Kate Ratner and Michael Tait
Homes
5th March, 2014
The Sydney warehouse apartment of interior designer Kate Ratner and family. Living space. 'That's Enough' artwork on wall by Michael Moran. Black and white chair, a treasured piece given to Kate when she was just 18. 'I love the fabric, which is slowly becoming threadbare' she says. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Living area. Julia Schauenburg photograph above black leather ottoman. Collection of cushions - some picked up from a props sale from the set of Baz Luhrman's 'Australia' film. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Dining room. 'This dining table was my grandmothers. It's about 50 years old' says Kate. 'We've managed to get 14 people around it for a dinner party once!'. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Dining room. Artwork by Michelle Helene, vintage ladder picked up second hand, wall clock - a Christmas present to Kate from Michael. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Sweet details in Kate's living room. 'Most of the items on the yellow side table belonged to my grandfather' she explains. 'His collection of old padlocks are there, a clock, bottles and a fading photo of him and my Grandmother with 2 friends dressed in fancy dress that my Grandmother had made for a roaring 20's party'. Carved art work by Aboriginal artist Nyapanyapa Yunupingu among the old bottles. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
The best rental properties really don't come along just by looking in the real estate pages. Nope, I'm firmly convinced that the most unique and covetable ones usually require a certain degree of pavement pounding, pro-active detective work, and in this case - serious elbow grease! But, as you can see by today's vast and outstandingly photogenic apartment in Sydney's Alexandria - all that hard work really does pay off!
This unique industrial space belongs to Sydney interior designer Kate Ratner, her partner Michael Tait who works in film distribution, and their four month old bub Elliot. A 'warehouse' apartment in the truest sense of the word, this generous first floor space has been home to Kate and Michael for two years. Originally, it was discovered by Kate and a friend, Carla Robertson, who were on the look out for a run down warehouse that could be turned into a home. 'We were excited for the project and the challenge' recalls Kate - 'we were both looking for a new way to live'.
When they first found it, the warehouse had been a storage space for 6 years. 'It was full of mouldy boxes' recalls Kate... 'it really was quite disgusting, but we saw the potential'. Undeterred by the task ahead, Kate and Carla set about ripping out the decaying kitchenette, rebuilding a larger functional kitchen, painting the interior from top to bottom, and building two bedrooms, both with glass doors to let light and air into the central living space.
'We injected a hell of a lot of love to bring this space back to life' says Kate. 'Unfortunately, or fortunately, Carla only spent 3 months living here as she fell in love with a handsome yank and quickly moved to New York!'. Two years on, this versatile space is has now been re-imagined as an eclectic family home.
Furnished almost exclusively with vintage and salvaged second hand finds, Kate and Michael's home is layered with history and nostalgia. 'I have a lot of precious found objects that I have collected over the years, including many belonging to my grandparents' says Kate. 'My grandmother recently passed away, and we found a huge collection of beautiful rusty things that belonged to my grandfather in her home. One of my favourite things is his collection of old padlocks'.
Both at home and in her own work, Kate is drawn to pieces and spaces that tell a story. 'I want a space to work emotionally as well as functionally' she says. 'Spaces I love are never over designed or too considered. They should be humble and quiet, with attention to detail'. Couldn't have put it better myself! Huge thanks to Kate and Michael for sharing their very cool home with us today!
Amazing warehouse kitchen! The kitchen sink unit was a gift from a friend who salvaged it from whilst renovating a bakery. The picture frame is a collection of fishing flys - a gift from Kate to Michael last year. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Kitchen detail. 'The windows were one of the main attractions when moving in' says Kate. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Light filled master bedroom, featuring Tiki the cat. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Kate and Michael's four month old son Elliot alreday has an impressive collection of toys! 'The twinkle twinkle picture frame in the top right corner was the first thing I bought when I found out I was pregnant' says Kate. The hands drawings top left is an illustration by Katherine Pont. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
'The bathroom is a burst of colour. I like to think of it as a bit Disney inspired' says Kate! Vintage mirror above the sink previously belonged to Kate's grandmother. 'It was her dressing table mirror and reminds me of her every day' she says. Photo - Sean Fennessy, production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.
Fantastic space! I love it all especially the windows!
The industrial-style kitchen makes me feel slightly anxious! I think I have a fear of the dust that accumulates on open shelves *lol* But the windows are super-beautiful. Loved this home. Thankyou for sharing.
Love their rugs… Where are they from?
Lucy thank you I LOVE this! I am long term renter and this is inspiring!! Dying to see more pics!
Beautiful home. Love the light.
What a lovely space and such wonderful light. I love how personal it is and that it is not, to use Kate’s words, over designed. Congratulations on creating a home Kate.
Lovely considered home, sadly it will require a lot of baby proofing . Love the light and volume of the space. Thanks for the peak inside this home.
Love this home, especially the kitchen. When the baby starts moving around, he’s going to have lots of fun in the kitchen!
