The Design Files Daily

Sydney Homes

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sydney Home – Maria Villa and Family

The Sydney home of Maria Villa and family!  Paintings in dining area by Maria Villa.  This photograph – Lucy Feagins.

Dining room details.  Paintings by Maria Villa.  Photos – Lucy Feagins.

Upstairs patio / balcony, adjoining dining room.  Photo – Lucy Feagins.

Maria Villa is one amazing woman.  It’s kind of hard to describe her immense amazingness… but I’ll give it my best shot.

Firstly, Maria is Argentinian.  She’s been in Sydney many years now, but she’s still got the BEST accent – not to mention the most incredibly warm spirit which, whilst not unique to Argentinians I guess, certainly seems intrinsically linked to her Latino roots!  She’s one of those people you meet and instantly feel as if you’ve known forever – you could easily find yourself discussing your inner most secrets within about 5 minutes over a cup of tea.  (On my visit, though, she bought champagne!).  Maria writes like she speaks, so I hope below you might occasionally ‘hear’ her sparkly Spanish twang!

Secondly, in the last year, Maria has undergone some pretty serious surgery.  She unexpectedly developed an aneurism behind her eye, for which she required emergency brain surgery.  There was a 50/50 chance it would burst.  In Maria’s words – ‘this mean they needed to open upstairs, centre management, but thanks to my amazing surgeon I’m back to celebrate the second part of my life..!  I’m indeed a very lucky person!  La vita e bella!‘ (Life is wonderful).  Whilst Maria’s glass is always half full, there’s no denying that this was an extremely risky operation, and it is such an incredible feat that she has bounced back with even more zest for life than before!   She’s so vibrant and energetic, and more than happy to share her story matter-of-factly without dwelling on the negatives.  Like I said – one amazing woman :)

Anyway.  We’re here to snoop in Maria Villa’s house, not hear her life story… but, you know I like to ramble, and houses are so much lovelier to look at when you know the people who live in them, don’t you think?

Maria lives in this gorgeous home on Sydney’s North shore with her husband Eduardo and son Mateo, aged eleven.  Maria has a background in fine art and interior design, whilst Eduardo is an architect, and together they run architecture and design firm Villa + Villa.  Needless to say, their house has undergone a few major changes in the six years they’ve been here!  This creative pair renovated the kitchen and bathroom soon after moving in, and added the finishing touches more recently.  An extra living area was added upstairs, in addition to a very special room downstairs, which opens onto the lush back garden – ‘this is our fav-fab room’ says Maria.  Another favourite feature of the home is the view from upstairs across to the national park, which backs onto the property – ‘having breakfast here is like being on holidays!’ Maria says.  I must agree, listening to the birds from this vantage point really does make you feel many miles away from central Sydney!

Massive thanks both to Maria for sharing her stunning home, and to her dear friend, photographer Ross Coffey, who has kindly allowed us to use some of his own recent shots of the home, taken independently (which of course are so brilliant and full of deep, rich colour).  So super grateful – thankyou thankyou!

Ps. Learn a little more about amazing Maria on Megan Morton’s Homelove blog here!

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!

Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized Comments (40)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Sydney Home – Megan Morton and Family

Megan Morton schjoozes the dining room of her light-filled Lane Cove home. “I love working a corner, here a duplicate hanging includes a pair of architectural drawings, a mirror and old linen oil painting, topped with a small french clock perfectly similar in diameter to Sarah King‘s prototype Sound Made Visible ceramic side plate” says Megan.  All photos by me.

The heart of the home – corner fireplace. “Walnut heaven in the form of an armless Cherner chair, flanking my kooky corner fireplace. When lit, winter magic happens” - Megan.

Details from the fireplace - “Botanical books found at Seasonal Concepts while propping for my own Propery – holding back a few sweet things is an occupational hazard” says Megan. And on the right, a “gentle and stirring” painting by Marcella Kaspar.

