/ THE BRIEF
This beautiful Victorian north/east facing terrace, located in Pymble on the upper North Shore of NSW, was purchased by the Ryan family. John and Debbie were a couple in their late 30s with two children, Sara aged 10 and Matthew aged 14.
They wanted the house to accommodate their growing children and to include space for their music practice. Debbie worked from home so she required a space for a full home office.
They also wanted to achieve a contemporary take on the Victorian architectural style and create a cosy, casual feel using classic pieces. They gravitated towards soft pastels, blues, greens and neutral hues.
Stage 1 - we looked at redesigning the kitchen, master bedroom, master
en-suite and lounge room. Stage 2 - we looked at creating their study and a music space.
/ THE CONCEPT
After researching Pymble, I discovered that the region used to be a major supplier of timber. The main timber varieties were Blackbutt, Stringy Bark, Iron Bark and Blue Gum. In later years it became known for high quality produce especially oranges which were grown extensively throughout the region.
With this in mind I studied the colours of these Australian tree varieties and was inspired by the beautiful colours of their bark and leaves. I also wanted to pair these hues with some burnt orange/terracotta colours as a nod to the orange trees that were gown in the area.
Debbie and John loved the features of the Victorian terrace and wanted to highlight them where possible. They wanted a more modern look but with a nod to the home’s Victorian heritage.
Overall their home needed to improve its function and flow. New floor plans were designed so it would suit the family’s needs. There also was a lack of cohesion and style; the kitchen especially was very dated and not in keeping with the rest of their home.