Surprise package This Queenslander gets the ultimate makeover

The best things in life often happen by chance. Danielle, a soon-to-be mum-of-three, was an accountant when she and husband Jordan, a mining executive, bought a timeworn Queenslander in one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs. She didn’t know then that their two-year journey transforming it into a light-filled designer abode would lead her down a different career path, and culminate with more than just a sparkling new home. “I’ve always had a desire to make homes and interiors look beautiful,” says Danielle, who has since started a property styling business. “After renovating our home and selecting all the pieces to decorate it, I knew now was the time to follow my lifelong passion – I just love it!”

The spectacular makeover of the Brisbane home she shares with husband Jordan and children Sienna, four, and Max, two, has seen Danielle’s debut moodboard come to life to showcase her innate sense of style. She’s quick to point out that it was a team effort and credits architect Tim Stewart as her guide. “I had earmarked magazines and saved lots of images, but it was Tim who made all the puzzle pieces fit,” says Danielle.

The home was rented out and the family moved in with Danielle’s parents while they worked on a design that would maintain the Queenslander’s heritage charm, yet pack a serious architectural punch inside. The home’s compact floor plan, which originally included three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small eat-in kitchen, grew to include five bedrooms and three bathrooms with a spacious kitchen and living area located in a modern extension. Now the children’s bedrooms, main bedroom and a sitting room occupy the original upper level, while two guest rooms, a powder room and garage tuck snugly underneath. The drama unfurls at the

rear, where the living zone sits pretty under double-storeyed ceilings within bold linear forms that frame the backyard. Tim’s masterstroke was relocating the entry to the side of the home so guests are instantly immersed in the grand proportions of the extension.

Tim and Danielle decided on a monochrome palette that would delineate new and old. It plays out most strikingly in the kitchen where James Hardie Scyon Axon panelling in Dulux Night Sky is paired with gleaming white cabinetry. A luxuriously long 4.2-metre island claims centrestage. “The island gets a daily workout,” says Danielle, who juggles meal times and her business from this spot.

The kitchen spills into an adjoining dining and living zone that reaps the sunny rewards of the lofty ceilings and glass surrounds. Beyond, a sunken outdoor dining area and sparkling pool and beautiful greenery provide endless inspiration. “I feel as though I don’t need to go out there to get the benefit from it – I just love looking at it,” says Danielle of the burst of colours provided by pots of flourishing bougainvillea. Pops of colour abound inside too. In the living area, classic muted tones allow the surrounding outdoors to sing. “I had always dreamed of walking into Jardan and selecting my new lounge room,” says Danielle, who found her dream pieces here. “Tim once mentioned how bringing your old lounge into your new house never did the space justice. I had my eye on these things for a long time and it was so much fun to finally press the ‘Go’ button!”

Now that she’s pressed the same button on her career change, she’s not only created a beautiful home for her family, but a showcase for prospective happy customers. “We loved the whole experience of creating this home,” beams Danielle. “It’s absolutely perfect for us.”

“MONOCHROME IS TIMELESS AND OFFERS A BASE THAT ALLOWS FOR A CHANGING PALETTE OF FURNISHINGS AND OBJECTS” ~ TIM STEWART, ARCHITECT

LIVING AREA

Oversized double doors spill sunlight into the vast sunken living zone (top) at the back of the home, and a honeycomb brickwork feature on high invites light play from every direction.

“It lets in a beautiful pattern of filtered sunlight of an afternoon,” says Danielle of the Bowral Bricks feature wall in Simmental Silver. A dining setting from Cotswold In Out Furniture reflects the earthy tones. During the renovation, architect Tim moved the home’s entry from the front to the side of the home. “This facilitates real wow-factor on entry,” says Danielle.

BACKYARD

Max, Sienna and terrier Boston, pictured right, have plenty of space to play in the generous backyard that envelops the modern exterior at the rear of the revamped Queenslander. “We wanted to create a distinction between the old and new parts of the house,” explains Danielle. “To create drama for the new part of the house, or the pods, we used Dulux Night Sky.” >

WE LOVE... bedroom blues

A feature wall in Porter’s Paints Triple Lead is the backdrop for a good night’s sleep in the main bedroom. “It reminds me of a luxury New York hotel suite – classy, yet cosy,” says Danielle. She spent hours carefully selecting each item and landed happily on a Jardan ‘Sunny’ bed upholstered in Indigo stonewashed linen. Sublime linen bedding in softer hues from Andrea & Joen and Bedouin Societe are beautiful bedfellows.

MAIN BEDROOM

“I was after a pared-back, refined and glamorous vibe in our room,” says Danielle of the couple’s moody bedroom (opposite). The bronze ‘Zoe’ pendant by Cangini & Tucci from Lumen8 delivers a side of glam to the scheme.

ENSUITE

An Apaiser stone bath from Rogerseller is positioned in the master ensuite (top left) to capture backyard views across the bed. A matching stone double basin, also from Rogerseller, sits atop custom cabinetry (right) to make light work of busy mornings. Danielle splurged on a floor-to-ceiling feature wall of Carrara mixed cube marble tiles from Classic Ceramics for a five-star look. “Everything has a place which is out of sight and it stays neat and tidy this way,” she says.

MAX’S ROOM

“I love the light that streams into Max’s room in the afternoon while we are reading books on his window seat,” says Danielle of her two-year-old’s bedroom (top right). Here, Max enjoys playing at a Nofred ‘Mouse’ table and chairs set atop an Armadillo & Co ‘Petunia’ rug and sweet dreams come easily in his Jacadi cot. The mobiles, from Discovery Noosa, were a gift from Danielle’s mum, and the artwork – a framed piece of James Dunlop ‘Beach Hut’ fabric – adds a whimsical touch. >

“I’M ALWAYS ATTRACTED TO NAVY BLUE, MARBLE, BRASS AND BONE INLAY PIECES” ~ DANIELLE

GRAND PROPORTIONS Brisbane couple Danielle and Jordan enlisted the help of architect Tim Stewart to masterfully morph a tired, old Queenslander into a modern sanctuary for their family of four. “Once you walk through the front door you are uplifted by the size and scale of this room – it is a beautiful space and the hub of our home,” says Danielle (pictured opposite with daughter Sienna) of the open and airy living zone (below) she decked out with a ‘Vista’ sofa, ‘Rainbow Bark’ rug and ‘Iko’ coffee table, all from Jardan. >

KITCHEN “Everyone tends to gravitate around the island bench and make themselves at home,” says Danielle (pictured below). The home’s black and white scheme is subtly softened by a Carrara Gioia marble splashback from Project Stone Australia and benchtops in Caesarstone Urban 2040. “We couldn’t be happier with the kitchen’s functionality,” adds Danielle. The sleek black ‘Pop Brooklyn’ pendant light from ECC Lighting And Furniture above the island was a must-have for its minimalist lines, plus it pairs perfectly with ebony cabinetry painted in Dulux Night Sky.