Practical Magic

Now lighter, brighter and more family friendly, this Sydney home is the ultimate in laidback living.

With soft, coastal colours and an abundance of natural light flooding in from all angles, this renovated Federation home in Sydney’s east is a far cry from its former self. “It was a beautiful old house with lots of character, including high ceilings and stunning arches in the living area and hallway, but it was dark, rundown and in need of a refresh. It had been renovated several years before with a new kitchen and bathrooms, but they were already dated,” says Sally Rhys-Jones, the interior architect tasked with breathing new life into the home.

Located just a few steps from Tamarama Beach, this lovely house is home to a couple and their three surf-loving sons. “We loved the feel of it straight away, but we needed more space. Plus, the main bedroom was in a converted attic accessed via a very steep and impractical staircase,” says the owner. “We wanted a more family-friendly layout, with separate bedrooms for each of the boys and a second living room where they could hang out with their friends. We were keen to keep some of the original features, like the archways, and not lose the feel of the home we first fell in love with.”

Architect Joanna Lukaszewicz drew up plans to extend the ground floor to accommodate a light-filled open-plan kitchen/dining area, a butler’s pantry and bathroom. The original bedroom at the front of the house was turned into amediaroom/retreatfortheboys.Upstairs,theatticbedroom and its pocket-size ensuite made way for a new second storey with four bedrooms, three bathrooms (two of them ensuites to the main bedroom), as well as a study and a laundry.

Having admired Sally’s work on Instagram, the owner approached her in 2019 to design and detail the home’s