Kurraba Point House

This 1930s art deco apartment is the fourth home that Chrissie and No Chintz have taken on for these clients. Our resident writer Tina takes us on a tour of this recently renovated and refurbished apartment.

Winding, tree-lined streets take me to Kurraba Point in Cremorne where I ring the doorbell at a tidy block of 1930s art deco apartments. I’m here to meet the owner of the top floor double apartment recently renovated and refurbished by No Chintz.
 

Two short flights of stairs past clusters of house plants of all varieties take me to the front door of my smiling host.

This is the fourth home that Chrissie and No Chintz have taken on for these clients. Suffice to say the design team and clients have a language of understanding with results these homeowners love and keep coming back for more of.
 

We start on a tour from the private end; bedrooms, dressing room/walk-in wardrobe, reading nook, bathrooms and study on one end of a long corridor.
 

Upon walking into the master bedroom our attention is drawn to the geometric wallpaper against which sits the printed floral linen bedhead which sets the tone for upscale glamour. Enveloping the room are elegant floor to ceiling linen curtains trimmed with a pale blue bound edge and dusky pink velvet ribbon. The master bedroom successfully creates a retreat from the world to rest and refresh.
 

Never far from light and bright, the bedroom leads out to a cosy reading nook in the clearest blues. A teal blue desk sits at the window, while along one short wall, a comfy cane daybed slots in just perfectly, beckoning hours of reading and contemplation. The cane theme continues at the windows with fine matchstick blinds making the outside world blur into silhouettes; a clever compromise between privacy, diffused light and being able to see out.
 

The owner points to various items like an occasional chair, a sofa, standing lamp and cushions which are holdovers from previous homes; she marvels at No Chintz’s ability to seamlessly weave their beloved items from past iterations into their new apartment, giving everything a fresh and thoughtful perspective.

A his and hers bathroom are all clean lines and more diffused light, the immersion of the palest greens and blues extend from here to all the rooms, imitating the calming hues of the outside sky and greenery that surround the small building. 

Two generous sized guest rooms are their own pale greens, both quite different wallpapers, but complementary to the rest of the apartment. Fun patterns but restful tones.
 

Smartly, one guest room has two single beds, while the other has a Queen sofa bed, catering to all combinations of friends and family to stay. As we wander through the rooms admiring the various No Chintz touches, the owner fondly points out her mother’s embroidered cushion in a bedroom, and comments on how easily it fits into the overall scheme. 

Yet again I am made aware of the special consideration No Chintz pays to sentimentality and honouring the treasures of each client. This is not an ‘out with all the old’ sort of practice, but one which enjoys the collaboration with clients, recycling, and updating pieces from previous homes, and always making room for heirlooms.

In keeping with the vintage of the apartment, Chrissie and her No Chintz team have steered a gentle course, but always vibrant with its owners’ identity throughout. 

Leaving the bedrooms, we pass the impressive study, filled with bookshelves and a his and hers desk, but all made warm and inviting with a palette of blues and greys and rugs in complementing muted tones.
 

Past the study and pushing down the corridor, is a cheery family room for tv and relaxing. A sectional in neutral greys looks like a great spot to sink into, with a heap of delicious cushions in colours and textures that invite a nap. Here, simple linen drapes hang at the windows, and the mainstay colours of greys and blues are popped with orange tones. This might be a favourite colour of the owner- the front door is tangerine, as are two central armchairs in the living room. Everywhere, there is a lively personal collection of art hung two and three deep on the walls. 

The corridor opens to the living room, dining, and kitchen spaces.
 

‘I have learnt to trust Chrissie completely’, says the owner as we wander from room to room. ‘I have input of course, but I do tend to let Chrissie take the lead. She’s always right on the choices!’

Many rugs throughout the house have been bought from travels to Turkey, also some chosen for previous homes; a favourite couch has been recovered in a chunky botanical print. A matching sofa was bought to complete the picture, this one in a moss green. Says the owner, reflecting: ‘I really think I should have gone with Chrissie’s colour preference of orange or purple for the new sofa …. It is my only niggling thought for this room which I truly love.’
 

And really, this room sings. It isn’t often one enters a decorated space and finds the stamp of its owners so apparent. With main pieces of furniture bought for previous homes now resplendent in new colour themes, the backdrop is fresh with the continued pale hues of nature, drawing the eye to the windows where an ample crepe myrtle tree planted close to the building casts arcs of purple blooms across the view. 

Fine linen roman blinds on the windows are banded in a striped braid that give the windows a polished look, completing the picture with elegance.
 

Rather than placing the dining table in a separate space, it holds the central spot in the wide and welcoming kitchen. The owners are not fans of take-out food, so the kitchen is well used, and from all accounts, a practical dream to cook in. 

The U-shaped work space has bright soft light streaming in at its large windows, with views over rooftops.
 

The perfect avocado green of the cabinets was a No Chintz pick, as were the penny round mosaics which are clear but rimmed in a deep green, subtly catching and reflecting the colour in this space. 

It was a satisfying visit to Kurraba Point. The owners love their home and make use of every room. They love sharing their enthusiasm for their new apartment: their friends have been ‘gobsmacked’ by the results of this latest move.
 

As I wrap up my visit, the owner says: ‘Chrissie’s un-matchy matchy, uncontrived style and her close knowledge of my love of colour have resulted in a home we appreciate so much.’

‘The absolute icing on the cake is the No Chintz attention to detail, the finishes all seamless and perfectly aligned.’

I head down the stairs smiling at the pleasure this latest home brings to its owners, even fourth time around. 

 

 

If you would like further information on any of the fabrics, colours or finishes used in this project please contact your nearest No Chintz store.

For home makeovers, or to transform your favourite room, look no further than our Interior Decorating Services. From wall colours to curtains and floor coverings, Chrissie and the team of No Chintz decorators are available for onsite consultations to make your home dreams a reality. 

For more inspiration check out our completed projects or hear what our happy clients have to say.

Tina Gomes Brand is a freelance writer who searches out all things creative from food and architecture to travel, fashion and interiors. Brand writes from a broad experience of interacting with various cultures and collaborating with creative people everywhere.