Born again beauty A clever renovation extends this home’s footprint
A GENTLE RENOVATION HAS RETURNED ELEGANCE AND TIMELESSNESS TO A BEAUTIFUL SYDNEY HOME
Wandering down the paved path to the stained-glass door of this beautiful cottage in Sydney’s north, it’s impossible not to become lost in a sense of history. Original latticework on a bull-nose verandah frames a sunny seating area, which has no doubt seen generations of families, dating from the home’s origins, lingering in the sunshine to watch the world go by.
It was this sense of tradition that caught the eye of homeowners Francine and Adam back in 2011, when they first ventured into Sydney’s lower north shore to find a home with space for their growing family. But it was the vast, open extension at the rear, built by a former owner, that really set the couple’s heart racing. “We both fell in love with the feeling of the home,” says Francine of the sunlit, cathedral-ceilinged kitchen and dining zone. “It was such a surprise, after entering through the little cottage at the front, to be hit with such a vast open area out the back.”
While there was no denying the allure of the property’s history and the extension’s generous footprint, the house itself was a little tired, and after four years of living there with their daughters – Charlotte, now nine (pictured opposite, far right), and Anna, seven (pictured left) – Adam and Francine were ready to deliver an update. Enter interior designer Marni Burger, who the mum-of-two met through a friend. “I knew her style, so I was confident that I was going to like anything that she put forward,” says Francine. “Marni has a flair that I admire. When it comes to my home, I’m not very good at making decisions. I know what I like, but I don’t always have the confidence to know where things work. Having someone like Marni help me see the big picture was invaluable.”
With a brief to make the home elegant but comfortably liveable, to blend contemporary styling with key antiques, and to adhere to a strict budget – Adam is an accountant – Marni got to work. Walls were painted and the old inconsistent floors were replaced with Quick Step timber flooring throughout. An elevated sitting room at the back was also turned into a sophisticated adults’ living zone, filled with stylish pieces with a modern edge.
But the biggest change was Marni’s inspired idea to retweak the home’s layout, transforming a barely used downstairs rumpus room, which opens on to a sunny courtyard, into a blissful parents’ retreat, complete with a new ensuite and walk-in robe. “Initially I was a bit sceptical,” says Francine. “I didn’t think I’d like being away from the children, but it’s absolutely the best change we have made. It’s our little oasis, so quiet and tranquil, and as the girls get older we will appreciate having that distance between us.”
With the renovation complete, the family are enjoying their newly reinvigorated space. And with the project coming in on budget, Francine and Marni agree that Adam is particularly delighted with the result. “He was very happy,” says designer Marni. “It was a bit touch and go there, but I’m still allowed back.”