An artist’s retreat

RETURNING FROM PARIS TO ONCE AGAIN CALL AUSTRALIA HOME, ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR KERRIE HESS HAS STAMPED HER SIGNATURE STYLE ON HER FAMILY HOME

Illustrator Kerrie Hess has put her signature style on her home

Celebrated artist and illustrator Kerrie Hess, whose client list includes the likes of Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co, returned to her home town of Brisbane from Paris six years ago. “Whilst Paris was beautiful, my son Marcel was turning five and I wanted him to enjoy a childhood filled with sunshine and playing in a backyard, not braving European winters in an apartment,” she says. First settling in a riverside suburb of Brisbane, Kerrie and her husband, Peter, a dietitian, more recently purchased an inner-city Queenslander in need of some love and care. “I find old Queenslanders so charming,” explains the talented illustrator. “They have these beautiful architectural details you just don’t see anywhere else. They also have high ceilings, which allow in a lot of natural light – especially important to me as an artist.” When they bought the home, it was painted in shades of brown, inside and out. However, a residence that was structurally sound and only in need of a cosmetic makeover was exactly what Kerrie was after. “I wanted something I could make my own, without having to do any major renovations,” she says. As a result, the makeover was kept as simple as possible. “Before moving in, we had the entire interior spray-painted white, including all the trims and architraves, and then tackled the rest from there.” Other changes included a quick kitchen update, which saw the brown benchtops replaced with Caesarstone ‘Calacatta Nuvo’ and the installation of a new Perrin & Rowe ‘Provence Country’ mixer from The English Tapware Company. The home’s existing dark hardwood floors were retained upstairs, while the orange ceramic tiles downstairs were replaced with whitewashed timber laminate. The one traditional Queenslander feature the house didn’t have was tongue-and-groove walls, which gave Kerrie an opportunity to add Parisian-style moulding. “It was simple moulding bought from Bunnings and painted in a high-gloss white,” she says. “It was relatively inexpensive, but it really makes an impact.” The interiors are decorated in Kerrie’s signature French-inspired style, mixed with an Australian sensibility. Chandeliers and a high-back ‘Louis’ chair, shipped over from Paris, sit comfortably with more relaxed, familyfriendly pieces such as the ‘Neo’ modular sofa from King Living. Perhaps the biggest selling point of all was the home had space for a studio. “I’d never had one before,” says Kerrie. “In our last house I painted in the garage, which was sweltering in summer and freezing in winter.” With the living areas and bedrooms all upstairs, almost the entire downstairs is devoted to her work. “Walking downstairs into this space is inspiring,” she says. “I think your environment matters when you’re a creative. I also work a lot, so I love that Marcel can come down and join me. He often brings his homework down after school and we work side by side. It’s one of my favourite times of the day.”

“I’m happiest when painting in my studio. Working on original pieces or WATERCOLOURS that will become prints is my happy place” ~ Kerrie

“Fresh flowers are ALWAYS a welcome addition” ~ Kerrie

“I love that the living room is BIG , but not so big that it doesn’t feel inviting” ~ Kerrie

LIVING ROOM

“We layered the decor to create a sense of cosiness,” says Kerrie of her new-look living space (opposite). Exquisite pretty pieces, including the hooded ‘Louis’ chair and crystal chandelier, both sourced in Paris, are offset by others such as the ‘Neo’ modular sofa from King Living and ‘Escape’ rug in Light Grey from Bayliss. “Interiors that are too feminine can start to look like a doll’s house, so it’s important to have some balance,” she says. Metallic accents are introduced by way of a coffee table found at Woolloongabba Antique Centre and custom cushions in Casamance ‘Nimbe’ fabric by Tahn Scoon Interiors. “One of the things we loved about the house is that once you open the back bi-folds, the dining and living areas open to the deck,” says Kerrie. “In the evening, we can see the city from the couch.” For a cohesive look, some elements such as the Cafe Lighting & Living buffets and French chandeliers feature in both the dining and living rooms (top right).

BACK DECK

Painting the stained timber privacy screen (top left) in fresh white not only allowed the prettiness of the external spaces to shine through, it also helped with lightening the appearance of internal spaces. ‘Hogsten’ outdoor chairs from Ikea complete the outdoor scene. “I love to take a quiet moment to watch the sun go down,” says Kerrie. “As an artist, I tend to enjoy these quiet moments at home, rather than going out.”

KITCHEN

A much-needed makeover for the kitchen (right) saw the “brown speckled benchtops” swapped out for luxe ‘Calacatta Nuvo’ by Caesarstone, while the stainless-steel sink was replaced by a white farmhouse sink from Restoration Online. The result is a light and airy space where Kerrie and the family gather and cook. “I love that cooking is creative, but in a way that is so far removed from my work,” she says.

“I always think it’s nice to not have too many things, but to really look after and CHERISH the things you do have” ~ Kerrie

A PLACE TO UNWIND As an illustrator whose work has graced the likes of Lancome, Louis Vuitton and, most recently, the label of Laurent-Perrier Brut Rose, Kerrie has created a home that is a picture of chic femininity. The sitting area centres on a plush pink sofa found at Clickon Furniture. “It gives me a chance to step away from the computer, to have a cup of tea and a creative moment,” says Kerrie (pictured opposite). A ‘French Provincial Dining Bench’ from Black Mango and an ‘Ivy’ rug in Fog/Cream from Bayliss add softness. Metallic accents include a brass coffee table sourced from Pottery Barn.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Kerrie takes a seat (left) on the east-facing front deck, furnished with a ‘Peacock’ hand-woven rattan accent chair from Domayne. Tools of the very pretty trade in her studio.

OFFICE Kerrie and Marcel get to work in the glamorous office, which has her original artworks ‘Coco Mademoiselle’ (above right) and ‘Love At Laduree’, along with chairs brought home from Paris. A bargain buy was the ‘Norden’ Ikea table used as a desk. “Upstairs was decorated in a more neutral palette as it’s our family space – but downstairs more pinks come into play,” says Kerrie. “I wanted a workspace that inspires me.”

DRESSING ROOM “I was very lucky we had a spare room in the house that I could convert into a dressing room,” says Kerrie, seated on a white linen ‘Emma’ storage ottoman by Black Mango (above). The vintage-inspired Rug Culture ‘Evoke’ rug is from Temple & Webster, while the pendant light was a French find and the copper clothes racks were found on Etsy. “I love that everything is displayed,” she adds. “It makes choosing what to wear very easy.”