80s home described as "ugly, ugly, ugly!" gets Parisian style makeover

Built in the 1980’s this large Sydney family home, located in Bellevue Hill, was in serious need of a facelift before interior designer Hilary Ryan was engaged to overhaul its layout and dated aesthetic. “It was badly built in the ‘80’s and was ugly, ugly, ugly!” says Hilary of the original home that, while palatial in size, was in desperate need of a modern update.

Kitchen — The kitchen looks onto the outdoor entertaining area

“The owners wanted a ‘Parisian apartment’ style aesthetic to bring the right blend of tradition to suit a modern lifestyle and create a character filled home. They wanted the home to feel luxurious yet welcoming,” says Hilary who clearly did many things right given the project has just been named as a finalist in several categories in this year’s KBDi (Kitchen Bathrooms Designers Institute) awards. The home’s kitchen, laundry and wine cellar were all recognised in the competition.

Wine cellar — The stairs house a unique wine cellar

A standout space in the home, the new kitchen replaces one that had no appliance storage, little preparation room and was squashed into a corner making it difficult for more than one cook to work at the same time. “In contrast, the renovated space is large, filled with storage and has enough workspace to accommodate the home’s busy family of five,” says Hilary.

French Oak timber floors, a butler’s sink, a custom traditional style rangehood, integrated fridge and freezer, shaker doors with inner detailed moulding, and polished nickel taps and lighting all feature in the large space. The kitchen island is painted with Dulux Grid, a statement shade. “The indigo island bench adds drama to a timeless classic kitchen and exudes a refreshing style that complements the wider aesthetic of the renovated home,” says Hilary.

Adjacent to the space, the butler’s pantry houses appliances, a zip tap and a second integrated dishwasher. “This allows the butler’s pantry to function as a scullery when entertaining to keep the main kitchen looking pristine,” says Hilary.

Previously cut off from the home, the outdoor space is now connected to the kitchen to create a fabulous entertaining area. “The new footprint offers open plan living with luxurious fittings and features yet is robust enough to cater to a bustling domestic life but stretch effortlessly to large scale entertaining,” says Hilary.