I N THE MIX A Brisbane-based designer combined

SITTING ROOM Eclectic textiles, a favourite 1920s crystal chandelier and heirloom antiques evoke a decadent feel. Similar chandelier, from £1,200, Norfolk Decorative. Regency coffee table, $1,750, Circa Who

beauty, intricacy and dimensions just cannot be replicated with modern substitutesÕ

Elizabeth Flekser, co-founder of the boutique, Brisbane-based interior design practice Ivy and Piper, has a flair for design. She says, ‘I like to combine classic pieces of furniture and heirloom antiques with more unexpected overtones of colour, pattern and texture.

I like grown-up spaces, but with an injection of fun.’

For Elizabeth, renovating the house is about more than simply redecorating spaces. This art deco, Tudor-inspired home that she shares with her engineer husband, Grant, and two small boys, Levi and Noah, had remained untouched and was ripe for renovation. ‘With a growing family we wanted to extend the house and reconfigure the spaces to meet our family’s needs,’ says Elizabeth. Grant, a professional draftsman, was able to bring their vision to life and project-managed the entire planning and build, while

Elizabeth took care of the interior design and decoration.

‘The house itself has the most beautiful aura. We fell in love with it, while living across the road and when we purchased the house, our renovation master plan was sympathetic to the original period,’ says Elizabeth. Repositioning the staircase enabled bedroom spaces to be re-sized along the new upstairs corridor. A new master suite was also high on the couple’s wish list. ‘Modern romance was our theme, with sumptuous fabrics and Grand Tour-style wallpapers, that transport us to Europe.

We’ve created a relaxing retreat and the Juliet balcony overlooking the pool is a favourite feature.’

A new formal hallway, with striking green and white Carrara marble flooring, that complements the existing kitchen floor, leads to a spacious living and dining room, with doors out onto HALLWAY A wrought-iron balustrade was custom made by local artisans. Antique gilt and iron hall table with green marble top, $1,250, The Empire Company. Henry Moore lithograph, from $500, The Paddington Antique Centre

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MASTER BEDROOM Character pieces bring life to a neutral palette. Custom-made bedhead in Siege velvet, $270m, Aldeco. Lampshade in Sicily fabric, £120m, Fermoie

NOAH’S NURSERY ‘I like to design rooms for young children that will stand the test of time,’ says Elizabeth. Lullaby Moses basket, £89, Clair de Lune, is similar. Marcel wallpaper, $275 a roll, Schumacher

LAST WORD ÔDonÕt follow trends and always invest in the best quality you can affordÕ

CLOAKROOM Painting the window frame to match the door is a considered detail. Pierre Frey Sur Le Nil Naturel FP 482001 wallpaper, price on request, TM Interiors the pool area. ‘The Brunschwig & Fils curtains in the living area are everything! I used the pattern as contrast banding to create the sense of a creeping garden vine,’ says Elizabeth.

At the beginning of all her interior design projects, Elizabeth first considers the architectural features. ‘A room is like a beautiful puzzle and when all the pieces come together there is an artwork to behold,’ she says. Indeed, in the living room a classic Ralph Lauren tartan sofa is juxtaposed with leopard print cushions and a contemporary Wayne Pate abstract. ‘If you can invest in nothing else but pieces of wonderful art, it will help make a home,’ says. Elizabeth

Throughout, treasured pieces stop you in your tracks, including the trompe l’oeil painting in the dining area, commissioned from Mary Pinnock –a wedding gift from Elizabeth to Grant, and the original art deco hallway light, that belonged to Elizabeth’s parents. ‘Grant grew up in South Africa and has inherited some wonderful Ardmore ceramics. I believe homes should tell your life story and reflect your personality.’ A philosophy endorsed fully by Ivy and Piper and Elizabeth’s business partner, Melanie Parker, from their ‘at home’ studio –an outbuilding transformed as part of the house development. ‘Creating a studio has been very transformative. Clients love it and I have the space to create, without distraction.’

There is a sense of timelessness to the decor, yet unique visual surprises continue at every turn. ‘I like to add drama, such as the bold Pierre Frey monkey wallpaper in the cloakroom. Elements of contrast work brilliantly in small spaces and creating a sense of the unexpected is something I like to build into my designs,’ smiles Elizabeth. ‘After all, homes should be fun.’

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