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Before & after: Sydney character home restored to glory

August 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

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Located in the eastern Sydney suburb of Queens Park, this character home was in a state of faded glory before interior designer Alex Gourlay of Vellum Interiors transformed the main living spaces recently bringing warmth, character and functionality to the abode that is home to a young family of four. I love the result and particularly the way in which the designer made the heritage features look really modern with a mix of moody paint and contemporary furnishings.

BEFORE hallway
BEFORE hallway
AFTER hallway
AFTER hallway. Dulux paint in Tranquil Retreat made such a difference!
AFTER hallway. A Warranbrooke mirror sits above a Grazia & Co console table.
AFTER hallway. A Warranbrooke mirror sits above a Grazia & Co console table.

โ€œThe rooms were completely unused because the clients were at a loss as to how to make them work for their lifestyle. Having moved from a terrace, they didnโ€™t have enough furniture to fit in the spaces either,โ€ says Alex who helped the family make their new, much larger, house work for them with a clever mix of paint, cabinetry, lighting fittings and soft and hard furnishings.

BEFORE dining
BEFORE dining
AFTER dining
AFTER dining. A Katie Wyatt original artwork sits above the fireplace.

First up, the cornices and ceiling roses were reinstated which helped restore the homeโ€™s former grandeur. โ€œI love that they look like theyโ€™ve been there forever,โ€ says Alex of the new plasterwork.

BEFORE lounge
BEFORE lounge
AFTER lounge
AFTER lounge. Above the fireplace sits an Eduardo Santos original artwork sourced from Otomys Gallery

A dividing bookshelf was also added that cleverly separates the two formal spaces (the dining and lounge) while making both rooms feel larger in the process. โ€œThe bookshelves work really well to delineate and define the spaces, but theyโ€™ve also added handy storage and a feeling of warmth and cosiness in the sitting room too,โ€ says Alex. The shelves are styled with a range of books, greenery and beautiful objects.

BEFORE The dining room as seen from the lounge room
BEFORE The dining room as seen from the lounge room
AFTER
AFTER The two spaces are now divided by a chic bookshelf

After the plasterwork and cabinetry was completed the home was painted with a mix of elegant mid grey and green tones including Dulux Tranquil Retreat in the hallway (a mid grey), Dulux Knight of the Realm in the formal living area (a deeper grey) and Dulux Milky Spearmint in the formal dining room. โ€œI think the colours are really striking and create mood in each space,โ€ says Alex.

AFTER bookshelf details
AFTER bookshelf details

When it was time to select furniture the designer deliberately chose a lot of curved edges and organic materials to break up the long, narrow old rooms and make them feel more relaxed. Complementary (but not matching) LightCo pendant lights in both rooms add further decorative flourishes.

One last look at that gorgeous dining room
One last look at that gorgeous dining room

โ€œIโ€™m very proud of the way that heritage features have been highlighted, and then seamlessly combined with contemporary fittings and furniture. I see this as a union of the features of the house and the character of the clients.โ€

Photographer: Pablo Veiga

For more on Vellum Interiors | Another Sydney heritage home renovation

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The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
The unluckiest girl or the luckiest? Day 6 in int The unluckiest girl or the luckiest?

Day 6 in intensive care after suddenly coming down with a very serious necrotising fasciitis in my elbow on Sunday. Four operations later (with more to come) I'm out of the woods, alive and have my arm. But I won't be going home until after Christmas. Also picked up a bonus bit of pneumonia to keep things interesting.

I won't lie. This has been super super hard but I feel extremely lucky nonetheless. Have come across some exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who have been incredibly kind at my most vulnerable as well as great at their jobs. I'm really grateful. Huge thank you to my amazing husband who is holding down the fort with the help and cooking of our wonderful friends. And to friends who check in, send love, flowers, snacks and sushi, I will never forget it.

Of course I will be sad tomorrow but my boys can visit and we will have another Christmas next month.

I'll leave you with this. Never ever ignore those health niggles. @healthdirectaus is always a great starting point.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and will enjoy everyone else's celebrations on here with only a hint of bitterness ๐Ÿ˜‰

PS. Does this win the most unflattering photo of me ever published? I think so! No lippy for a WEEK.
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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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