American dreaming
Glamour meets family functionality in this home
STATE OF MIND With its vast proportions and sumptuous interiors, Therese and Derek’s home reflects the best of American style, yet is truly an Australian space for the couple and their family – William, 14, Luke, 12, and fox terrier Ruby (who matches the home’s monochromatic leanings). “I kept saying to the builder, ‘I want it grand and filled with light’,” says Therese (pictured, with Luke) of the statement ceiling in the combined living areas. The cathedral-style roofline – 4.5 metres at its highest point – brings in openness and sunshine. “It was a big decision, but it would be a totally different house if we hadn’t done it,” adds the homeowner. The sloped ceiling had its challenges – namely the kitchen lighting, solved by a trio of Beacon Lighting ‘Vaille 3’ light pendants in rubbed bronze that have adjustable lengths – but the results are ever present. “In summer we open up all the doors and windows and there’s this amazing airflow right through,” says Therese. “It’s such a beautiful house to live in.”
When marketing consultant Therese decided to turn her years of addiction to American design into a new family home, she went next level – and straight to the source. “For my 40th birthday, I went for a trip to the Hamptons, and I actually planned it so we were deliberately there on a Saturday so we could go to all the open homes,” she explains. “I literally went to every real estate agent and picked up all their brochures. We were just hopping around all these houses so I could have a look inside!” This wasn’t the first time Therese and her husband, Derek, had been to the US. The pair, along with their sons, William and Luke, are regular visitors to the shores – and designers – that she finds endlessly inspiring. “The first interior designer that I had a crush on was Jonathan Adler,” says Therese, who counts Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York among other favourite design stops. “I’ve kept getting drawn to American architecture more than anything else.” ‘Cape Cod’ wasn’t the phrase that instantly came to mind when Therese and Derek first spotted their original 1930s home, with a poky rear extension, on Sydney’s north shore back in 2004. “It wasn’t charming!” says Therese. But it was on 820 square metres of level land. The couple bought the home and gutted the extension, with a view to doing a full renovation down the track. Fast forward 11 years, and with heads filled with research and New-York-glam-meets-East-Coast style ideas, they engaged architect Stephen Grech + Associates and builder Daniel Clark, who recommended interior designer Melanie Tomlinson to help bring their American dream to life. Initially, the couple had planned just to renovate, but when the builders moved in, they soon discovered the floors needed to be ripped up, piers replaced and that excavation was required. The solution? The architect quickly drew up new plans and the home was knocked down for a complete rebuild. “We had in our mind that the cost of building was going to be prohibitive, but the renovation cost was now kind of meeting the new build cost,” says Therese. “And we would have had to sacrifice a whole lot of elements to get what we wanted, so in hindsight, it was the best thing.” The expansive four-bedroom home opens to a vast, yet inviting hallway (complete with beautifully refined mouldings) that leads to a mud room, grand staircase and an elegant interpretation of a ‘Great Room’, a very American concept that encompasses several zones in one large space. In addition to a main bedroom suite downstairs, the upstairs holds the boys’ rooms, a bathroom, guest room and living area. All are decorated with high-end designer pieces mixed with difficult-to-resist bargains. “I’ve got $200 cushions and I’ve got $10 cushions – I just know what I like,” says Therese. With its timeless good looks, it’s obvious this home has been built with longevity in mind. “My goal when I started doing this was that in five years, when you drove past the house, you might not know if it’s old or new,” says Therese. Meanwhile, today, the dedicated decorator and renovator, who admits she would love to do it all again, is still getting used to the place her family now calls home. “I still have that sense of, ‘Oh my God, this is my house’,” she says with a smile. “I can’t believe I get to live here!”
“I WAS VERY FIRM ON THE ‘SKELETON’ of the home – THE ARCHITRAVES, THE DOORS, THE WINDOWS” – THERESE
MUD ROOM
“This was a little nod to the US,” explains Therese of the mud room (left), which connects internally to the garage. “This isn’t really sexy, but we leave chargers so everyone charges their laptop and phone here. Everything lives here.”
LAUNDRY
“I begrudgingly spend quite a lot of time in here – so I wanted it to be really functional,” says Therese. A chute connects the boys’ zone with the laundry, while baskets from Freedom create order (below left). Touchstone ‘Nero DC’ porcelain tiles from Beaumont Tiles continue the rest of the home’s pattern crush.
FAMILY BATHROOM
A black ‘Kilo’ bath (below right) from Gianni & Costa fits into the couple’s preferred colour scheme – “I have a black car, my husband’s got a white car!” says Therese with a laugh. Black ‘Deco Series’ hexagon tiles from Amber Tiles on the floor are a crisp contrast to the white wall tiles.
“I LOVED SELECTING AND choosing FIXTURES AND PIECES AND PUTTING A vision TOGETHER” – THERESE
ENSUITE & WALK-IN WARDROBE
Leading from the main bedroom (opposite) through to the ensuite is a fabulous custom his-and-hers walk-in robe from Betta Wardrobes (top right) – black profile, serious mouldings and functional, with separate shoe storage and an earrings drawer. The ensuite
(top left) is just as luxe, with striking ‘Zaragoza’ black statement tiles sourced from
Tekno Tiles. “This was a little bit of my indulgence,” says Therese. “I’d only seen the pattern of four tiles in the shop and when it was laid it was a thousand times better than what I expected.” A door from Bunnings provides privacy and sound proofing.
LUKE’S BEDROOM
Therese and Derek’s younger son, Luke, was keen to have a black room, so the couple chose a deep blue-based black paint for the walls – Taubmans Black Forest (left). A bedspread from Adairs and a Kmart throw make for smart matches, while a vintage map sourced by Luke’s grandfather adds character.
Try Coco Republic for a similar Union Jack-style cushion.