Photography: Sue Stubbs, Styling: Bree Oliver
It started with a stair runner. Kathryn had fallen in love with one she’d seen online – Hartley & Tissier, laid with precision on a staircase in a home designed by The Classic Outfitter – and knew it would be perfect in her house. “I hadn’t appreciated how difficult it would be to lay on the curves of our staircase,” she says with a laugh. “But the installer did a fantastic job.”
Who lives here?
Kathryn, her husband and their two children, Sophie, 4, and Alexander, 2.
What did you learn from the renovation? Kathryn: “The value of taking the time to see and feel samples in person – not always relying on what you can see online – whether it’s a marble slab for the kitchen, or fabric samples for soft furnishings.”
Which space is your favourite? “It’s so hard to pick one! Probably the kitchen and casual dining area – the heart of our home, where we spend a lot of time with our children.”
What advice would you give someone planning a renovation? “Take the time to find a designer who has the right aesthetic for you and who is also keen to design something practical, which will suit your family and day-to-day life.”
That attention to detail echoes throughout this refreshed harbourside home, where Kathryn lives with her husband and their two young children– Sophie, four, and Alexander, two. What was meant to be a quick kitchen and bathroom update soon evolved into something bigger. “A new build might have been easier!” jokes Kathryn. Though the original bones and structure were retained, almost every surface was reimagined with care.
The family had moved into the home shortly after Alexander was born, drawn to the leafy suburb’s proximity to beaches, schools and local parks. “It’s a wonderful place for the kids to grow up,” says Kathryn, who’s enjoying a career break from corporate law to focus on family life. A passion for classic interiors – particularly the work of design duo Georgia Boyd and Merian Migliore at The Classic Outfitter – set the tone for this transformation.
“We wanted the home to feel timeless, but still practical for our young children,” explains Kathryn. Shades of blue and white topped her wishlist, along with wainscoting on the walls and classic cornices, all now proudly in place. “I’m delighted to have them in our home,” she says. With Georgia’s help, the layout was reconfigured to suit the family’s needs. The former main bedroom became Sophie’s, while two other bedrooms and an adjoining office nook were merged to create the serene main suite, complete with a walk-in wardrobe, sitting area and water views.
Andreas Sdrolias and his team at Atlantis Building Constructions helped bring the vision to life after Kathryn spotted his work nearby. And architect Andrew Tzannes from Smith & Tzannes, along with The Garden Bug, which continues to maintain the landscaping, rounded out the dream team.
Naturally, there were a few surprises along the way. The original floorboards, which the couple had planned to sand and polish, turned out to be structurally unsound. What began as a setback turned into one of the home’s standout features: elegant ash grey herringbone boards were laid downstairs, paired with matching linear boards upstairs, both visible from the central staircase. “I love the visual interest it has created,” says Kathryn.
Looking back, the renovation was far more stressful and time-consuming than Kathryn imagined at the outset – but also more rewarding. “It’s worth it in the end!” she says. “It’s a real joy to see all the ideas come to life.”
Kitchen
“There is something beautiful about walking through the house and paying attention to all the things we took a lot of care to select.” Kathryn, homeowner.
Dining
the space. ‘Hampton’ pendants from Magins Classical Lighting in Antique Brass with Off-White Linen shades crown the space. A Hooker Furniture ‘Archivist’ trestle table joins Audrey dining chairs upholstered in luxe Wedgewood velvet, all from The Classic Outfitter. (Credit: Photography: Sue Stubbs, Styling: Bree Oliver)
Living
WE LOVE…classic colour combinations
“We’ve always loved blue and white, and these colours feature heavily in our home,” says Kathryn. White sets the stage throughout with strong blue focal points, such as the ‘Scarlett’ occasional chairs from The Classic Outfitter, upholstered in Villa Nova ‘Calvia’ fabric. These are layered with plump, patterned cushions in a Fabricut ‘Loire’ print in Chambray. The living room is styled with a mix of pieces in the same colour palette from the owners’ collection, the designer’s range and Orient House. For details, see orienthouse.com.au
Bedroom
Powder room
Outside
Source Book
Interior design The Classic Outfitter, theclassicoutfitter.com
Architecture Smith & Tzannes, smithtzannes.com.au
Builder Atlantis Building Constructions, atlantisbuilding.com.au
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