homes {French polish}
the perfect fit
Homeowners Jason and Lynley love to entertain, with friends and family naturally congregating outside on the tumbled travertine patio, while their kids play on the grassy patch just beyond. An old worker’s bench, which Jason cut to size himself, doubles as an outdoor dining table. The bench seats were an Ebay find, with a Pony Rider cushion and a linen throw from The Design Hunter adding comfort. Inside, Lynley picked up the handpainted armoire from Sydney wholesaler Horgans. “I go to their end-of-year sale every year and get great bargains,” she says. >
With a mix of old and new, Jason and Lynley put their own elegant spin on a ready-made home in Sydney story CATHERINE McCORMACK STYLING ADAM ROBINSON phOTOGRAPHY NATALIE HUNFALVAY
pavers
Get the look wit h tumbled travertine pavers, $64/sqm, Tile Factory Outlet. 138
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Fate and timing often rule when buying a property, which is exactly what happened to Jason and Lynley. The Sydney couple had spent months searching for a knock-down to renovate when Lynley’s mother became gravely ill, and with their third child only a few months old,theydecidedtochangetack.“Anagentwhohadshownusanother place said, ‘Come and look at this house, I think it’s just your style’,” recalls Lynley. “It didn’t need any work, but I went along for a look. I got to the top of the stairs and said, ‘I’ll put in an offer.’ It’s hard to find a house that ticks every box, but this one came very close!” Built on a sloping battleaxe block in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the two-storey, four-bedroom property is essentially configured upside down. “The bedrooms are on the ground floor and the living areas are all on top,” explains Lynley. The previous owners had renovated with a modern French aesthetic, and the classic design scheme of darkstained timber floors and white walls was an ideal fit for the couple. “Iloveaneutralbaseforahome,”saysLynley,who,asateammember of notable interiors company, The Design Hunter, has a good eye for style. “I like things to be light and white, so it was perfect.” The house also has a feeling of spaciousness and flow that is highlighted by a handsome galley kitchen, which opens onto a dining area and a practical patio paved in tumbled travertine. The garden backs directly onto parkland and there is official approval for a pool in the future – a major drawcard for the young family which includes Oliver, seven, Jesse, five, and Scarlett, three.
Better still, with no planning or building stress to worry about, Lynley was able to pack up their previous home and fly straight toAdelaide to spend the last precious weeks with her mum. “It was such a whirlwind, butthishousemadethingseasy,”shesays.“Everythingfellintoplace.” Upon her return, Lynley found comfort in putting her own stamp on the house, filling it with personal touches and family keepsakes. Furniture was arranged and re-arranged, walls touched up and bedroomsupdatedwithsisal-lookFeltex‘Stefano’woolcarpets.“They’re quite contemporary and create a nice balance for the structured cornices and the other traditional French touches,” comments Lynley. Much of the furniture came from their previous house, but Lynley, who describes her style as an eclectic mix of French and industrial, alsointroducedanumberofpre-loveditems,sourcedfrom either Ebay or auctions, which she and Jason cleverly restored or updated themselves. “A lot of our pieces are quite old; they aren’t brand-new off the shelf,” says Lynley. “I like original things – they give a better sense of a home and add some soul.” Her favourite item is the cabinet in the formal lounge (oppposite, far right). “I bought it at auction as an absentee bid over the phone,” she explains. “It’s an old baker’s shelf. Jason chopped it in half and I stained it black.” Lynley has plans for more updates eventually – “I’m a hunter gatherer – it’s addictive!” she says with a laugh – and it’s this passion, as well as her innate talent for colour and display, that makes this ready-made house a highly personal family home.
“My style has always been eclectic. I don’t just look for r wor ks” ~ Lynley French-inspired pieces – it’s about whateve FORMAL LIVING room {this page & opposite} The mix of chic grey tones is an elegant choice for this grown-up retreat. “Grey is a great anchor for a neutral scheme,” says Lynley. “So many colours blend with it and it looks beautiful against white walls.” A salvaged brass drum doubles as a side table for the comfortable couch. “This couch is about 15 years old,” Lynley says. She had it recovered by Elio Upholstery in a crisp linen and added grey cushions from The Design Hunter. The timber stool {opposite}, standing in as another makeshift side table, was a serendipitous find by the road. “I was walking the kids to school and someone had just cut down a tree and left it there. I drove back and picked it up – it has proven to be incredibly versatile!” Lynley says. “I’m always sourcing pieces and looking for new things in unexpected places.” The mirrored ‘E’ {right} – purchased from The Country Trader 10 years ago – draws the eye to a corner nook where Oliver and Jesse love to sit and play chess. The stained vintage cabinet {top right} was a prized buy at an auction that was lovingly revamped by the couple. >
carpet
‘Stefano’ wool car pet in Winter Wheat , $58/sqm, Feltex. Use the
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we love
Treetop living
To maximise light and space on the steeply sloped block, Lynley and Jason’s house was designed upside down, with the living areas all situated on the top floor, in line with the eucalyptus and jacaranda trees, and the bedrooms down below. “It’s like being in a tree house!” says Lynley, who relishes the family-friendly layout.
