Photography: Tim Salisbury / Styling: Jackie Brown
Things didn’t bode well for this six-bedroom Queenslander in Brisbane when owners Teresa and Dale first set eyes on it. It felt too big for the couple and their now 12-year-old daughter Bennett, yet there was also minimal storage, the interiors were dated and the bathrooms, laundry and kitchen were cramped and dysfunctional. “For a really big house, we felt there were very few areas that suited us and how we lived,” says Teresa.
Thankfully, after living overseas, most recently in Tennessee in the US, the location close to family and lure of the relaxed Queensland lifestyle got them across the line. Teresa reached out to Lauren Mahoney of Sydney firm Studio Trio, who had worked on a previous home of theirs. As Teresa explains, “I wanted a designer who would collaborate with me and provide guidance and direction.”
Who lives here?
Teresa and Dale, daughter Bennett, 12, and two five-month-old Standard Poodle puppies, Dixie & Darcy.
Where? A two-storey, six-bedroom, five-bathroom home in an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Qld.
Time frame? Renovations ran over the course of four years, from 2019 until 2023.
The dream? To make an enormous house feel like home, with every room tailored to a small family’s needs and lifestyle.
Approach: Every inch of this home has been renovated with all new fixtures, finishes and furniture.
Must haves: Rooms that work for a family, with breakout spaces, easy-care surfaces and classic, American-inspired interiors.
Wishlist: Soft furnishings featuring colourful prints and shades; cosy living spaces; a well-stocked wine cellar.
Why is this your dream home? “It’s a home that feels like us; it suits our lifestyle. It’s perfect for our little family of three, but is also fun for when we want to have a crowd of friends here,” says Teresa.
Together, the pair gave the whole home an extensive renovation, with every room completely reimagined to reflect the family’s tastes and casual lifestyle. Floors, lighting, paintwork, fixtures, furniture, artworks, window treatments – everything was new and followed Teresa’s favoured American-classic aesthetic, from chrome hardware to Ralph Lauren light fittings and a bold, colourful palette of navy, red and white. “Of all the homes I have worked on over the years, this one is something I personally love and would live in myself,” says Lauren.
A series of breakout spaces means Teresa and Dale can relax upstairs while Bennett hangs out with her friends down below. “It’s now a home we are proud of, that allows us to live how we want,” Teresa adds.
Due to the specific nature of some of her requested light fittings, fabrics or wallpapers, Teresa learnt to be patient. “I would rather delay finishing an area until I could get something I loved, often from the US, than compromise with something that was available ASAP,” she says. An example of this are the artworks in the entrance hall and rumpus, which were commissioned from Kate Roebuck, a Tennessee artist that she and Dale had long admired. “Lauren made the process easy, sending paint and fabric samples to Kate to ensure the paintings suited our home.”
Lessons learnt
Living area
“This is my favourite room,” says Lauren. “The furnishings are cheeky and classic but modern, starting with the Brunschwig & Fils ‘Les Touches’ wallpaper from Elliott Clarke either side of the fireplace, which just makes the space.” She added two ‘Miami’ chairs and an ottoman from Montique Exclusive Furniture with custom covers in Ralph Lauren ‘Eden Roc Stripe’ and ‘La Garoupe’ fabrics from Icon Radford.
Kitchen
The kitchen received a complete makeover, including all new joinery by Wyer + Craw painted Dulux Vivid White and Dulux Madigan for the island. Continuing the crisp white palette, the benchtop perfectly complements a marble mosaic splashback from Elite Bathware & Tiles. A trio of Thomas O’Brien ‘Gale’ pendants from Visual Comfort & Co draw the eye upwards. Even the essentials were given a stylish touch, with a French farmhouse sink from Belfast Sinks and Perrin & Rowe ‘Ionian’ tapware from The English Tapware Company.
“I had definite thoughts about decor and how our family wanted to live. I didn’t want to see someone else’s ‘signature’ or ideas everywhere in my home.”
– Teresa
Main bedroom
In the main bedroom, the bedhead, pelmets and cushions have all been covered in Schumacher ‘Sinhala’ linen in Sky. The lamp from Circle of Light picks up on the same hues.
Teresa says Lauren was an amazing support throughout the renovating process. Colour and pattern were important inclusions for Teresa, with blue and white no-brainer selections. “Then Lauren suggested picking a pop of colour, and there were so many gorgeous deep red Ralph Lauren fabrics, so another decision fell into place,” she shares. Another pearl of wisdom Teresa learnt from Lauren: “Everything in a room should be beautiful, but doesn’t need to shout, ‘Look at me’. It results in rooms that are eye-catching but also restful,” says Teresa.
Interior design tip
Bennett’s bedroom
“Bennett’s bedroom is perfectly pretty,” says Lauren of the space, with its walls papered with ‘Clementine’ wallpaper in Indienne from Sanderson, and the area above the picture rails painted Dulux Blossom Time.
“It’s a family home. As much as it is beautiful, in so many ways it’s also practical. Lauren has helped me create a home that is classically inspired and layered.”
– Teresa
Study
Dale’s study is a pleasure to work in, with the ‘Campaign’ desk and ‘Fullerton’ chair from Xavier Furniture, joinery painted with Dulux Blue Fantastic and the Anna French ‘Kahna’ wallpaper in Red from Thibaut.
Bathroom and powder room
Wyer + Craw made the custom vanity in the bathroom, with joinery in Dulux Terrace White.
Ralph Lauren ‘Marlowe Floral’ wallpaper from Icon Radford features in the powder room, where a Serena & Lily mirror, Chapman & Myers ‘Boston’ loop-arm wall lights from Visual Comfort & Co and an artwork by Kayce Hughes deliver wow moments.
Laundry
Anna French ‘Cairo’ wallpaper, a French farmhouse sink from Belfast Sinks and a Dutch door ensure the laundry is a pleasing space. All joinery is painted Dulux Vivid White.
Outdoor entertaining
“The lower deck barbecue area is such a lovely place to sit,” says Lauren. Blackbutt decking from Queensland Timber Flooring is painted Dulux Vivid White, acting as a fresh base for the Serena & Lily outdoor table, and ‘Portofino’ outdoor chairs from Xavier Furniture.
Pool area
The family relax poolside on Trousdale cast aluminium chaise lounges, with shade provided by Tuuci ‘Ocean Master’ Roman valance umbrellas.
One of the biggest learnings – for both Teresa and Lauren – was that long distance collaborations can most certainly work. “I connected with the best trades in Brisbane and frequently visited the site to measure the spaces and check in with Teresa and her family,” says Lauren. Going above and beyond was all part of the process in creating Teresa’s forever home.
Reflects Lauren, “Dream homes to me are not just about the beautiful things you put inside the home, they’re about the people who live there and the experiences you have together to get to the end game.”
Interior design: Lauren Mahoney, Studio Trio, studiotrio.com.au, @_studio_trio.
Architect: Brad Cross, Jazz Designs, jazzdesigns.com.au.
Builder: Nick Roberts, iBuild Constructions, ibuildqld.com.au.
Joinery and stonework: Wyer + Craw, wyercraw.com.au.
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