Cart 
The Lime Street Residence is a Queen Anne era home, owned by interior designer Simone Penn in Launceston, Tasmania. Simone engaged Cumulus Studio to bring the 1908 house into the modern day, in a manner that respected the past, but enabled a social and engaged family space.
Architect Pippa Jensen explains that the traditional arts and craft style property had been the home to many owners, and the impact of these many layers of lives lived here were materially present. While the brief was to celebrate the original elements of the home, there was also a need to remove inconsistent details including a west ring rotunda, gaudy granite hearths, ‘overwhelming 80s stained glass’, heavily stained joinery and plastered timber linings.
Pippa highlights that the intention was for ‘creating new life without hiding the past.’ This was achieved by ‘pulling back the layers of history’ while also considering how contemporary families live. The 20th century style segregation of spaces was restructured to allow for gathering and connection. The renovated kitchen, central living space, outdoor patio and new pool are new sites for communal and shared activities. The design also introduces skylights, to bring natural light into the centre of the home.
Pippa emphasises the importance of working with Simone, who put her interior design skills to full use, introducing unexpected elements such as the bright green carpet and transforming the underutilised attic spaces into sleeping nooks. Now filled with the owners impressive collection of furniture and artworks, Pippa highlights ‘working with such a brave, hands-on client made for an extremely rewarding professional experience.’
