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Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.
In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.
Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.
In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.
Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
For our winter inspired week, it seemed fitting to share the home of extreme knitter Jacqueline Fink of Little Dandelion! Jacqueline shares this beautiful home with husband Eric and their three children, Jasper (10), Remy (8) and Elodie (5). The family moved from Sydney's squishy Eastern Suburbs to this generous block, perched on a hillside in Clontarf overlooking the water - Jac says they were craving a less frenetic life. Mind you, they've brought a little chaos with them - with a small menagerie of pets and three energetic kids, it is a very noisy, spirited and busy household - 'just ask the neighbours!' say Jac!
This charming, supremely pretty family home was built in 1940 - it still has many original features which Jac is fond of, including original fireplaces, an almost untouched kitchen and bathroom, and sweet details such as bakelite light switches throughout. And then there are those amazing deco-inspired curves! Whilst they haven't made any major structural renovations, Jac and Eric were keen to give the house a fresh bright paintjob soon after moving in. 'My husband and I LOVE white so we painted the walls and the floorboards white - that's it!' says Jac.
Jac says the house has a lovely energy about it - 'It really is a happy home ... you just know that it has been witness to much happiness and love over the years' she says. 'It's also solid, unpretentious and beautiful in it's simplicity. And, I should add, the view is to die for'. I second that - check out the pics below! The home overlooks the Spit Bridge between Mosman and Seaforth so Jac says it's a really active view. 'We also have a great vantage point to watch the weather roll in. And then there's the sunsets...!'. Awww man. So good. Sydney really sparkles when you have a water view!
Another treasured feature of this home for Jac is the relaxed local neighbourhood. 'Before we moved here, many of our friends from the Eastern Suburbs taunted that we were moving to the dark side' says Jac. 'I've got one thing to say to them - the Northern Beaches totally rocks!'. Jac says she loves the sense of community in Clontarf, and being connected to the outdoors. 'Eric loves fishing - he often disappears for a couple of hours and comes back with dinner caught down at Clontarf Reserve. We do the Seaforth to Manly Scenic walk with the children of a weekend; it's a wonderland out there. The views are incredible, the harbour is so clear and the flora and fauna is so beautiful. We have also been blessed with terrific neighbours. It's all good :)'.
Thanks so much to Jac and her family for sharing their beautiful home with us today!
The Design Files acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
First Nations artists, designers, makers, and creative business owners are encouraged to submit their projects for coverage on The Design Files. Please email bea@thedesignfiles.net
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