Today’s home is SERIOUSLY special.  When I first met fabulous interiors stylist Megan Morton nearly 3 years ago, I was super excited to visit her Sydney home – but of course she was very clear that it was far from perfect, and there would be NO PHOTOS!  Ain’t it always the way – the stylist always put their own home last?!

Fast forward to 2011 and FINALLY the Morton family home is ready for it’s close up – because after 6 glorious years here, The Morton family are moving on!  That’s right – Megan Morton’s home in the leafy Sydney suburb of Lane Cove is currently on the market – check out the real estate listing here.   I must say I feel incredibly lucky to finally have the opportunity to share this very special home with you all!  (Nothing like an impending auction to get people enthused about a TDF home feature!)

Megan lives here with husband Giles, and gorgeous kids Millie (12), Sebastian (10) and Bea (18 months).  Given Megan’s passion for beautiful details, it’s no surprise the home is styled to perfection.  The bathroom and kitchen have been updated in MM’s signature style – classic with a touch of clever and quirky detail.  It’s a home full of creative energy – and as with all genuinely ‘lived-in’ spaces, it’s an ever-changing work in progress.  Megan says really the home has been like her extended studio – “I have used walls here to shoot details and stories for magazines, and have used this home to research which floorboards are better, either white or dark – I did both to see!”

When asked for her favourite aspects of her home, Megan’s answer is too wonderful not to include in full!  Because she’s my favourite, and because no one can speak more eloquently and entertainingly about a home than MM, I’m handing the rest of this post over to her (even the captions!)… Enjoy!

5 Great things about my house.  By Megan Morton.

1. Its number 24 and that is SUCH a great thing as it also happens to also be my favourite pose number in yoga!

2. There is a tree house that has been built to fit three camping mattresses for little boys to sleep over in.  Our local pizza place deliveries care of ‘the tree house’. Dead cute and the little fellas love it.

3. Because of its spoilt position on a big block (for Sydney standards, it’s ginormous – close to 900 square metres), the house itself sits high up and dead set in the middle. This gives it, what can only be described as a sense of gentle elegance within its suburban landscape. The house itself though truly looks like its smiling. You need to see it to get it, but it really does. Its like ‘Which house do you live in’,  and I am like, ‘you know the white smiling one’ and head nods.

4. I grew up with parents who were city folk and right at my most important time to live in the big smoke, they upped sticks and learnt to be small time farmers. They learnt it all through Grass Roots magazine. (it is still around and totally ahead of it’s time in theory). I like to keep one toe in the selfish city and the other in the soil. So at my house there is a proper vegetable garden that is seasonally rotated – it can feed a family of five no worries. There is also a secret side alley that was my chicken run. Sadly our dog forgot his manners one day and while free eggs are awesome, I didn’t have the heart to replace the lost chooks, in case he forgot again.

5. It has shamelessly modest proportions, which means space for everyone to hide, but not sprawl.  Small kids rooms, which gets them out from behind closed doors and out to outdoor pursuits. Because it’s architecturally barren, creating wall vignettes and mini focal points are easy and necessary.

So if its good, why leave? It has been the loveliest place to have a family. This suburb has sourdough, proper single origin coffee, top schools and all the other rah rah that people like. My older kids are now teens and I didn’t want to be one of those people who starts to giveaway the trampoline and the slip’n'slide when the ‘kids’ are heading into their twenties!  This way a new family can enjoy all it’s spoils.  Oh sweet house, I have loved you.  For what you are now, but more so for what you will go onto be.

- Megan

Huge thanks to Megan for sharing her stunning home with us, and for such thoughtful words and captions!  A truly fitting farewell for a much loved family home. :)

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!

Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized Comments (52)
Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Sydney Home – Bronwyn Poole and family

The home of Sydney interior designer Bronwyn Poole and her young family.  Above – light-filled playroom.

Kids’ playroom, complete with oversized bean bag covered in Bronwyn’s all-time favourite fabric – Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis.

