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Modernist homes are revered for their authenticity, warmth, and enduring design principles that have stood the test of time, many decades after they were first built.
Cedar House in Sydney’s Northern Beaches is one of these retro gems. Built sometime around the 1970s, the bush-modernist style house has been recently refreshed for modern living.
Following a sympathetic renovation by architects Cadence and Co, the timber-lined abode offers a perfect blend of past and present. And the furniture curation by Atelier Room on Fire founder Chloë McCarthy provides the perfect finishing touch, featuring some distinctive design icons from DOMO.
‘We wanted the home to feel relaxed and inviting, but also pared back enough that it wasn’t competing with the rugged architecture and stunning views over its Terrey Hills bushland setting,’ Chloë says.
She shares more about this incredible project, and her expert advice for decorating a retro home below.
Hi Chloë, you have styled some incredible homes across New South Wales and Queensland. How would you describe your aesthetic approach as a studio?
We always prioritise how a home feels and functions over aesthetics. Each design and styling job begins with a unique concept that reflects the specific site and client’s values. My partner teases me over this, but one of my favourite quotes is ‘I can’t afford to buy cheap’.
I believe gradually buying fewer, higher-quality things over time is an investment that pays off, and I prefer to transcend trends in favour of classic enduring pieces that will age, develop a patina and become more beautiful with time, use and wear.
Cedar House is a great example of how to give a retro home a contemporary edge. What was your vision when furnishing and styling this residence?
Australia’s ‘bush modernism’ movement — which merges mid-century modernism with the raw, tactile elements of the Australian landscape — was a big inspiration in Cedar House’s styling. In line with the architecture of the home, natural materials and earthy, landscape-driven tones were incorporated into the furniture, art and object curation.
The combination of different textures, both in the architecture and the furnishings, is one of the most distinctive details of the project. Tell us about some of the key pieces you selected for this home?
I combined pieces like the Ligne Roset Togo Large Settee without Arms with rattan, timber, terracotta and oxidised metal finishes to help the furnishings enhance the architecture, rather than compete with it. Vintage furniture, lamps and rugs were also mixed for a more lived-in feel, alongside paintings from the Australian artists at Saint Cloche and ceramics from The DEA Store.
The Ligne Roset Togo is such an iconic, distinctive design. Why does it work so well in Cedar House’s interiors?
Its low, relaxed profile helps create a sense of openness in the living space, allowing the views to take centre stage. At the same time, it invites you to sink into it, and the olive colour also helps invite nature inside.
This project brings together classic designs with more contemporary pieces like the Duvivier Gael Coffee Table. What’s your advice for integrating retro elements into a contemporary scheme, in a way that feels seamless?
I always try to embrace modern design objects alongside well-worn ones to avoid a ‘showroom’ feel. Interiors are always living and evolving; they should reflect the people living in the home.
A space that stirs emotions and triggers memories is the most evocative. My advice is to invest in quality craftsmanship, whether contemporary or vintage. Perhaps the greatest luxury in our lives today is time. As such, we instinctively respond to items that have taken care and skill to make. There is beauty to be found in things that are imperfect and incomplete.
Discover a curated collection of furniture, lighting and décor at DOMO, where renowned global brands meet distinctive, design-led pieces. Explore the designs featured at Cedar House and find inspiration for your own space at domo.com.au or in your nearest showroom.