Great home! I love when more unusual spaces are featured as it’s great to see the creative ways people come up with to make it work with size constraints and unusual features!
impulsory.net
I’m a bit confused…. Is it actually rental property? Seems a lot of work done to create a fab space for a rental?
Hey Amber, it could be a commercial lease rental – these are super long term – 3 x 3 years, so could be worth the effort! Really enjoyed looking at this space – wonderful mix. I’m sure this couple are taleneted enough to find creative solutions as their little one grows!
A beaautiful “home” and thank-you for sharing. Like the previous post, I loved the rugs in particular the living room one. I would be very grateful if you could advise where it was purchased from please.
great space BUT it looks like this because they have a 4 month old bub. would love to see it again in 12 months time x
Grat home, would love to know where the blue patterned towel (the one on the hook in the bathroom) is from?
Great space Kate. I’m sure the way you live will evolve as your family grows and the choices you wish to make. I remember being pregnant with my first child and a ‘well meaning’ friend with children said to me “your white duvet won’t last once the baby comes along”. Eight years later I still defiantly have the SAME white duvet cover on my bed looking pretty pristine if you ask me! Oops I’m a kiwi we say duvet I think you say doona :-)
The website is not showing up properly on my Internet Explorer anymore. I see a page with everything as lists and all pictures only grey boxes with blue borders.
fyi, I can view most other pages properly, just tdf and maybe a few others.
ideas?
This home is the perfect blend of warmth and cool. x
Love a space with such great & unique character!
& psst – I found my cute lil kooky rental apartment the usual way – trawling through the online ads – just the right one at the right time! & lucky enough that I was able to see past the previous tenants Shabby Chic ew to see the potential!
gorgeous simple bath!
Jussie – not sure what you mean by ‘BUT it looks like this because they have a four month old bub’. Looks like what exactly??! I think this space is fantastic – not overly embellished, sterile or showy, just a comfortable, rich, interesting space that looks like people actually live in it. Some really sentimental pieces in there too.
Ne – you’ll find that most versions of Internet Explorer (IE) are no longer being supported, as better built, more robust and flexible browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google’s Chrome are now the most widely used. Even Safari would be a better option. Google Apps is also phasing out support for IE9 and below from early April this year (2014). My advice would be to switch browsers and open yourself up to a whole new digital world / viewing experience!
I don’t think you will need to change much as the baby grows. I used to open the kitchen drawers with my pots and plastic tubs for the my kids to play with, they will pull everything out for a while and then move past it :) lovely home with lots of personality!
I have a three year old son and we made no adjustments to our home when he started crawling. He soon learnt that he wasn’t allowed to touch certain things and to this day he still doesn’t (though my husbands stacks of CD’s were rather fun to push over at the time). They are babies for such a short period. I’m sure baby Elliot will grow up appreciating what great style his parents have.
Fabulous space by the way!
Seriously gorgeous :)
Is this the house that hosted a table tennis tournament in which the champion athlete Mark Feary proceeded to win every single match, bringing the owners and their loved ones to tears? What a display that was.
Such a great space!
I love the lounge room rug – where is it from?
This is a gorgeous space, I love it. Thanks for sharing! To those posting their ridiculous comments about how the space is not family friendly and how it is styled, can I just put it to you that it’s a good idea to consider what outcome you are after before posting such comments? You’re leaving a negative and spiteful air to this lovely post. The owners of any space will style it to its absolute lovliest for a shoot – that’s the point and styling is not somehow cheating, it’s a skill and an artform! It’s Lucy and co’s business to style the place with the owners and the results are what keep us reading each week. No-one needs advice on how to make a space work for their family either – I’m sure they are doing what works for them and makes them happy! Now enough negativity, I’m loving this home! :)
Well put together – I love the creativity of this place
Absolutely gorgeous! This is the type of post that keeps me coming back to The Design Files for more!
Wonderful, eclectic and individual home.
Bravo to those who’ve pointed out not everyone’s interior choices and their lives have to change and confirm to boring family home stereotypes when babies grow.
And thank GOODNESS the trolls seem to have gone back under their bridges this week :)
whoops just read my above comment and realised I might sound a little trollish myself and like I am saying those who baby proof have “boring” homes – not at all! Just saying it’s refreshing to have people stand up for those who don’t believe you have to change everything and confirm ;)
So nice to see an evolved space that take us back to the core of TDF. Taste rules, as does an eclectic edit of loved family pieces and acquired items. Love this!
Beautiful home. Let them enjoy it however they want to.
Gorgeous home Kate! Would not expect anything less from such a stylish gal such as you. Elliot will grow up surrounded by art, style and so much love! x x x
Is that cat as big as it looks? super cute.
what a beautiful home! thanks for letting us in..
What a lovely space. I had the twinkle twinkle picture in my room as a child. I had completely forgotten about it until I saw it in these photos. I wonder what happened to it!!
Hi Kate, Are you able to share where you obtained the slim, black top kitchen island, as I am looking or something very similar; thanks Chris