Ain’t it always the case that by the time you finally get your home looking just as PERFECT as you’d always imagined, it’s time to move on!?  I guess there’s nothing like an impending auction to get you motivated to finish all those niggly things that have been on the ‘To Do’ list since the week you moved in!  This is a common story in my experience sourcing and shooting Australian homes every week, and today’s home is no exception.

Interior designer Bronwyn Poole and family have lived in their stunning home in Sydney’s Cremorne for 8 years.  Bronwyn runs interior design firm Touch Interiors and Complete Pad, and we’ve been in touch for a good 6 months with a view to featuring her gorgeous home on TDF.  This month Bronwyn was FINALLY ready to share her home with us – the same month she decided to put it on the market (and it’s just been sold THIS WEEK)!  Ah well, what better way to document a much-loved family home than with a permanent record on The Design Files… right!?

Bronwyn lives here with husband Jason Ballantine (a film editor) and their three children – Hugh 4.5 yrs, ‘pocket rocket’ toddler Ashley (21 months) and a sweet new born girl named Darci (12 weeks!).  In fact it was Darci’s recent arrival that prompted the big decision to sell up and move somewhere a little bigger!  Before having children, Bronwyn used to run her interior design business from the front living room (top pic above).  These days her growing business is based in Mosman, and the front room is a sophisticated kids playroom, complete with oversized bean bag covered in Bronwyn’s all-time favourite fabric – Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis.  Ooh la la!

When asked for her favourite features of the home, Bronwyn mentions the light filled interiors, the view, the sunsets and those 1950’s curves!  Her favourite place to be is the playroom – ‘I love the lemon tea tree outside, the fireplace, the rattan trunk to hide all the toys from sight, my high bench table where I can work while the children have lego spilled from one end of the room to the other, and of course the beanbag which inspires me to get down on the ground and play!’.   The family will be sad to leave this home behind, but there’s already a new project afoot – Bronwyn and Jason have bought a lovely old 1900’s home designed by renowned architect B J Waterhouse in Neutral Bay.  ‘I hope to restore it to its former glory….  well, one day!’ she says.

Huge thanks to Bronwyn and family for sharing their gorgeous Sydney home with us today.  ALSO be sure to check out Bronwyn’s other interior design projects here – AMAZING colours, pattern and decorative details!  Well worth a sticky beak!

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!

Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Interior Design, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized Comments (18)
Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Sydney Home – Lisa Tilse of The Red Thread

The Sydney home of Lisa Tilse and daughter Roxy! The two art deco chairs in the main loungeroom have been lovingly restored and upholstered in Ici et La striped fabric – they’re Lisa’s favourite items of furniture.  All photos Lucy Feagins.

Light-filled loungeroom.  Deco armchairs upholstered in Ici et La striped fabric.

SO MANY cute details in this room! Love Roxy’s super cute drawing top right – an imagined version of her parents’ wedding (complete with meringue bridal gown!).  Bottom image – Small framed heart sculpture on left by Wyan McAllister, long thin painting on the left is from her parents home in the 1970′s and holds sentimental value for Lisa, on the right an original Chinese folk art painting, and vintage christmas baubles.

I must say what I love most about photographing homes pretty much every week(!!) is the incredible variety of creative styling you see from one gorgeous home to the next!  From teeny tiny one bedders to super slick architecturally designed homes, and of course the ever popular mid-century masterpieces… it’s always incredible to see just how many varied ways there are to pull together a beautiful creative home.  Today we’re in ‘cute ‘n crafty’ territory with this gorgeous family home in Sydney’s leafy suburbs!

This lovely light-filled home belongs to artist, designer and avid crafter Lisa Tilse of The Red Thread.  Lisa lives here with her daughter Roxy (7 years), and also runs her business from home.  After many years working as a graphic designer, in 2005 Lisa took the plunge and launched her own range of artwork for children’s bedrooms, home accessories and craft kits under the name ‘The Red Thread’.  Given Lisa’s creative background and love of all things handmade, it’s no surprise to see so many wonderful handcrafted details in her home – including a VAST number of cushions!  Lisa has a self confessed cushion obsession,  I counted 25 throughout the home during my visit – very impressive cushion count Lisa!  (Can anyone out there beat that?)

