Time traveller

How an interior designer transformed her Sydney home one room at a time to create her own private sanctuary

This leafy suburb north of the sparkling waters of Sydney Harbour just feels like home for interior designer Audrey, her husband Gavin and their daughters Annika, 18, and Erin, 15. “It’s full of beautiful trees and homes, and makes me feel like I’m back in the UK,” says Scottish-born Audrey.

The family’s two-storey abode is layered with confident colour and meaningful pieces, and reflects Audrey and Gavin’s experiences living in some of the world’s most exciting places, including London, Hong Kong, Copenhagen and, of course, Sydney.

This autobiographical approach to homemaking underpins the work Audrey does through her design practice, Audrey Lewis Design. “A home has to tell a story of who you are and how it makes you feel,” she says. “I want it to be interesting, with references and layers from where you’ve travelled. Practicality has to come into it, too, and functionality.”

When the couple first inspected this 1950s-era property in 2014, they checked the practicalities off their wish list – the bedroom count was spot-on, and covered outdoor areas would make entertaining easy. Each room was blessed with views of a verdant established garden, which nature-loving Audrey fell for. However, the kitchen and the paint colour choices, inside and out, left her a little flat. “The walls were all off-white, with no character, and it was a dreadful, gaudy Spanish terracotta yellow outside,” she recalls. “It was just not me.”

It’s been a slow but steady process of updating the spaces. “I’ve transformed the home as we’ve been living in it,” says Audrey. “One room at a time.” The original dark kitchen received its upgrade in 2019 and is now a fresh, bright, open area that flows onto the dining space and out to the back terrace. It also showcases Audrey’s signature style – a British influence that celebrates nature and her favourite colours of green, black and white.

The family room also acknowledges this easy, welcoming feel. “The girls hang out in the kitchen and family living room with the French colonial doors opening to let the dogs come in and out,” says Audrey, referring to two of the most important family members, Finn the weimaraner and Harvey the cavoodle. “The girls are around the important things they love – TV, food and the dogs!”

Above all else, it is a place where the family feels at one. “I wanted this home to be welcoming and open,” says Audrey. “It depicts who we are.”

“IF I HAVE MY HEART SET ON AN EXPENSIVE PIECE, going to last I BUY IT BECAUSE I KNOW IT’S AND I AM GOING TO LOVE LOOKING AT IT FOR YEARS” ~ AUDREY

KITCHEN While the home’s layout has remained the same, the kitchen received a significant shake-up. “Getting rid of the old kitchen was my mission, but I didn’t do it immediately,” says Audrey, explaining that family life and work had to take priority. The timing was right in 2019, when she redesigned the dark, dated space and engaged Art Of Kitchens to fabricate and install the core elements. The artistically veined grey natural granite bench and splashback, ‘Super White’ from Gitani Stone (opposite), is a softer take on the monochrome palette of the dining area just off this space, while bistro bar stools from Abide Interiors work well with the woven dining chairs. Cabinetry with an elegant profile, painted in Dulux Vivid White and finished with handles from Kethy (above left), imbues a classic feel. “I design luxury homes, blending old and new to evoke a timeless appeal,” says Audrey. A ‘Vera’ runner from Swedish brand Pappelina Rugs (try Nordic Fusion) adds softness to the space where Audrey and Erin (above right) take time out at the island, painted in Dulux Domino. >

FORMAL LIVING AREA In contrast to the bold family living area, this space is meant for quiet time. “It’s a cosy room and I often come here to read,” says Audrey. She implemented a soft, muted palette, with Dulux Light Leather on the walls to step up the classic. The armchairs (above) and cabinet are custom-designed by Audrey (find similar at One World Collection), and the coffee table is from Xavier Furniture Australia. A green Ikea ‘Strandmon’ armchair (opposite) looks right at home by a custom sofa (try Molmic), and is an example of Audrey’s fearlessness when it comes to mixing price points. “I ask, ‘Does this fit the home? Is this comfortable? Does the palette go?’ You can be amazed when something fits!” For a similar rug, try Temple & Webster. >

