Ferne Colls and Family
Homes
26th June, 2013
The incredible Sydney home of Ferne Colls and family, designed by Harry Seidler in 1972! Marcel Breuer Wassily Lounge Chairs, Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa, Harry Seidler coffee table (designed especially for the house), B&B Italia slab sofa. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Looking from loungeroom to front entrance. Warren Platner arm chair just sneaking in on the left! original fixed cabinetry in hall. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Dining room – with amazing double height ceiling and beautiful views to the leafy exterior! Florence Knoll Oak dining table, Thonet Hoffman dining chairs, original fixed cabinetry to right. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Main lounge room from above. Marcel Breuer Wassily Lounge Chairs, Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa, Harry Seidler coffee table (designed for the house), B&B Italia slab sofa, Saarinen side table (foreground), AJ standing lamp (in the far corner). Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Amazing swimming pool, adjacent to main living room. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
It’s not every day we have the opportunity to share a home quite like this one. Today’s truly iconic Australian home was designed by revered modernist architect Harry Seidler in 1972 – and, remarkably, is still almost entirely in its original condition. It’s known as the Gissing House after its first owners, John and Janet Gissing, who lived here for 36 years until 2008 – an incredible tenure which speaks volumes for the appeal of this elegantly designed, functional family home, and has ensured its near perfect preservation. The house is now home to Sydneysider Ferne Colls and her beautiful kids Luxe (12), Avah (10) and Leo (6), plus sausage dogs Bruno and Franki! The Colls family has lived here, in Sydney’s leafy suburb of Wahroonga, for just over 5 years.
When purchasing a home like this, there often seems to be an inherent responsibility to restore and preserve the original features of the home, and beyond this, an obligation to really share and educate others about the beauty and efficiency of mid century architecture. Everyone I meet who is lucky enough to live in an original mid century home seems to feel this sense of obligation – which is a wonderful thing, especially considering how many amazing homes from this era are sadly still demolished in favour of new development. Ferne has taken this responsibility seriously – she regularly opens her home up to architects and design students, on the proviso that they promise to share this sense of respect and responsibility in all their future work!
The Gissing House retains it’s original layout and almost all its original features, with the exception of some paint finishes and carpet which have required replacing over time. Ferne has invested in a thorough restoration of all the oak timber throughout the home (doors, ceilings, cabinetry), and the odd bit of repainting to freshen up some surfaces. The garden and pool, too, remain in their original layout, and simply require regular maintenance. It really is a testament to Seidler’s incredible skill and foresight that this home has required so little significant restoration in its 40+ years, and still feels contemporary, serving a family of four in 2013 with the same robust efficiency as it did in the 70’s!
Of course what also makes this home so special is the restrained furniture and styling choices Ferne has made, including mostly classic mid century pieces (some of which were purchased with the home), complemented by a smattering of contemporary artwork and home accessories. The result is a relaxed, sophisticated space with an unmistakeable sense of nostalgia – a visit here really feels a little like stepping back in time!
With three energetic young kids, Ferne doesn’t often find the opportunity to have time to herself, but when there’s a spare moment, her favourite spot is by the window, stretched out with a good book in her Le Corbusier Chaise by Cassina. (Sadly not pictured – sorry about that!). ‘It’s great to relax and read with the filtered light from the trees streaming in through the window’ says Ferne. ‘The opportunity doesn’t come around very often, but perhaps it’s more the temptation of the opportunity that I like so much!’ she says!
Other favourite pieces for Ferne include her outdoor chairs by the pool, another classic design by Australian designer Clement Meadmore – and a sentimental favourite, passed on from Ferne’s father, who introduced her to Meadmore’s work and sculpture from a very young age.
Mid century enthusiasts might be keen to learn a little more about the history of this beautiful Australian Home – if so, pop over to The Modern House website for a more detailed back story.
Enormous thanks to Ferne for entrusting us to share her very special home with you all today, in the spirit of appreciation and preservation of Australian mid century architecture!
A photogenic corner in the dining room – Leo’s train set sneaks in at the bottom of the frame! Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Tighter detail of dinig room, looking to external courtyard. Florence Knoll Oak dining table, Thonet Hoffman dining chairs. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Master bedroom, with leafy outlook to garden. At desk – Series 7 Arne Jacobsen chair, Snoopy lamp by Achille Castiglion. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Leo’s bedroom! (He is a lego wizard!). Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Main lounge room. Harry Seidler coffee table, Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Main lounge room, reverse angle. Warren Platner Arm Chairs with Saarinen side table to left, original fixed cabinetry to right. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Pool area. Clement Meadmore dining chairs. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Pool again (we couldn’t resist!). Clement Meadmore dining chairs. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Wow – a true classic. love it!
Stunning.
Fabulous in every respect! Xx
It’s absolutely gorgeous. Ferne has furnished and decorated it so well – every piece is beautiful, and so right! x
Exquisite. Great houses really do stand the test of time – helped belong by an owner with respect for the elegance of the house and a great eye.
Kollapsing! My absolutely favourite architectural genre. And to think that someone gets to live here. Thank you for sharing this absolute gem.
What an incredible space & so beautifully detailed with the perfect interior pieces. A Seidler masterpiece! Loved waking up to this jaw dropping TDF this morning thank you Lucy for finding this amazing home to share. Style, restraint and timeless cool. X
My absolute dream home! Thank you for sharing. Reminds me that I need to go visit the Heide II House again!
