The next chapter A heritage home is given a contemporary facelift

“EVERYTHING IN THE FORMAL LOUNGE ROOM HAS MEANING” ~ LINDA

Behind the honey-hued walls of this sandstone cottage on Sydney’s north shore, a sunny new chapter in the home’s remarkable tale has begun. While the house offers an exquisitely traditional face to the street, time has clearly not stood still inside its light-bathed living spaces. That is exactly as its latest custodians – interior designer Linda, her husband Jason, and their three daughters, Nevaeh, 14, Kaia, 13, and Sabina, 12 – envisioned it to be. Today, the sympathetically restored and extended residence welcomes the leafy outdoors in, giving the family a contemporary sense of style and space while continuing to celebrate the home’s extraordinary past. “The house was originally built in 1881 as a small twobedroom worker’s cottage,” says Linda, who runs Linda Habak Design. “Back then, it was actually located on another street nearby. In 1970, a local builder and conservationist ‘rescued’ the cottage when it was going to be demolished. He took it apart sandstone by sandstone and meticulously reconstructed it on its current site. To me, that is something very special.” Indeed, Linda – then living in a neighbouring suburb with her family – felt a sense of joy the first moment she stepped inside the then-compact, yet captivating, home. “I came to see the house and instantly fell in love with it,” she explains. “At the time, it was very small, but it had been so beautifully preserved by the previous owners. It had, and still has, a beautiful energy. We were lucky enough to purchase the property and always knew we wanted to do a renovation and extension.” Engaging Hugh Campbell from Campbell Architecture to steer the construction works, Linda took charge of the interiors. Joyfully, it proved to be a match made in renovation heaven. “The brief to Hugh was an addition to the property, which is on a very steep and large block, while allowing the cottage to remain the hero,” says Linda. “It was so important to continue to preserve and elevate the original home – and that’s exactly what Hugh did. It was a beautiful, and at times stressful, but ultimately very rewarding process that ran over a few years.” A chic new kitchen was added to the home, as well as new bathrooms, bedrooms, an octagonal glass dining conservatory that looks out to the beautiful garden, a large terrace and a gorgeous pool out back. Inside, against a soothing base palette of misty greys, crisp whites and organic timbers, the interior designer injected carefully considered bursts of her favourite hues – watery teals, inky charcoals and high-impact mustards. The result is a home brimming with colour, personality and family functionality, artfully merging the old with the new. “We always talk about how we’d love to do another house, but we can’t tear ourselves away from this one,” says Linda, who is looking forward to spending another Christmas in the home, where a “nine-foot tree” will make a reappearance for the family. “We are emotionally connected to it. There is something special about this house and its beautiful history. Hopefully we’ve done it justice and made it the best it can be.”

“NOW THAT THE RENOVATIONS ARE COMPLETE, WE’RE ALL JUST ENJOYING GROWING AND LIVING IN THE HOME” ~ LINDA

THIS BEAUTIFUL HERITAGE HOME ON SYDNEY’S NORTH SHORE HAS UNDERGONE A STUNNING TRANSFORMATION PERFECTLY SUITED TO CONTEMPORARY FAMILY LIFE Story JACKIE BRYGEL Styling LISA HILTON Photography BRIGID ARNOTT

SUNNY SANCTUARY Enveloped by greenery, the heavenly Sydney home of interior designer Linda and husband Jason perfectly suits their family, which includes daughters Kaia, 13, and Sabina, 12, and cavoodle Bowie (pictured opposite with the girls) as well as Navaeh, 14. “We do so much entertaining out here,” says Linda, of the newly-added verandah on the side of the heritage home. Inside, the designer seized the opportunity to introduce swirls of one of her favourite shades – tranquil teal – in the more formal living space (below). The Arthur G ‘Claude’ sofa in luxe ‘Zepel’ velvet is well-partnered with an enchanting antique Louis XVI settee, upholstered in Kelly Wearstler’s dramatic ‘Graffito’, while the painting on the wall above is by Linda’s close friend, artist Zeina Saadie. “Doing this room was a slow burn,” says Linda. “It’s a true melting pot of all the things I love – art, books, antiques, special objects and the original fireplace.”

DINING ROOM With a picture-perfect outlook to the lush garden, the luminous dining conservatory has stolen Linda’s heart. “This is probably my favourite spot in the house,” she says. The marble ‘Concorde’ table, teamed with ‘Grace’ dining chairs, all by Emmanuel Gallina for Poliform, is illuminated by a dramatic Marcel Wanders ‘Skygarden’ pendant light. Engineered parquet European oak boards in Sienna from Tongue N Groove ground the living zones of the home, while walls painted in Dulux’s soothing Manorburn offer a misty backdrop to treasured collectables (below & opposite). “I wanted to keep the interiors of the home very clean and neutral, yet with a warmth to them,” explains Linda. The sweet Taj ‘Bone Abstract’ side table (opposite) is from Globe West. For a similarly luxe statement chair, try Max Sparrow. >

KITCHEN Undeniably the heart of the home, the kitchen (top) expresses an easy yet elegant style. “This is where we start our day and come together with family and friends,” says Linda. In the centre of the room, a gleaming Carrara marble island benchtop against a black-stained oak island front gives the classic kitchen a contemporary edge. Panelled cabinetry in Dulux 200 per cent strength Manorburn marries beautifully with the hexagonal mosaic marble tiles lining the splashback, while an evocative original artwork by Christiane Spangsberg titled ‘Coming For You’ commands attention above the kitchen bench (above left). Linda takes time out with Bowie in the adjoining family room on the Jardan ‘Empire’ sofa (above right), while an oversized canvas by Camillo De Luca complements the room’s colour highlights.

LIVING ROOM In the home’s core living space, an easy timeless style combines with comfort for the whole family, including Bowie, with a modular Jardan ‘Empire’ sofa – layered with a Chesapeake throw in ‘Snow’ from Janus Et Cie and an array of cushions – taking centre stage. The small side table – the ‘Cartagena’ from Bo Concept (from a nest of three) – gives curvaceous appeal, while an eye-catching ‘Coconut’ George Nelson armchair sourced from Living Edge provides a contemporary touch. “We love this room,” says Linda. “We all gather here on a Friday night for popcorn and a movie.” >