Lisa has lived here with Roxy for five and a half years.  She’s been lucky not to have to do too much to the place – other than the usual paint job, carpet removal (which – to Lisa’s surprise – revealed beautifully polished floorboards that looked like they’d never been walked on!), and a little landscaping in the front garden.  What is it with all these lucky people who move into beautiful homes that require LITTLE OR NO renovation / maintenance?!  Most unfair.

Lisa says her favourite aspect of the home is definitely the living area at the back of the house. ‘It’s drenched in northerly light and sun. In the summer we fling open all the french doors to bring the outside in, and in winter it’s cosy, sunny and warm. It’s the heart of the house.’  It certainly was a showstopper on the day I visited – filled with bright light all day, and casting long warm shards of afternoon sun across the dining table and kitchen towards late afternoon.

Huge thanks to Lisa for sharing her sweet home with us today!  (Thanks also for making me LUNCH when I visited!) If you love all the handmade flourishes in Lisa’s home, chances are you’ll love her pretty product range too – do pop over and have a look!

ps. forgot to mention Lisa has an excellent BLOG too! Well worth a visit!

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!

Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Craft, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized Comments (45)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Sydney Home – Tim Ross and family

The beautiful mid-century home of Tim Ross and family.  Love that vintage turquoise Womb Chair (design Eero Saarinen, 1948).  All photos – Lucy Feagins.

Loungeroom details – top right is one of Tim’s favourite pieces, an Arne Vodder sideboard with coloured drawers – ‘my own 30th birthday present to myself’ he says.

Dining area – LOVE the Eames shell chairs in mismatched colours!  So perfect.

You may have seen this STUNNING mid-century home before, because it belongs to someone a bit famous.   Tim ‘Rosso’ Ross, his gorgeous wife Michelle and their very new bub Bugsy live here!

This mid-century marvel was built in 1959, and it sure was lucky to find Tim in 2005 (he is only the third person to own the home)!  SO many modernist homes in Australia end up being demolished or re-configured beyond any recognition (devastating!), but Tim is a self confessed architecture nerd, and has been extremely passionate about restoring his beloved pad in keeping with it’s original design.  Much of the home is in original condition – sadly the bathrooms had already undergone unsympathetic renovations when Tim purchased the property, so Tim replaced these.  Carpet from the 1980′s was removed and the original boards polished.   Tim chose big splashes of colour for internal doors and cupboard doors – incredible!  Love the bright red and yellow – the perfect 50′s finish!

It’s so clear within moments of chatting to Tim just how much joy his home brings him.   ‘As weird as it sounds’ he says, ‘the house actually smiles at you’.  Isn’t that such a beautiful idea? And so true!  Tim and Michelle seem to live such an inspired life here – ‘I love it in winter when we light the fire outside or we cook and listen to old records. The lounge room has so much light we find ourselves drawn to it daily.  The house is a great piece of international Modernism plonked in a suburb better known for it’s sandstone houses.  It has been important for me to maintain it’s rough edges. I want it to feel like a house that is 60 years old, it’s part of it’s charm.’ Ahhh, now that’s true home-love!

Tim’s passion for all things mid-century clearly extends to his choice of furniture and interior details.  He’s is an avid junk shop fiend – favourite pieces include the Arne Vodder sideboard with the coloured drawers in the loungeroom, a wonky old featherston chair, the Finn Juhl chair in the lounge room… and ‘watching Michelle curl up in the old Womb Chair to feed Bugsy is rather sweet’ he says!  Tim is a collector of MANY things – ‘cameras, old records, phones, teapots… I love all of them’ he says.  ‘I have some German tea pots and cups that were leftover stock from a homewares store that my parents ran in the late 1960’s, they are rather special to me.  I love the stories behind what we collect’.

