Woollahra House

It all began with the bedroom curtains… the homeowner had been talking about replacing the curtains for a while when one night her husband went to pull them shut and they came away in his hands.

So began the various upgrades to a charming European style residence tucked in leafy Woollahra. Once part of a Uniting Church vicarage, it was converted into a family home by reputed Sydney architect Alec Tzannes.

Susie and Andrew moved in during the early two thousands, and attended to furnishing their new home with what was needed at the time. Much more recently, No Chintz was summoned to update various spaces and completely refresh others. I recently tapped on Susie and Andrew’s door one wintry evening to see what No Chintz designers Chrissie and Emma had brought to their home.
 

Stepping into the foyer from out of the chilly Sydney air, I found myself in a gracious space. A soothing green envelopes the wall space, while a gilded mirror expands the rich surroundings. A pair of curled sconces flank the mirror, and underneath, a richly stained console is a perfect display for the owner’s bountiful collection of gold candlesticks. To complete the elegant feel, a pale silk rug chosen to tie in with the wood tones and the green of the walls takes centre stage, its subtle colours also reflecting in the new bespoke pleated shades of the two sconces.
 

Entering into the living room, Susie smiles as she recalls a funny story when No Chintz owner, Chrissie, paid her first visit to the home. Having come to advise on re-covering the sofa and chairs, Chrissie looked at the original wall of bookshelves and said to Susie and Andrew: ‘I think we can do something with those bookshelves’.
 

It took Chrissie and Emma’s experienced eye to know immediately that the bookshelves were pivotal to the room and so it needed to be part of the room’s refresh. Now the bookshelves are a central architectural feature with their intricate crown mouldings, filled with beloved book collections, pictures and precious mementoes. The muted mid greens from the hallway carry through onto the walls and shelves here, allowing the furniture to pop. An excellent Ian Perryman rug in the palest hues holds court before the fireplace.
 

The original couch and armchairs have been recovered in forest green velvet; both patterned and plain, enhancing the richness of the dark polished wood in pieces dotted around the room. No Chintz has struck an absolute balance with plenty of lightness in the walls, rugs and blinds anchored by the deep hues of a select few pieces. Framing the view of the walled courtyard are lovely French windows. What could be better than a natural linen blind to dress these glass panels, trimmed with a decorative braid.

With a wry laugh, Andrew describes the process with No Chintz as a ‘creeping elegance’. He explains that as the living room was being decorated, the strict instructions that his study in the room beyond was not to be touched, caved midway through the process. ‘I got jealous’ Andrew says, ruefully. Ultimately, a smart, redecorated study was installed, making him very happy.
 

With long and narrow windows to the street, the study is dominated by an antique roll top desk and a large leather armchair. Sitting in a corner was a safe, and along that were filing cabinets. How to pull it all together? No Chintz has had some fun in this workspace, helping Andrew choose two contrasting wallpapers, while keeping the green theme. A thick braid separates top and bottom, acting like a wainscoting.

To unify the collection of files and the safe, the idea was to build a piece of furniture to house these items, building the piece to an ideal height to also serve as a stand-up desk for Andrew. Viola! Files and safe conveniently tucked behind the doors of this new cabinet. A specially sourced rug on the floor ties it all together, the colours in it picking up the bright leafy green of the bespoke cabinet/desk, and of the leather chair. The linen roman blinds continue in here to ensure privacy, while allowing a sunny day to stream light into the workspace.

Upstairs, the traces of No Chintz are everywhere. The green theme continues, all along the corridors that lead to bedrooms, and spilling cheerily into the large and comfortable family area. The family’s collection of precious images of ancestors and relatives are perfectly curated on the green wall; an ideal backdrop to the sepia and black-and-white tones of the photographs. A length of cabinets which sat beneath the television was eyeballed by Chrissie who sensed that they would fit under the windows and look better there. True enough! Freshening the seating with colourful cushions which blend seamlessly with the family’s bright rug, this space looks spruced and new. Susie and Andrew say it is a favourite hangout for their children and grandkids too.
 

The master bedroom is a quiet haven of blues and whites, with the couple’s favourite artworks hung tastefully on the walls. The space recalls Wedgwood's Jasperware, the stunning white on matte blue English stoneware. Again, Susie and Andrew recount how upon entering the room, Chrissie immediately suggested the sconces on either side of the bed, the showpiece of the room, be moved ever so slightly further apart. “It made every difference”, Susie says enthusiastically of the very slight change.
 

Silvery-white sheer curtains with embossed patterning hang at the floor to ceiling windows, sitting in front of heavy blockout curtains: beauty and practicality is a strong No Chintz signature always. There is plenty of texture here: the interlocking grid fabric covering the bedhead and matching upholstered bench at the foot of the bed. The intricately patterned white-on-white matelassé bedcover, the textured, sheer curtains: all enhance the rich layering of this private place of rest.
 

Further bedrooms overlook the courtyard below, and enjoy a tranquillity provided by tasteful and comfortable furnishings; a scatter of Ikat pillows, a two-sided kantha quilt in greens and blues, a bedhead upholstered in a carefully sourced No Chintz fabric to bring each room’s colours together. The orchestration of this home’s updates is done with a light hand, and an eye sympathetic to the residents’ pleasures and pastimes. Always a collaboration, but if the clients faltered with decisions, No Chintz was there to guide and suggest. It is plain to see that Susie and Andrew enjoy every corner of their home immensely.

 

 

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.