6 Built To Order Three ways to

Tim and Kate Nixon with son Henry in their light-filled living space. Walls painted in Dulux Lexicon Quarter help make the most of its northerly aspect. Custom sofa and armchairs, Busatti. Throw, Ondene. Bench ottoman in Busatti Zodiaco. Floor lamp, The Country Trader. O P P O S I T E / A beautifully composed scene sets the tone at the entry. The console top is an original marble mantelpiece from the apartment. Side table and cowhide, Busatti. Clock, Top3 by Design. Coat rack and umbrella stand, Orson & Blake. Pendant light, Light Up. The photo, by Maree Homer, is a scene from Tim’s family property in rural NSW. Flowers and foliage throughout from Mandalay

Flowers. F O R W H E R E T O B U Y, S E E PA G E 1 8 6 .

A pendant light repurposed from a vintage gramophone horn hangs over a classic Knoll Saarinen table and Thonet No. 18 chairs. The armchair was a roadside find, reupholstered in a zingy zebra print, while the Chinese altar table at left, from Harvey Norman, was the couple’s gift to themselves for their fifth (wood) anniversary. Table lamp, Busatti. Vase, Samantha Robinson Handmade Porcelain. Pendant light, The Country Trader. Painting (right) by Ben Frost. Deer’s head needlework sculpture by Frédérique Morel.

F O R W H E R E T O B U Y, S E E PA G E 1 8 6 .

he prev ious i nc a r nat ion of Ti m a nd K ate

TNixon’s apartment in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs could fairly be described as an ugly duckling. That is, until Kate, H&G’s interiors editor and propr ietor of Bu s at t i tex t i le s bout ique a nd de sig n consu lta nc y, brought out t he potentia l of t his faded 1930s apartment by applying her f lair for combining classic and quirky elements.

Kate and Tim bought the apartment in 2008. They celebrated the purchase of their first home with a picnic dinner of Champagne and pizza in t he liv ing room, t hen set to work remov i ng mu st y old c a r pet , later re s tor i n g t he c e d a r f lo or b o a rd s t o t he i r or i g i n a l splendour. At this stage the pair moved in and began ref i n i ng t hei r desig n v ision. A r med w it h tor n- out magazine pages and printouts, as wel l as a desire to create a n open a nd a i r y v ibe, t hey com m it ted to a renovation that would put everyday needs front of mind. “We wanted our home to feel fresh, light and classic, with a contemporary edge,” says Kate. “We also wanted to solve layout, lighting and storage problems so the apartment would be a pleasure to live in.”

They achieved this by putting a lot of thought into details both large and small. Walls were knocked down, bathroom fittings refreshed and the kitchen completely renovated. The balcony was enclosed to create a sunroom/ study. New custom cabinetry throughout guarantees a place for everything, from bookshelves above doorways to wine storage and a work nook in the kitchen.

While all practical problems were solved, there’s been no compromise in aesthetic f inesse. On entering the apa r t ment, t he sense of com for t a nd ref i nement is pa lpable. A closer look conf irms t hat t he qua lit y of furnishings and finishes is what really sets this property apart, belying its modest 80m2 size. That’s evident in the Ca r ra ra ma rble used for t he k itchen benchtop a nd bathroom vanity, the iconic Eero Saarinen Tulip table t hat ’s t he foc a l p oi nt of t he l iv i ng a re a , a nd i n >

‘ Thoughtful joinery has solved many space problems and we love the sense of light and openness we’ve achieved.’

Kate Nixon

A B OV E L E F T A N D B O T T O M L E F T / “The kitchen was designed around the subway tiles with dark grout,” says Kate. These wrap around the windows and are laid up to the ceiling for an exaggerated sense of height and space. Laminex cabinetry in Polar White. Bertazzoni oven and Methven mixer, Harvey Norman. Tiles, Bunnings. Ceramic vase, Maison et Jardin. Runner, Robyn Cosgrove. A B OV E R I G H T / “I wanted to take advantage of the high ceilings and create a storage feature,” says Kate of the custom cabinetry that frames the doorway. O P P O S I T E / A desk nook is tucked next to the kitchen bench. Pressed-tin panels, Chippendale Restorations. Stools in Busatti Ararat cotton. Lamp, Pottery Barn (US). Drawing

by Roger Henry. F O R W H E R E T O B U Y, S E E PA G E 1 8 6 . >

< the sumptuously upholstered ottomans and stools that provide a great deal of f lexibility.

So well does this home function that not a lot changed with the arrival of son Henry, now two. Furnishing his room, previously a librar y, “was about work ing with things we already had, which is why it has more of a grown-up feel,” says Kate. With the addition of storage baskets and a timber dowel, the existing bookcase became the star of a suave nursery, while a pull-out change table was hidden in the wardrobe.

For this and the other rooms, Kate was able to apply experience gleaned from her dual careers, styling fabulous decorating features and homes for H&G and furnishing beautiful spaces for Busatti clients.

“ T he f irst t hing I ask clients to do is to list t heir grievances – awkward corner pantries, exposed AV wires, a poorly configured wardrobe – so we can resolve them. Then we play to the home’s strengths. In this apartment we had the lu xur y of high ceilings, so we brought in custom-built high shelves and f loor-to-ceiling cabinetry.”

It’s just one of many elements in a design puzzle that is now satisf y ingly solved, resulting in a thoroughly modern home for this urban family. “Walking through the door is coming home in every sense,” says Kate. #

Busatti, Double Bay, NSW; (02) 9363 4318 or www.busatti.com.au.

A whimsical animal theme runs through Henry’s room, previously a library. Bookcase, Town & Country Style. Leander cot, Busatti. Pendant light, Elements I Love. Rug, Cadrys. Giraffe artwork by Michael Commerford. OPPOSITE, TOP LEFT AND RIGHT / In the study, Kate works at a desk from Glebe Antiques. Armchair, Coco Republic. Shelves, The Country Trader. Vase, Conley & Co. OPPOSITE, BOTTOM / The charming pheasant painting was another anniversary gift, commissioned from artist Mike Chavez. Bedhead, bedcovers and pendant light shade in Busatti fabrics. Throw, Ondene. Bedside table, La Maison.

F O R W H E R E T O B U Y, S E E PA G E 1 8 6 .

look we love

This apartment has an eclectic soul, mixing the romance of vintage with the thrill of the unexpected. Covetable one-of treasures abound but custom storage maintains an assured sense of order. The result is an urban oasis of calm and charm.

M A T E R I A L S P A L E T T E

Pressed tin

Carrara marble

CLOCK WISE FROM TOP Early 20th-century metal pendant light, $1650, The Country Trader; www.thecountrytrader. com.au. be present… framed, signed and numbered print by Michael Commerford, Michael Commerford Gallery; mcgart.com.au. Box Frame steel and marble console table, $799, West Elm; www.westelm.com.au. Vivid woven basket, from $50, and Specimen glass bottle in Amber, $15, Freedom; www.freedom.com.au. No. 18 European beech chair in Dark Oak stain, from $215, Thonet. # Produced by Kate Nixon.

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