I’ll probably stare at these photos all day! x
Australian design at it’s best and it dates back to 1972! Harry Seidler . Great design is timeless. It’s totally MAD. I love it, Thanks TDF.
We nearly fell off our chairs over this one!
Harry Seidler was a pioneer, such foresight. Beautiful, timelsss design. x
Reminds me of the Reed house at Heide Gallery in Melbourne
The last pic is beautifully framed by the trees and bushes – well done Sean.
Breathtaking.
No kitchen?
Wow….a knock out
WOW, this is gorgeous! Love the Harry Seidler architecture and design! Great juxtaposition of warm and cool colours and textures throughout the house.
Like living at Heide !
A lesson in decorative restraint.
Black trims and accent pieces = timeless formula
Great to see a few older houses too, instead of just lots of new stuff. Old is good too!
Perfection – this is a ‘home for life’ – a very rare thing indeed.
Thanks for posting exterior shots, it’s wonderful to see both inside and outside especially when it comes to Seidler
I agree wholeheartedly with many of the comments above but especially ‘Gill’ – it is truly a home for life and a rare thing because of it. Nature’s textures, light, materials all sit comfortably with the need for human function and shelter and desire for aesthetic pleasure. thank you for sharing Ferne. What a shoot Sean. Another delight Lucy! x
Proof that good design ages well.
What a beauty! Loooove this! Such a gem!
Thanks Ferne for sharing your home and lovingly caring for it- Mr Seidler would be proud!
Wonderful aesthetic Lucy and Sean, more homes like this please! One of my favourites; long live mid-century modernism!
I never thought that I would say this…. but this is my favourite house EVER! Am going to going to head home tonight and reassess how I can even remotely achieve something as beautiful as this. To die for!!!
this is stunning, oh I wish there were more of these around… that POOL!!! So LA but in the bush.
It’s so original and un-touched, complete with a slate floor by the looks of it.
Great furnishing to complement the architecture perfectly!
If I can’t have it, at least I’m glad Fern does. She is doing a beautiful job. Now I’m going to waste my morning googling Harry Seidler.
An absolute gem
Just beautiful
That house is magnificent. And the furniture! Wow. What a lucky family to live there.
I’m with a few others, oozes oh so beautifully Heide MOMA. Divine.
Wow! What a place. Lucky family to live with such quality. More pictures please.
Echoes of Heide as soon as I started looking through the photos. The strong materials don’t prevent a sense of warmth and comfort. Happy sigh….
Dream Home!
Thanks Lucy and Sean for sharing this one. . .
Amazing. AMAZING! We are so lucky that someone like Ferne appreciates and preserves such a gem. And her furnishing choices are spot on. Simply gorgeous. Great work Lucy and Sean!
Makes my heart go fast. Amazing.
Took my breath away! Perfect design ….perfect interiors……timeless elegance……lucky caretakers!
What an awesome house!!
This is making me a little weak at the knees….so much to love!
Love it!
Ditto, ditto, ditto. It is a work of art. Timeless. I hope whoever buys loves every moment there.
Reminds of Palm Springs – very very beautiful.
Looks just like Heide II —- John & Sunday Reid’s home.
Absolutely stunning home – still for sale??
Oops, just saw I’m not the first to make that observation… so I second (and third) the previous comments.
Wow, what an amazing home!
Love, love, love it! The photography is amazing too, I can feel the Sydney winter sun and atmosphere reaching me through the photos (I’m in the UK). The house reminds me of Seidler’s own house which I visited when I was about 8 as I knew his daughter from Brownies! (I grew up in Sydney)
Dream home! A true testament to design.
Sigh….so beautiful!
Thanks for all your lovely comments today everyone, I know Ferne will be so chuffed to read them!
In answer to many of your comments, YES this house does feel a lot like the Heide II house in Melbourne, and is also very similar in feel to Seidler’s own house in Sydney (kind of like a smaller version).
And yes, you’re right, the house is on the market – though it has been for some time. All real estate enquiries can be directed to The Modern House co. team, via their website http://www.modernhouse.co/property/1134264-gissing-house
Thanks again so much, and for the lovely comments about the photography too, which Sean will love to read :)
xx
i owned a mid century home for 10 years in perth. i loved the high ceilings, large glass windows, dark wood beams and jarrah window and door frames. the plaster finish indoors was perfect and the exterior bricks were white quartz from a local quarry. i have since owned two homes closer to 100 years old and love the character and history of those, but i will always have a soft spot for mid century architecture and this weeks featured home bought the biggest smile to my face. amazing! …. a big thank you to lucy and the owners for sharing.
Beautiful. Love the space and natural light.
Very stylish home! Timeless.
So comfortable and relaxed but yet exquisite!
Great story.
WOW! What a true classic! Reminds me a lot of the Reed’s home “Heide II”
Oh how I wish … Timeless lifestyle and living zones
This home is perfection and a designer’s dream!
I love the bricks – they have this earthy quality to them that prevents the home from appearing too modern. I love the area rug in the living area – it has classic undertones that make it appear very antique but the bold red colour gives it a modern touch. I love the high window over the dining area, especially from the angle the photo has been taken. I love the fireplace area – the little wood stacking area is great. I love the floorboards on the ceiling – it kind of makes the house feel as if it’s been turned upside down.
Stunning house. Beautiful article.
That rug in the living room is spectacular! Such a great family home, nice and simple living. Looks great.
Thanks for sharing, this place is gorgeous!
Wow, this home is stunning!