Two’s company
An old home is transformed into two modern abodes in an ambitious project that pays dividends for its owners
Interior designers often admit they are their own most difficult clients, so when Sydney designer Kate Lawrence undertook double the work with a new-build duplex in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, she knew she was in for a challenge.
What she didn’t know, however, was that she’d have to finish the job solo. Her partner, Sydney Swans AFL star Luke Parker, had to relocate to Queensland to complete the season within a COVID-safe hub. “He came home to a fully furnished home – all the gardens were done and the lights were on,” says Kate. “Good timing for him, bad timing for me!”
The couple have multiple past projects to their credit. “People think it’s just me because I’m an interior designer, but Luke’s just as obsessed,” says Kate. So, although the task of knocking down an old house to build twin homes (one to sell, the other to live in) was a whole new ball game, they were match fit.
EXTERIOR
The top priority for Kate and Luke (pictured, with Indie the French mastiff) was to ensure the twin homes didn’t feel (or look) like other development projects. “We wanted something that was modern but coastal,” says Kate of the facade (opposite). “I wanted to use this stone from Eco Outdoor for some coastal warmth.” As for the outdoors, that was meant to be Luke’s time to shine. “He planned on doing a lot of the landscaping before he had to go into the AFL hub,” says Kate. They sit on a ‘Talara’ lounge setting from Domayne. Plants in pots from The Balcony Garden bring life to a blackbutt deck connecting indoors and out. >
“IT WAS SAD TO STEP OFF THE CONSTRUCTION SITE EARLY loving it so much, AS I WAS BUT TO COME BACK TO A COMPLETE HOME WAS SURREAL” ~ LUKE, HOMEOWNER
DESIGN FILE
WHO LIVES HERE? Kate, an interior designer; Luke, a professional AFL player; and Indie, their French mastiff.
ORIGINAL PROPERTY: A four-bedroom, three-bathroom weatherboard home on a large block within walking distance of the beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. THE POTENTIAL: “We looked into council regulations and knew what size frontage we needed for the duplex,” says Kate. “This block was perfect, and it was nice and flat.” TIME FRAME: Six months for council approval, and 10 months for the build after demolition. “I sometimes feel like I’m lying when I say it went really smoothly,” says Kate, who navigated the build during various states of lockdown restrictions in Sydney. “The most tedious part was waiting for council with the DA and the construction certificate. Apart from that, I actually found the build the easiest part.”
THE BRIEF: The couple always intended to knock down the existing home to build a duplex. “We saw a bit of an opportunity to build a duplex, keep one house and sell the other to minimise the mortgage,” says Kate. “I didn’t want it to feel like just a development. I wanted personality to be injected into both homes and saw it as a great opportunity to be able to do two styles [of interior design].”
THE WORKS: Kate and Luke enlisted Arkhaus architects and TrueBuild Homes to design and create their dream. “We were always designing one home for investment, and opted for lighter interior finishes in the investment house because it’s a bit more universally loved,” says Kate. The pair chose a darker palette for their own home. “It is more within our taste,” says Kate. “It’s a bit edgier.” An abundance of storage, open-plan living and swimming pools were non-negotiables for both sides of the fence, as well as a void over the living area to maximise natural light. “It’s something that’s so simple, yet so effective,” says Kate.
FAVOURITE ASPECT: “It would have to be the backyard,” admits Luke. For Kate, it’s the void that supersizes the living area. “I love it when the sunset comes through those back windows,” she says. “I really try to stand there and not take it for granted.”
POOL AREA
A spacious backyard is often a rarity when creating dual homes, but clever planning means the couple has it all – lawn, decking and the must-have pool (left). “Indie and I love the pool,” says Luke of his favourite feature of the home. Adds Kate, “It sets the tone and makes it feel like a little retreat.” Blue Haven Pools were certainly up for the job. “They really helped me to be cost-effective, particularly because it’s a duplex,” says Kate. “We’ve got pools on either side, so they essentially dug one big hole and then ran a wall straight down the middle, saving time and money.” This was all part of Luke’s grand vision, but when the AFL star’s sudden departure into the COVID-19 hub in Queensland meant he couldn’t be there to do the landscaping himself, Olive Tree Landscapes grabbed possession and kicked the goal.
