. The palette is calm and chic, with Dulux Vivid White the hue of choice here. >
?? ?? BEDROOM DETAIL A calming palette imbues the comfortabl­e home, extending from the couple’s beautiful main bedroom (top left) through to the kitchen (opposite). In the bedroom, the seasoned wood of the La Maison dresser adds texture to the space, while the attractive white-on-white artwork, bought by the couple on holidays in Thailand (in a white frame, no less), evokes a sense of serenity.
BEDROOM DETAIL A calming palette imbues the comfortabl­e home, extending from the couple’s beautiful main bedroom (top left) through to the kitchen (opposite). In the bedroom, the seasoned wood of the La Maison dresser adds texture to the space, while the attractive white-on-white artwork, bought by the couple on holidays in Thailand (in a white frame, no less), evokes a sense of serenity.
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?? ?? LIVING ROOM The formal open-plan living/ dining room (top, left & opposite) is the only space not painted in Dulux Vivid White. “These original double formal rooms are at the south-facing front of the house, so Bree suggested using a grey to accentuate the mood,” says Kylie, who tested 50 shades of grey before settling on Dulux Dieskau for the walls and old faithful Vivid White for the trim. “We’re so lucky to have two dining rooms and two living areas, so it was nice to use colour to make a point of difference,” she adds. “The fireplaces still have the original marble mantles, so the grey ties everything together beautifull­y.” Near the fireplace stands a vintage-style bar trolley from Xavier Furniture (left) stocked with gin and tonic, and above, framed cityscapes of London and Hong Kong drawn by UK artist Rob Pepper.
LIVING ROOM The formal open-plan living/ dining room (top, left & opposite) is the only space not painted in Dulux Vivid White. “These original double formal rooms are at the south-facing front of the house, so Bree suggested using a grey to accentuate the mood,” says Kylie, who tested 50 shades of grey before settling on Dulux Dieskau for the walls and old faithful Vivid White for the trim. “We’re so lucky to have two dining rooms and two living areas, so it was nice to use colour to make a point of difference,” she adds. “The fireplaces still have the original marble mantles, so the grey ties everything together beautifull­y.” Near the fireplace stands a vintage-style bar trolley from Xavier Furniture (left) stocked with gin and tonic, and above, framed cityscapes of London and Hong Kong drawn by UK artist Rob Pepper.
?? ?? DINING ROOM A study of contrasts, the dining area proves how effective grey can be to add depth to a space, especially when paired with black and white (opposite). In the middle stands a custom-made, majestic pedestal table by MCM house. “We decided on a Carrara marble top, as a solid black dining table would have been too dark,” says Kylie. A Chinoiseri­e planter and vase add a pop of restrained colour, while the rugs delineate the zones throughout the space. The stunning glass chandelier­s from One World were spotted in a past issue of Home Beautiful and took some time to arrive. “Many pieces in our house had long lead times, but I believe it’s always best to wait for the items you really want, rather than compromise on a quick fix,” Kylie says of her design process. “Once completed or installed, you soon forget about how long you waited.” >
DINING ROOM A study of contrasts, the dining area proves how effective grey can be to add depth to a space, especially when paired with black and white (opposite). In the middle stands a custom-made, majestic pedestal table by MCM house. “We decided on a Carrara marble top, as a solid black dining table would have been too dark,” says Kylie. A Chinoiseri­e planter and vase add a pop of restrained colour, while the rugs delineate the zones throughout the space. The stunning glass chandelier­s from One World were spotted in a past issue of Home Beautiful and took some time to arrive. “Many pieces in our house had long lead times, but I believe it’s always best to wait for the items you really want, rather than compromise on a quick fix,” Kylie says of her design process. “Once completed or installed, you soon forget about how long you waited.” >
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?? ?? art selection was easy,” says Kylie. “And Madeleine shares my love of interiors, so helped me source and select the fabric for the cushions. It was nice to involve the girls in the design process.”
art selection was easy,” says Kylie. “And Madeleine shares my love of interiors, so helped me source and select the fabric for the cushions. It was nice to involve the girls in the design process.”
?? ?? BEDROOM Previously adorned in floral Liberty linen, the girls’ bedroom (top left) has recently had a grown-up transforma­tion. Together, Kylie, Charlotte and Madeleine chose a palette of dusty blue, white and indigo. “Charlotte has always loved nautiluses so the
BEDROOM Previously adorned in floral Liberty linen, the girls’ bedroom (top left) has recently had a grown-up transforma­tion. Together, Kylie, Charlotte and Madeleine chose a palette of dusty blue, white and indigo. “Charlotte has always loved nautiluses so the
?? ?? ENSUITE Weeks before their move-in date, the couple decided to convert the upstairs fifth bedroom into a walk-in-robe and ensuite (top right & right). The star of the space is the tiles from Di Lorenzo: a classic basketweav­e floor tile in Carrara marble creates an elegant foundation, while a marble capping tile wraps around throughout the space. Custom-made cabinets painted in Dulux Vivid White and topped with Carrara marble is offset by ornate, vintage-look fixtures in brushed nickel. >
ENSUITE Weeks before their move-in date, the couple decided to convert the upstairs fifth bedroom into a walk-in-robe and ensuite (top right & right). The star of the space is the tiles from Di Lorenzo: a classic basketweav­e floor tile in Carrara marble creates an elegant foundation, while a marble capping tile wraps around throughout the space. Custom-made cabinets painted in Dulux Vivid White and topped with Carrara marble is offset by ornate, vintage-look fixtures in brushed nickel. >
?? ?? OUTDOOR LIVING With its pool view and duenorth aspect, this calm and breezy outdoor room, with its three-seater sofa from Alfresco Emporium, is a much-loved spot in summer and spring. “Friends came over the weekend we moved in and one of the kids put their foot through the deck, so we had to gut the whole thing,” says Kylie, who chose a Blackbutt finish to mirror the dark flooring inside. An all-weather rug from Dash & Albert keeps the space cosy.
OUTDOOR LIVING With its pool view and duenorth aspect, this calm and breezy outdoor room, with its three-seater sofa from Alfresco Emporium, is a much-loved spot in summer and spring. “Friends came over the weekend we moved in and one of the kids put their foot through the deck, so we had to gut the whole thing,” says Kylie, who chose a Blackbutt finish to mirror the dark flooring inside. An all-weather rug from Dash & Albert keeps the space cosy.
?? ?? 1. The pool’s water feature is framed by box hedges. 2. Kylie, Chris, Charlotte and Madeleine with Lachie the Westie. 3. For a similar butler’s sink seen here in the kitchen, try Belfast Sinks. 4. The marble splashback and Ilve freestandi­ng cooker are a match made in heaven. 5. ‘Vine’ wallpaper in Bone from Schumacher in the couple’s bedroom. 6. A ‘Darlana’ lantern pendant from Montauk Lighting hangs pretty in the hallway. 7. Poolside sun loungers create a resort vibe all year round. For similar, visit Eco Outdoor.
1. The pool’s water feature is framed by box hedges. 2. Kylie, Chris, Charlotte and Madeleine with Lachie the Westie. 3. For a similar butler’s sink seen here in the kitchen, try Belfast Sinks. 4. The marble splashback and Ilve freestandi­ng cooker are a match made in heaven. 5. ‘Vine’ wallpaper in Bone from Schumacher in the couple’s bedroom. 6. A ‘Darlana’ lantern pendant from Montauk Lighting hangs pretty in the hallway. 7. Poolside sun loungers create a resort vibe all year round. For similar, visit Eco Outdoor.

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