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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.
Today's photogenic family home comes to us from sunny Sydney, and belongs to photographer Harold David Combs, who lives here with his gorgeous and seriously energetic 18 month old twin boys, Franklin and Henry. On the day we visited I think for 3 short hours I had a momentary insight into life with twins - omg, madness! Franklin and Henry were following us around all over the house and were so inquisitive... they were very interested in what we were up to, and left a trail of toys / milk wherever they went!
Harold has been here two years, and in that time has undertaken a few simple but effective renovations to create a functional, open plan living space for his growing family. 'Before moving in I tore down some walls and opened up the living / dining area' he explains. The back wall was also knocked out to make way for concertina-folding glass doors across the back room, allowing natural light to flood into the living area. Carpet was removed throughout, and the floorboards beneath polished with a low sheen clear coat, leaving them as natural in tone as possible. The interior rooms were painted 'the whitest white', whilst the exterior brickwork was painted matt black.
Harold replaced the old laminex kitchen with an Ikea Stainless kitchen, but was careful to retain the original architrave and cornices. 'The house was built in 1950, I want to make sure that its true to its vintage, and that it doesn't all look brand spanking new' he says.
At present, Harold is having the finishing touches put on a Granny/Nanny flat out back, custom built for his twins' new nanny. He's also in the midst of having the yard landscaped with Australian native trees and plants, complete with outdoor play area for the kids, and a mural by Sydney Graffiti artists Skulk and BirdHat. (Sadly it wasn't quite ready at the time of our shoot!)
'What I love most about living here is sharing my life with my boy' says Harold of the relaxed family home he has created here. 'Even the hard times with them are blessed. I'm even becoming slightly tolerant of messes! It's great to have nice pieces, but it's great having the place full of kids and LOVE'. Indeed! Huge thanks to Harold and little Franklin and Henry for sharing their 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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