Small House stamped with organic style
Paddington terrace transformed
Interior Design
Paddington terrace transformed
Brief: transform a terrace house into a light and airy retreat with clever outdoor connections.
This contemporary house was inspired by a treasure trove of collectibles gathered over many years of travel and gifts from the owner’s artist friends.
This project was an interesting challenge that a small space often presents. The solution was to create as much height and natural light as possible, to anchor the room with large statement pieces and then create visual layers that tell a story, delight the eye, and replenish the soul.
The existing house was all but gutted except for the Victorian façade. A concrete slab was poured and topped with an oxidised, polished finish to achieve a seamless, organic effect. The back of the house was opened up to become one, light-filled space and ceiling-to-floor rear glass bifold doors were used to create a sense of scale. The minimalist structure coupled with its eclectic layering created a sophisticated inner-city retreat.
Carefully curated artworks, objects from travels, themed collections of curios, and wall sculpture were added to create a wonderful sense of texture and richness to the space. Timber panels from old railway carriages sit alongside a Simeon Nelson Plenum wall sculpture made from plywood and laminates. Above it hangs a Venetian Murano glass horse head.
Savvy styling was utilised in the dining area to facilitate entertaining, and the streamlined, open-plan kitchen enabled cooking to continue whilst conversing with guests. The ceiling to floor bifold doors allowed the courtyard to become an extension of the dining room, and the iconic Saarinen table set the scene for friends to gather around for Sunday lunches and dinners. The courtyard garden, while small, provided a delightful statement. Easy to maintain, a vertical garden on both side walls framed the rear wall, with a 3-metre glass water feature creating an organic ambience. The upstairs two bedrooms, en suite and office were designed to be compact, but allowed for good traffic flow. The two balconies enhanced the relaxed and organic feel of the house.
