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My Houzz: Low-Key Luxury for a Sydney Family Home
This designer took a tight deadline and two newborns in her stride when creating this sophisticated Hamptons-style home
This recently built, Cape Code-style home had all the makings of the ultimate family home for Minerva and James McKell-Wright, their children and assorted pets. But with a looming move-in date, little furniture and a new baby on the way, the pressure was mounting. Enter interior designer Kate Connors, who helped them create the warm and sophisticated Hamptons interior they dreamed of, in record time.
“Minerva was facing some serious deadlines when I came on board – moving, getting the house ready and a third baby on the way,” says Connors.
“The house was nearly new and highly finished, but it had no curtains and, apart from a few pieces, Minerva and James didn’t want to bring any furniture from their previous house,” she says. “We looked to introduce a contemporary Hamptons feel to the space, with new window coverings, furniture, soft furnishings, floor coverings and feature lighting.
“The house was nearly new and highly finished, but it had no curtains and, apart from a few pieces, Minerva and James didn’t want to bring any furniture from their previous house,” she says. “We looked to introduce a contemporary Hamptons feel to the space, with new window coverings, furniture, soft furnishings, floor coverings and feature lighting.
Mood board for the colours, fabrics and furniture
“Everything had to be sourced and ordered, and time was of the essence. We made a list of priority items and focused on getting pieces from local suppliers that had stock available or short lead times.”
“Baby Winslet arrived just after we’d finished the concept design and had started selecting finishes. I’d just had a baby, too, so it was quite a ride for both Minerva and I – lots of late-night messages and showroom visits with my baby Louis in tow. But with some very efficient decision making, the house was soon ready for the young family to move in,” she says.
“Everything had to be sourced and ordered, and time was of the essence. We made a list of priority items and focused on getting pieces from local suppliers that had stock available or short lead times.”
“Baby Winslet arrived just after we’d finished the concept design and had started selecting finishes. I’d just had a baby, too, so it was quite a ride for both Minerva and I – lots of late-night messages and showroom visits with my baby Louis in tow. But with some very efficient decision making, the house was soon ready for the young family to move in,” she says.
A pair of Jardan Wilfred armchairs were the starting point for the living room scheme
“We’re a young, energetic family and we use spaces and furniture well,” says McKell-Wright. “We needed pieces that could withstand years of living and loving.” A leather “bomb-proof sofa” topped the couple’s wish list. “Curtains and layering were other key elements I wanted to introduce,” she says.
“Kate suggested the pink Jardan Wilfred armchairs for the living room and they are two of my favourite pieces in the house – they’re known to our children as the adults-only chairs,” she says.
“We’re a young, energetic family and we use spaces and furniture well,” says McKell-Wright. “We needed pieces that could withstand years of living and loving.” A leather “bomb-proof sofa” topped the couple’s wish list. “Curtains and layering were other key elements I wanted to introduce,” she says.
“Kate suggested the pink Jardan Wilfred armchairs for the living room and they are two of my favourite pieces in the house – they’re known to our children as the adults-only chairs,” she says.
Rich blackbutt floors ground the predominantly pale soft-furnishings scheme
“Colour-wise, I love a neutral palette with soft pops of colour and pattern,” says McKell-Wright. “I’m drawn to anything timber and white.”
“Colour-wise, I love a neutral palette with soft pops of colour and pattern,” says McKell-Wright. “I’m drawn to anything timber and white.”
Floor plan for the kitchen/dining/living room and terrace
The 815-square-metre Cape Cod-style house was designed by Grech Architects. Its spacious, airy feel was something both Connors and McKell-Wright wanted to maintain with the new design.
The 815-square-metre Cape Cod-style house was designed by Grech Architects. Its spacious, airy feel was something both Connors and McKell-Wright wanted to maintain with the new design.
