A DASH OF DOWN UNDER

Contemporary Aussie openness meets traditional English elegance in a beaut of a South London home

This is a home with dual nationality – one part Aussie sunshine and openness, one part English elegance and reserve. ‘I wanted some rooms to feel light and airy, like a Sydney home, and others to be dark and moody,’ explains Sommer. ‘When I planned the kitchen with its skylight and huge glass wall, Will said, “Remember, we’re in London; it rains – a lot.” But I love that antipodean, inside- outside vibe and it felt right for this house.’

The four-storey, six-bedroom Victorian property had already been extended but Sommer’s vision required a further overhaul. Working with ADE Architecture (ade-architecture.co.uk), she designed a wider extension for the back, plus a basement to include a guest room with ensuite, gym, cinema room and a bar that opens out on to the garden. ‘I didn’t want the basement to feel dingy, so the rooms have high ceilings and there’s a double-height space that brings in light from the ground floor. It meant six months of digging,’ she says.

On the ground floor, there’s more light-dark contrast, with a black-walled living room and a white family room. The master suite on the first floor is split level, with a grey-painted bedroom and steps down to a spa-like bathroom. ‘It’s my escape when life gets too full- on,’ says Sommer.

For Sommer, this house wasn’t just about reconciling her Aussie roots and English lifestyle – it was about discovering a new direction for herself. ‘When my daughter was born three months early, it turned our life upside down. At the same time, I wanted to leave the ad industry, where I’d been working, and unite my love for interior design, crafts and cookery,’ she explains. ‘I had thought of opening a lifestyle boutique and then, during the renovation, the penny dropped – our home could be a business.’ She now runs workshops on everything from candle making to calligraphy in her kitchen and living room, and has just expanded into an online boutique.

Does it feel odd to share her home with strangers? ‘Aussies tend to have an open-door policy, so it’s probably weirder for Will,’ she says. ‘But we’ve had fun decorating the house together. It might be a business but ultimately it’s a forever home for our family.’

For Sommer’s workshops, visit housecurious.co.uk

‘I have a passion for food and design, which come together in the kitchen,’ says Sommer. The marble and brass island by Matrix Design (matrixkitchens.co.uk), concrete floor by Lazenby (lazenby.co.uk) and exposed-bulb lights from Buster + Punch...