Homes

Artistic Enmore Abode

Today we visit a colourful, eclectic family home, buzzing with creativity.

This classic terrace house in Sydney’s Enmore is home to artist Renata Waterfall (yes, that’s her real name), her husband Ben, and their two children Stanley and Milo.

Renata’s paintings are proudly displayed throughout her home – Sydney folk can also catch her work in a solo exhibition at Gallery 371 in Marrickville, opening this Saturday.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins

The Carrara marble fireplace is the perfect spot for Renata Waterfall to display her vintage tins and collages made using ticket stubs and maps of the family’s travels over the years. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

For her Enmore home, Renata didn’t want a traditional dining space. Replica Angelo Mangiarotti Giogali chandelier and a mantle mirror, which is from an old Roman Catholic Presbytery via a film props shop! Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

‘This old combustion fire is the absolute bomb in winter. At first, I didn’t like the look of it and now I love it! It’s funny how thoughts change about a home once you’ve lived in it a while,’ tells Renata. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

‘I didn’t want a traditional light in the living room, this is the six-bulb Agnes Chandelier we got from Melbourne, which contrasts beautifully with the ornate ceiling rose and is lovely and simple,’ says Renata. Artwork by Renata, entitled ‘Scrub’, and leather couch purchased from Orson and Blake in Sydney over 10 years ago. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

An old painting table which Renata restored, with spoon-back Parker chairs and Original 1950’s string shelves. Ornamental Carrara marble fireplace with an old army chest (storing all the christmas decorations). Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Fireplace in Renata’s home studio. Above, renata’s large work, ‘The Thunder Will Cease’ oil on linen 140 x 80cm. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Renata’s home studio. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Artist Renata Waterfall pictured on her balcony. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Renata is big fan of using antique or vintage tablecloths as curtains. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

The family’s cat Sanchez in his usual spot, among all those cosy blankets. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

‘This is an Ikea kitchen and I mixed up the cabinet colours, which I think gives the space more interest,’ says Renata, who also incorporated Lewis Dolan hardware from the US. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Renata’s tiler thought she was mad leaving the zig zag edge, but she loves this unexpected detail. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Renata’s ‘Image of Itself’ oil on canvas, 120 x 120cm. When she run out of space in her home studio, this is where her works comes to dry. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Vintage etched glass door featuring swans, which Renata uses as a jewellery and accessory stand, and the Supernova pendant light by Kent Gratrion of Wambamboo. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files, production – Lucy Feagins.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
9th of August 2017

The Waterfall family (YES) have lived in their quaint, colourful four bedroom terrace house in Enmore for just three years.

As is often the case with Victorian homes, when they first moved in, the house was in need of a little love. ‘We had to rewire the whole house, put in a gas line, and re-do all the floors,’ Renata recalls. More recently, they have updated the kitchen – opting for a classic black and white scheme, cleverly incorporating off-the-shelf IKEA cabinets.

The home is layered with life, treasured second hand finds and keepsakes collected over a lifetime, giving it a tangible sense of history. Renata’s most treasured possessions are all second hand – an original 1950’s string shelving unit in the dining room, her vintage tin collection, artfully displayed on the wall above the mantlepiece, and the family’s beautiful antique dining table, which Renata picked up in an op-shop for $20 (!) many years ago, and painstakingly restored by hand.

Interestingly, Renata’s affection for all things second hand certainly wasn’t passed on by her family. ‘Being of Macedonian heritage, we had your typical post industrialist ‘european nostalgic’ home’ Renata explains. ‘…everything was new, new, new and very clean lines and basic!’ Renata says. ‘My father still shakes his head at why we would want to live in something ‘old’, but the history, high ceilings, ornate ceiling roses and paddington cornices are things of beauty!’

Renovating on a budget has been a challenge, but has made each completed project all the more appreciated! ’It just takes time to raise funds… without eating baked beans every night for year.’ Renata says. ‘You don’t need a lot of money to decorate, but you do to renovate. I had a camping stove for 2 years before we got our new kitchen! Now I have a Smeg. Yay!’

Though they still have much they would like to do here, the Waterfall family are in no hurry to ‘finish’ renovating. ‘This is our forever home, so we aren’t rushing’ Renata concludes. As with so many things in life, the joy is in the journey.

Sydney folk can see more of Renata’s paintings in a solo exhibition entitled ‘Therefore, Painting‘ at Gallery 371 in Marrickville, opening this Saturday August 12th, from 5.00pm.

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