In its recent reinvention, this Victorian terrace delicately fuses its long history with its owners’ time in Asia
The idea behind the interior design of this Victorian terrace in Sydney’s inner west was to enhance and highlight the existing period features. The clients, a doctor and a writer, are well travelled and have spent considerable time working in China, and wanted to express this life experience subtly throughout their home without creating an overly styled interior.
“Our client and their travels was the inspiration,” says Andrew Waller, interior designer of Andrew Waller Design, who undertook the project’s interior decoration, bespoke joinery, furniture specification and design, soft furnishings, finishes and lighting. “The doctor and family had lived in China for business and already had a few interesting Chinese pieces which we added to in the refurbishment. They didn’t want a new pristine home but a lived-in, family feel which had a layer of history to reflect their lives.
“The brief was to update the interior space and provide much-needed storage…our clients had been living in quite an unorganised space for a while and generally needed a new eye to organise their home life.
“We took the project as an opportunity to organise the existing pieces, while adding new in a way that had a historic evolved theme rather than a ‘brand new’ appearance, which would date quickly and may not have suited the period property. As part of the project, many personal artefacts were also incorporated into artworks throughout the spaces.”
Two areas became the main focus – the master suite (which was to be the wife’s main retreat), and the lounge with the large full-wall bookcases (the husband had a large collection of books to be housed).
The master suite, which had consisted of numerous amassed loose cabinets, required a complete overhaul. A large amount of storage was required to replace these cabinets, but a cleaner plan was required to ‘tidy’ up the visuals and create some much-needed floor space, despite the room’s large dimensions.
In this master suite, one of Andrew’s favourite parts of the home, a combination of the new wraparound timber joinery and wing armchair by the fireplace redefined the space as a private sanctuary/reading spot away from the main living area. The joinery has now created a panelled-room feeling.
The master bedroom exhibits a masculine overtone, with the extensive bespoke joinery referencing a gentleman’s tailor shop. The bedroom furniture includes a custom-designed dressing table with intricate bone inlay, handmade in India.
Andrew also loves the lounge room with new twin bookcases adjacent to the fireplace, framing the space with a textural backdrop to the semi to create an inviting lounge space – the first port of call for guests.
Meanwhile, the main entertaining area was designed with the female client in mind, introducing a layer of colour on top of the neutral palette.
“The project evolved over a period of time,” says Andrew of the finished work. “We employed an ‘evolved historic’ approach to the design including the new furniture and bespoke joinery details. We retained and brought focus to some of the beautiful existing elements in the home and reinvented spaces and details which needed a little more attention.”
The project was designed by:
ANDREW WALLER DESIGN
First floor, 722 Bourke Street,
Redfern NSW 2016
Mobile: 0422 992 676
Email: andrew@mrwaller.com
Website: mrwaller.com
The project was built by:
Tallal Mostafa
BFS Pty Limited
Mobile: 0411 831 832
1B Torwood Street,
Sans Souci NSW 2219
Email: tallal@bfsconstructions.com.au
Website: bfsconstructions.com.au
FLOORING
Living areas/kitchen: Timber, varnished finish
Entrance: Retained original marble tile
Bathroom: Tiled by Academy Tiles
Bedrooms: Timber stained floor – Feast Watson
WALLS
Living areas: Dulux Rice Cake Wash & Wear; skirting boards Dulux Rice Cake semi gloss
Kitchen: Dulux Hog Bristle Wash & Wear; skirting boards Dulux Hog Bristle semi gloss
Bathroom:
Master bedroom: Dulux Pale Parchment Wash & Wear; skirting boards Dulux Pale Parchment semi gloss
Childrens’ bedrooms: Dulux Finishing Touch Wash & Wear; skirting boards Finishing Touch semi gloss
LIGHTING
Living areas: Silk embroidered lampshades – from Mao and More
Entrance: Custom made in Parchment to Waller Design specifications, from Circle of Light
Kitchen: Pendant light from Chippendale restoration, Rozelle
Bedrooms: Medusa chandelier from Orson & Blake
KITCHEN
Cabinet doors and panels: Existing timber sand and new varnish finish
Benchtop: New laminate inserted benchtop with original timber moulding lip-edge detail
BATHROOM
Wall: Dulux Finishing Touch Wash & Wear; skirting boards Finishing Touch semi gloss
Tiles: From Academy Tiles
Bath/shower/vanity: Chippendale restoration, Rozelle
Additional features: Towel rail from Chippendale restoration Rozelle, bent wood chair from auction
WINDOWS
Original timber windows sand, recondition and new paint finish, sash windows mechanism were repaired
DOORS (external or internal)
Original timber doors and, recondition and new paint finish
OUTDOOR
Landscaping by Votre Jardan – Stuart 0410 691 521
FURNITURE
Hallway: Hat chair – Chinese from Orient House
Living room:Rosewood Mahjong table – original from client
Bentwood chairs – auction find
Silk-embroidered pendant lamp – Mao & More
Rug – Doncaster Furnishers
Soft furnishings custom designed by Andrew Waller Design
Feature chair – Arana Chair upholstered in Liberty fabric from Jardan
Lounge – Genevieve sofa from Jardan, fabric by Mokum
Dining room:
Existing client table and chairs
Soft furnishings custom made by Andrew Waller Design
Fireplace – upholstered chimney breast in Assam colour Plum – Mokum
Armoire – A-frame Jiansu cabinet – Orient House
Family room (off kitchen):
Sisal floor rug – Equator Homewares
Kitchen table and chairs – auction find
Wicker chest/coffee table – Mandalay Design
Cabinet – Gansu painted front cabinet in poplar – Orient House
Love chair – Equator Homewares
Master bedroom:
Custom design soft furnishings by Andrew Waller Design
Floor rug designed by Andrew Waller Design, made by The Rug Collection
Varenne desk chair from La Maison
Joinery (wardrobe) – American oak with bronze finish hardware, designed by Andrew Waller Design
Armchair – Augustine wingback chair in chocolate linen from Orson & Blake
Dressing table and mirror – Bone inlay kneehole dressing table – custom designed by Andrew Waller Design, made in India
Written by Danielle Townsend
Photography by Georgia Moxham
Originally from Australian Period Style Volume 8