“When I first walked into the house and saw the five-metre long ’” ~ Lynley kitchen bench, I thought, ‘Yes! That’s perfect! KITCHEN {above left} As a keen entertainer, Lynley was drawn to the generous proportions of the lengthy Carrara marble island bench. The maximum storage offered by the Shaker-style cabinetry was also a drawcard. A cluster of replica Tolix stools is where guests often gather while Lynley prepares a meal. “We’re always having people over and just live in the kitchen,” she says. “Nothing is formal with us. It’s all about easy, casual living.” Display {above right} Next to the home’s rear entry,
Lynley created a sweet vignette, which includes two artworks from Sentosa Designs. The vintage chest of drawers was bought at auction and was originally used as a base for her children’s change table when they were babies.
Formal living room {left} A chesterfield sofa in Lynley’s favourite shade of muted grey, sourced at a Horgans sale, is the centrepiece of the formal lounge. For similar, try the ‘French Empire’ sofa from Coco Republic. Dining room {opposite} With an adjacent play area for the kids, much of the action occurs in this part of the home. “It all happens at this table – eating, Lego, Play-Doh, everything!” says Lynley. Jason crafted the tabletop after they spotted the sturdy base at a garage sale. “Because the living areas are all on one level, Jason and I can open up the bi-fold doors and sit in the garden while the kids run in and out freely,” explains Lynley. Replica bentwood chairs and a textured rug, made from the same carpet that features in the rest of the home, provide casual elegance. >
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SCARLETT’S bedroom
“You can tell by the colours in here that I really wanted a girl!” says Lynley, who designed daughter Scarlett’s room. Accessories in powder pink and dusty rose add girlish warmth to the otherwise neutral scheme. Family keepsakes are displayed on a bookshelf Jason made, with intricate mixed media artworks by Kate de Kantzow hanging on the wall. The armchair was a second-hand discovery (try the ‘French Louis’ chair from Hard To Find), with pretty pink cushions made by Elio Upholstery. Outside, the balcony is embellished with a huge clock from Le Forge.
“I’m always updating the children’s bedrooms, so a neutral base is the way to go” ~ Lynley POWDER ROOM {above left} The small upstairs bathroom features a hanging birdcage from Stone Pony and bespoke artwork by family friend Lisa Parsons of Beautiful Words, who creates personalised pieces using calligraphy. “It’s called ‘Dadda’ and was a gift to Jason on Father’s Day,” explains Lynley.
JESSE’S bedROOM {above right} The black-and-white gingham bedhead in five-year-old Jesse’s room was another of Lynley and Jason’s joint projects. “Jason made it and I chose the fabric from No Chintz,” says Lynley. The cheerful red, white and blue bunting is from Annie B and the striped throw is from Bed, Bath N’ Table. ENSUITE {right} Finished in floor-to-ceiling
polished travertine (try Amber Tiles honed travertine tiles in Ivory), the luxurious ensuite includes a walk-in double shower plus his-and-hers sinks. For similar traditional-look taps and showerheads, try the English Tapware Company. >
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INSIDE STORY
Who lives here?
contacts
Lynley, a stylist at The Design Hunter; her husband Jason, a property developer and fund manager; and their children Oliver, seven; Jesse, five; and Scarlett, three.
Interior Design
The Design Hunter, (02) 9369 3322, thedesignhunter.com.au.
Describe your style:
Lynley: “There is definitely a lot of French influence, however I lean towards many other looks, too. For me, it’s mostly about what I fall in love with. Working in interiors allows you to appreciate many styles – and that’s why I like this industry!”
Any must-have items?
“Lots of wood, one-of-a-kind finds that have a little story behind them and fine Belgian linens.”
What is your go-to meal for entertaining?
In their master bedroom, Lynley and Jason treasure the mounted photos of their children, shot by Verve Portraits. The graphic bedspread is from Pad.
“I cook a lot of Italian and it’s all shared food – I like to put out platters of cold dips, olives and bread. Then I’ll do a great big lamb roast and slice it up in the centre of the table.”
Favourite place in the house?
“The formal living room overlooking the greenery outside, or the dining area with the the bi-fold doors thrown open.”
patio A low retaining wall overgrown with creeping fig creates a lush background for the outdoor rattan setting – try Domayne’s ‘Costa Rica’ range for similar. Lynley made some of the cushions herself, sourcing a range of blue-and-white fabrics from Spotlight.
bed Ground f loor
bath l’dry
bed
A desk from The General Tra ding Company offers a quiet pla ce to work.
kitchen
dining wc
formal living
family
balcony
bed
wir
patio
ens
master bed
PLANS
entry terrace
actual paint colours may vary on application. ILLUSTRATION KENZIEDESIGN.COM
“I always need to have green plant life in my home” ~ Lynley
study First f loor
homebeautiful.com.au {DECEMBER 2013} 147