LIVING AREA
Glamorous floor-to-ceiling sheers from Wynstan dress the windows of the double-height void feature wall and supply a layer of luxury, while ‘Roman Gray’ engineered timber floorboards from Woodcut bring a grounding warmth to the design. “We ordered all the furniture before moving in due to the long lead times, and we were very nervous,” says Kate, who chose the much-loved ‘Zaza’ sofa from King Living and round ‘Si’ coffee table from Clo Studios for a modern coastal aesthetic. “It could have been expensive to do that, but we were fortunate it happened to work out!” Custom built-in cabinetry by Harris Kitchens is a continuation from the kitchen, giving a sense of cohesion to an open floor plan. >
DINING AREA
After lusting over the ‘Florence’ dining table from MCM House, Kate finally found the perfect spot for it. “Normally I chop and change what I like, because in my job you constantly see new things,” says the interior designer. “But I’ve always loved this table – it was a non-negotiable for me.” Paired with ‘Wishbone’ dining chairs, also from MCM House, it makes for a timeless dinner setting. An olive tree planted in a thoughtfully designed cavity surrounded by windows nurtures a connection to nature. Minimalist prints from Newcastle artist and photographer Katie Wade’s Salt Series adorn the wall, introducing subtle texture.
KITCHEN
With a flood of natural light, Kate and Luke had the freedom to go bold and black here. “I never wanted a flat black kitchen – I wanted a timber grain through it,” says Kate. She picked
New Age Veneer’s ‘Navurban’ engineered timber in Ravenswood. “It added to the earthiness that Luke and I love.” They went for Fisher & Paykel appliances (visit Harvey Norman), with an integrated fridge hidden within the cabinetry. Caesarstone ‘Cloudburst Concrete’ was used on the benchtops and splashback, while a gunmetal mixer from Gianni & Costa strikes a contemporary note. ‘Kusina’ teak stools from Uniqwa Collections and ‘Studio’ pendants from Ur Place bring the beach vibes home.
MAIN BEDROOM
Upstairs, natural light pours in through a large, front-facing balcony to illuminate soft, neutral hues and swathes of linen. “We always wanted our bedroom to feel a bit like a resort,” says Kate, who chose linen sheers from Wynstan (opposite page, top left) to cover the sliding balcony doors. The biggest decisions she and Luke faced were whether to include a door on the ensuite and whether to use carpet. No to the door, yes to carpet. “I’ve always liked the softness carpet brings to a bedroom,” says Kate. A ‘Granada Goblet’ side table from Globe West picks up the black accents of the window casings, and Cultiver bedlinen marries the palette perfectly. Ceramic wall lights from MayClay suit the organic aesthetic of the venetian plaster in the ensuite behind Kate.
BATHROOM
Venetian plaster by Calce Company creates the same organic embrace in the downstairs bathroom (right) as it does in the upstairs ensuite. A soft-edged shower niche means seamless storage for guests, while a glass floor-to-ceiling shower screen enhances the illusion of space. Caesarstone’s ‘Cloudburst Concrete’ makes another appearance here, this time atop a custom vanity in the same ‘Navurban’ Ravenswood from New Age Veneers used in the kitchen. A black gooseneck tap from Abi Interiors is the ideal partner to a curvaceous mirror from Middle Of Nowhere.
master bedroom “THE TAKES UP A LOT OF THE UPSTAIRS LEVEL, BUT WE WANTED hotel suite IT TO FEEL MORE LIKE A AND BE KIND OF ROOMY” ~ KATE, HOMEOWNER