Homes

Patricia Szonert and Cam Noble

I LOVE the houses in Brisbane. More than any other Australian city, I always feel that the homes in Queensland’s sunny capital really do have their own unique personality.

Today’s is another beauty – a richly layered, art-filled family home in New Farm, belonging to interior designer Patricia Szonert of MMO Interiors, her husband Cam Noble, and their three kids Ela (13 yrs), Lucy (11 yrs) and Peggy (9 yrs).

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

The Brisbane home of Patricia Szonert and Cam Noble. Above – lounge room with view through to dining/kitchen. Back wall artwork ‘Greer Rorschach’ by Ben Quilty. Side wall ‘Spring/Fall 1’ artwork by Michael Zavros. Flos Arco lamp, Eames coffee table and Cassina sofa from Cult. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Corridor details. ‘Conga Line’ and ‘Sick’em’ artwork on right hand side of wall by David Larwill. Porcelain white and gold cockatoo and ’70s lamp were sourced by Patricia from a local junk shop. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Hallway details. Alasdair MacIntyre ‘Ways of Seeing’ sculpture in view, along with landscape photo by Jon Linkins. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Lounge room details. Artwork above fireplace by Sam Cranstoun, cocktail bar/cabinet from the Blue Mountains,  artwork above cabinet is by Sam Cranstoun, and Nicholas Folland sculpture on light box. Photo – Steve Ryan.

View from master bedroom. Gold gilded mirror (a special commission by Graham Reynolds Framing) with reflection of Ben Quilty artwork above bed. Hallway artwork by Brisbane artist, Robert Brownhall. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Master bedroom details. Ben Quilty’s ‘Jesus can’t save me now’ hung above bed, and artwork by Raafat Ishak on bedside table. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Eleven-year-old Lucy’s bedroom. A Monica Rohan painting on top of the shelves, ‘Young People’s Phone Rules’ artwork is a collaboration by Adam Lester. Hay desk chair from Cult. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Kitchen details. The slot window was added to the kitchen by Patricia and Cam to capture views of the cherry blossom tree outside. Oxley Butterworth light fixture. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Joanna Lamb’s artwork in the dining area. ‘This painting gives a great sense of depth and perspective to the room.’ says Patricia. Photo – Steve Ryan.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
13th of January 2016

There are a few distinctive hallmarks of Brisbane’s traditional ‘Queenslanders’ which always steal my heart – their elevated construction and generous front verandahs, the sweet coloured glass panels in the windows (usually in pretty shades of green or pink), and of course those oh-so-photogenic internal timber ‘V-Joint’ (‘VJ’) lining boards. There’s just always something bright, beautiful and breezy about these wonderful old homes.

The home of interior designer Patricia (Trish) Szonert of MMO Interiors and her family is one such house. The family have been here 10 years, after discovering it quite fortuitously.

‘I phoned a local real estate agent to say thank you for helping a friend when her keys were locked in her car. At that stage, we were in the market for a bigger house, but we had our eye on something else, and had been out of the loop with agents’ recalls Patricia. In conversation, she happened to ask the agent what he had on the market. He happened to be picking up the keys for a property that day. Patricia saw the house at 8.30am the following morning, phoned Cam from the garden, and had a contract that afternoon. ‘When you know, you know’ she says!

The house is an interesting one, with a rich history dating back to the late 1800’s. Grand in scale, and situated on a large, elevated, corner block in New Farm, the home is a notable landmark of its time. It was originally built in 1887 for John Garner Johnson, a civil engineer, and is on the Brisbane City Council heritage register. Patricia notes the heritage listing refers to it being a ‘substantial residence erected for a member of the upper stratum of Brisbane society’!

Like so many Victorian homes, Patricia and Cam’s home did need a little work when they first took possession, and the pair have tackled these renovations in stages. Soon after moving in, they invested in a new kitchen, then incorporated an office/studio space for MMO interiors, and made a few openings in walls to connect the interiors better with the outside. Currently, they’re working on stage two – an extension and bathroom renovations.

Patricia is particularly passionate about art, and has amassed an incredible collection over the years. One of her most treasured pieces, hanging in the master bedroom above the bed, is by Sydney artist Ben Quilty, entitled ‘Jesus can’t save me now’ (2008, oil and aerosols rorschach on linen). ‘I love the texture, colour, medium, subject matter’ says Patricia. ‘I’m a sucker for a good mother and child image any day’.

There’s a lot to love about this grand old home. Patricia really appreciates the scale of the rooms, the home’s 3.8m-high ceilings, and the North East aspect, which means beautiful morning light and shady afternoons. She’s also a big fan of the traditional layout of the home. ‘One thing I really like is that it’s not open plan’ says Patricia. ‘The spaces are large, allowing for big gatherings, but it’s still intimate enough for our family’.

 

Dining area with cut-through view to lounge. Megan Cope circular artwork entitled ‘Twice Removed’. Photo – Steve Ryan.

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