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This stately historic home in Woollahra, Sydney, is a 1940s arts and craft style home, renovated by interiors team Arque. The timeless and surprising interiors overhaul was completed in tandem with an architectural renovation by Luigi Roselli, who undertook new external work to the house and garden terracing, external door and window design, and introduced a new main internal stair.
Suzanne Green and Emma Rees Raaijmakers from Arque explain how the historic framework of the three-level home presented a guide for how to blend the old and the new. They explain their approach was driven by a desire to ‘touch the structure as lightly as possible – to retain the unique qualities of a heritage home – whilst delivering on a contemporary brief.’ Cornices, skirtings, doors and decorative ceilings were retained and restored, and new materials were introduced that were appropriate to the stately setting. Marble, steel, terazzo, brass, v-jointed wall panelling and wall papers were introduced, ‘all combined and detailed in a contemporary way.’
The designers explains that the client ‘loved the idea of a black and white interior for her new home’ but also had a love of the colour green! The result is playful but restrained, and Suzanne and Emma explain ‘we felt this palette sat comfortably within the Arts and Craft style of the property.’ The emerald green baguette tiles are laid in a herringbone patterns, as a contemporary nod to the historical period.
The Arque team highlight that the success of this home was achieved through a great collaboration with the client and architects, as well as the confidence and expertise of their own team. ‘Our shared knowledge and innate understanding of heritage architecture and interiors, combined with our passion for contemporary design, enabled us to design interiors that are a timeless addition to this gracious family home.’