Whilst Michelle and Tim did share a joke during my visit about being pretty much at furniture capacity(!), Tim admits he always has an eye out for new finds!  Favourite fossicking spots include Retro On Regent St, Vampt, Koskela and Spence & Lyda in Surry Hills, Recycling Works Annandale and in Melbourne The Junk Company and Found Objects in St Kilda (sadly now closed).  Tim says he’s also picked up lots of smaller things at The Rozelle Markets, and he keeps a keen eye on Shapiro’s mid century auctions and HFOC (Home Furniture on Consignment) is good too… (‘all those people who can’t help but redecorate all the time getting rid of stuff on the cheap’).

Tim’s Dad has an antique stall at the Tyabb Packing House in Victoria too, which Tim says he ransacks every time he visits, picking up cameras, old photos, postcards and posters. ‘The amount of stock he has is really quite incredible’ says Tim… ‘he’s 75 and quite insane but he just loves old things and their stories – mmm I wonder where I got my collecting bug from??!’

I must say a HUGE thankyou to Tim and Michelle for sharing their very special home with us, and for their patience and their trust.  Michelle was LITERALLY due to have Bugsy at any moment during the week I visited!  When Tim left for work, I was convinced it might be me taking her to the hospital!  Also, probably because I take so long to photograph a house… (like, 3 hours) Michelle and Tim left me alone in the end to let myself out!?  Amazing.  Thankyou so much Tim and Michelle!

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics!

Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized, Vintage & Industrial Comments (41)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Sydney Home – Liane Rossler and family

The Queens Park home of Liane Rossler and family!   The family have an incredible contemporary art collection – YES that’s a Rosalie Gascoigne (close up bottom left). Swooon.  All photo by me.
Dining / kitchen area – extensive collection of vases and vessels from Dinosaur Designs of course!

Amazing artworks on every surface – amongst cute creations by kids Lana and Scarlet.  Top left – a polka-dot piece by one of Liane’s all time favourite artists – Yayoi Kusama.

One of the very first interviews I ever posted on The Design Files was with Sydney designer (and last week’s supercycling guest blogger) Liane Rossler!  If you’ve been reading for a reeaaaallly long time, you might remember that interview, and you’d know I was more than a little starstruck at the time!  Since then Liane has become a wonderful friend and I have been extremely lucky to meet her family, and visit their incredible home!  I THINK I may have hyperventilated the first time I visited – hopefully I concealed it well enough.  :)

Liane lives here with her gorgeous girls Lana and Scarlet, and husband Sam Marshall – Sam is an architect and designed their amazing home.  Surprisingly, this home wasn’t built from scratch – it’s a clever (and very thorough!) re-model of an existing 1920′s brick bungalow.  Paramount to Liane and Sam was re-designing this home with sustainability in mind.  Doors and windows have been positioned carefully to protect the house from the sun, keeping the interior cool in summer, and the layout is designed to encourage natural ventilation.  Conversely, sunlight has been maximised efficiently to light interior spaces – the pixel-like skylights in the upstairs rooms are incredible!  Of course materials used throughout are all sustainable, and you can be assured there are water tanks, compost bins and a vegie garden out the back!

BUT I won’t harp on about the many GREEN credentials of this home – after all, an eco-friendly home shouldn’t be an unusual thing!  Liane hopes it won’t be too long before the words ‘sustainable’ or ‘green’ are simply implicit when talking about good, efficient design!  Hear hear!

HUGE thanks to the Marshall-Rossler clan for sharing their beautiful home with us today!  If you, too, are a Liane R fan, you can follow her on Twitter (she’s prolific!) and don’t forget to keep up with her Supercycling antics over here!

CLICK HERE for many more pics!

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Posted by Lucy at 6:00 am
Categories - Australian Homes, Sustainable Design, Sydney Homes, Uncategorized Comments (17)