“I LOVE TO BRING THE OUTDOORS IN, EVEN IF IT’S art or WITH upholstery, OR USING MIRRORS TO REFLECT THE GARDEN INTO THE HOUSE” ~ AUDREY

MAIN BEDROOM A soothing shade of Dulux Natural Wool on the walls and thick ‘Chatsworth’ wool carpet in Cavendish from Clarks Carpets underfoot makes Audrey and Gavin’s bedroom (opposite & above left) another space primed for R&R. Window shutters, in place when the family moved in, allow for easy control of the light and airflow. “I’m exploring ideas for curtains but, in all honesty, from a functionality point of view, the air flows through the shutters easily,” says Audrey. “If I had a curtain here, I couldn’t have them open at night to let the air in.” A lamp custom-designed by Audrey atop a bedside table from Cafe Lighting & Living picks up the pinks of a floral cushion from Indigo Love and is a pretty complement to a grey coverlet from Her Shed Apparel & Home. The dried hydrangeas are from the garden. “The plants that are outside the house are usually inside somewhere, too!” says Audrey. BATHROOM Soft grey tones continue here (above right), with tiles from Marble Plus and an elegant marble-topped vanity from Vanity By Design. The refined finishes of an ‘East Borne’ sconce from Emac & Lawton and ‘Olde English’ tapware from Astra Walker contrast with a rustic stool from The Road Less Taken and a woven storage basket beneath the vanity (for similar, try French Knot). >

“GROWING UP, I DELIGHTED IN STYLING MY BEDROOM AND wallpapers and fabrics. LOVED THE PRETTINESS OF LAURA ASHLEY WAS THE BIG THING AT THE TIME!” ~ AUDREY

ELEGANT BALANCE The home of Audrey, her husband Gavin and their daughters Annika and Erin on Sydney’s upper North Shore makes an excellent case for the transformative power of paint. “I’m not a fan of white walls,” says Audrey. In the family living area, Dulux Black Caviar and Porter’s Paints Snow White on the floor (also seen throughout) set the scene for an evocative cockatoo print, Black Betty No 2 by Amelia Anderson, and a print of a cow by Tony Sheffield titled Silver Highlander. The custom sofa by Audrey Lewis Design sits with a ‘Dromana’ armchair from Provincial Home Living and a stool Audrey bought in Hong Kong (find similar at Orient House). A custom pleated shade elevates the Ikea lamp – it was designed by Audrey, to match her favourite lamp by Tine K Home in the dining area (opposite). The sideboard, also by Audrey, displays collection of the designer’s collected treasures. (For a smiliar mirror, try House of Isabella.). >

OUTDOOR TERRACE The green outlook inspired Audrey (pictured, above left, with Erin, left, Annika and Finn the weimaraner) to turn the terrace into an outdoor room, adding an L-shaped outdoor lounge (try Bunnings) and a ‘Foucault’ pendant light from Canalside Interiors. Finn often pads through the colonial-style doors from Airlite (above right).

DINING AREA The monochrome palette (opposite) is complemented by indoor plants and the natural textures of the dining suite, once stocked by Audrey in a former furniture business (get the look from Provincial Home Living). The black star from Provincial Home Living draws attention to custom window treatments designed by Audrey where a pendant light from Grosgrain and trims painted in Dulux Vivid White add to the crisp scheme. >

LOWER LEVEL ENTRY BED WIR FAMILY BATH STUDY BATH BED BED BED FORMAL LIVING UPPER LEVEL OFFICE WC BATH TERRACE LOUNGE KITCHEN COURTYARD

WE LOVE... cushion clusters A bed layered in cushions is the ultimate in luxury. Curate an eye-catching and cohesive grouping by varying sizes and materials, but limit the colours. Audrey mixed florals, stripes and solids. “It works as the palette is there, and there’s a pink highlight,” she says. Be inspired by Darcy & Duke’s lush velvet cushions. Visit darcyandduke.com.au.