THE PALETTE
THE CONTEMPORARY TWO-STOREY HOME EXUDES SOPHISTICATION WITH ITS BLEND OF ECLECTIC CULTURAL INFLUENCE SAND UNEXPECTED FEATURES.
“THE MIXTURE OF DISPARATE ELEMENTS MEANS IT DOESN’ T LOOK CLICHÉD .” TANIA HAND EL S MANN, INTERIOR DESIGNER
designer Tania Handelsmann of Handelsmann+Khaw, so they knew just who to call to mastermind the makeover.
“The house had a jumbled floor plan and dated interiors,” says Tania. A second-floor extension had been added, possibly about 30 years ago, so the accommodation was adequate – it just needed to be reconfigured. With two sons aged 13 and 11, the owners were seeking easy living with a relaxed vibe and a layout that maximised the views from key areas.
“We chose to invert the typical floor plan and position the living, dining and kitchen on the first floor to capture the views,” says Tania. The main entry was relocated so visitors immediately connect with a new staircase leading to the upper level. A sculptural design finished in otsumigaki polished plaster, the staircase is a standout, providing a subtle visual separation between the living room and kitchen/ dining area. “By inserting new, symmetrically placed doors and windows on all four sides, we’ve created a feeling of being completely surrounded by the ocean,” says Tania. Two generous balconies bookend the living space.
Downstairs are three bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms and a laundry, and self-contained guest accommodation adjacent to the garage does double duty as a retreat for the boys. An outdoor shower and space to store surfboards speaks to the family’s active, beachy lifestyle.
The aesthetic is eclectic, reflecting Tania’s description of the owners as “well-travelled and worldly”. “We wanted to draw on these varied cultural references and it was an exercise in editing and curating these elements,” she says.
To eliminate any residual bungalow influence, adjustable Bahama shutters were added, giving privacy from neighbours. Internally, zellige and terracotta tiles from Morocco and shaped marble splashbacks were inspired by Mediterranean architecture. Timber lining boards on the firstfloor ceiling add to the coastal ambience, as do lattice-fronted joinery and sisal flooring. “The mixture of all these disparate elements means it doesn’t look clichéd,” says Tania. The furnishings are a mix of custom and vintage pieces; a treasured pair of Børge Mogensen armchairs join Oriental artefacts and antique altar tables the owners brought with them from Hong Kong.
The owners asked for a low-maintenance garden in keeping withtherestofthehome,solandscaperPeterMcGrathofTerralha chose hardy coastal species including banksia, westringia, gazania and pandanus. Sandstone flagging from the original garden was repurposed to create a path leading to the herb garden and studio, and is softened with Dichondra repens. Two large boulders were repositioned to provide seating around the Corten steel firepit, while fountain grass ( Pennisetum) blurs the access to the outdoor shower and garage.
The renovation proceeded throughout 2020 and the restrictions of the pandemic meant the owners were only able to join site meetings with builders Verdecon via Zoom. The first time they saw the house, completed and furnished, was on the day they finished quarantine and moved in.
Handelsmann+Khaw, Woollahra, NSW; 0428 066 000 or handelsmannkhaw.com. Verdecon, Bondi and Byron Bay, NSW; (02) 6680 9525; verdecon.com.au. Terralha, Collaroy, NSW; 0408 565 557 or terralha@outlook.com.
STUDIO The path is made from sandstone repurposed from the old garden, with kidney weed planted between the steppers.