First-floor plan
“We didn’t have access to the house initially due to settlement… and babies arriving. All we had to go on was a video of the house that Minerva had made and the builder’s plans. As a result, we had to make some initial purchases without measuring up,” says Connors. “As a result, we had to err on the side of caution with the sizes of some of the key furniture pieces and rugs. We might have gone a touch bigger had we known the actual room sizes, but it was a case of better to be safe than sorry.”
“We didn’t have access to the house initially due to settlement… and babies arriving. All we had to go on was a video of the house that Minerva had made and the builder’s plans. As a result, we had to make some initial purchases without measuring up,” says Connors. “As a result, we had to err on the side of caution with the sizes of some of the key furniture pieces and rugs. We might have gone a touch bigger had we known the actual room sizes, but it was a case of better to be safe than sorry.”
“The vintage cane stools in the kitchen are from Home Industry, and were one of the few things Minerva brought from her old house. We had new seat cushions made for them in Christopher Farr Cloth ‘Belge’ linen in Dark Indigo,” says Connors.
“The combination of patterned fabric, timber, cane and marble creates a sense of understated luxury,” she says.
“The combination of patterned fabric, timber, cane and marble creates a sense of understated luxury,” she says.
The patterned blind fabric is Christopher Farr Cloth ‘Carnac’ linen in Dark Indigo, and was chosen to tie in with the basket weave wall tiles beneath it. A solid Carrara marble benchtop and classic butler’s sink complete the kitchen’s modern Hamptons feel.
McKell-Wright is a keen cook and she and her family spend most of their time in the kitchen and adjoining living area.
“Minerva is studying health science, and there is always something healthy cooking when you walk into the house,” says Connors. “She uses every centimetre of the marble island for food prep, and the black freestanding Smeg oven was one of the few things she insisted on bringing here from her old house.”
“Minerva is studying health science, and there is always something healthy cooking when you walk into the house,” says Connors. “She uses every centimetre of the marble island for food prep, and the black freestanding Smeg oven was one of the few things she insisted on bringing here from her old house.”
Avril chairs and Albert dining table: Cotswold Furniture
The sheer linen curtains in the living/dining area are Connors’ favourite feature in the new design; “I love how they softly filter the light coming into the room. In my view, they’ve made the biggest impact on the house.”
Dining-room cabinet: Zuster
As a busy family home, the furniture and finishes chosen needed to be durable enough to withstand wear and tear.
Otway sofa: Cosh Living
“We chose classic pieces with a contemporary edge to complement the elegant bones of the house, and layered natural textures with pops of indigo in a nod to Hamptons style,” says Connors.
“We chose classic pieces with a contemporary edge to complement the elegant bones of the house, and layered natural textures with pops of indigo in a nod to Hamptons style,” says Connors.
“Minerva loves fabric and fashion and, knowing her style, it was easy to select prints she’d love,” says Connors. “Most are from Christopher Farr Cloth with a few from Anna Spiro Textiles.
“Minerva, like me, is a lover of linen,” says Connors. “In this scheme, everything is printed on linen with layers of subtle patterns.”
“Minerva, like me, is a lover of linen,” says Connors. “In this scheme, everything is printed on linen with layers of subtle patterns.”
Artwork: an original photographic print by Max Dupain
The master bedroom
The Brunswick upholstered bedhead from BedNest was the starting point for the master suite. “Minerva and I had discussed her needing something upholstered so she could nurse the baby in bed, and this design was perfect,” says Connors.
“Minerva selected the bedhead shape she liked best from a shortlist, and I chose a fabric to suit. The soft colours of this Christopher Farr Cloth linen in Carnival worked with the room scheme, and the large-scale, multi-directional print was perfect for the bedhead’s proportions,” she says.
“Minerva loved the fabric the minute she saw it, but James needed a little more convincing,” she says. “We got him over the line in the end with some more masculine bedding to balance things out.”
“I think it was lucky I had just given birth when I showed my husband the bedhead material!” says McKell-Wright.
The Brunswick upholstered bedhead from BedNest was the starting point for the master suite. “Minerva and I had discussed her needing something upholstered so she could nurse the baby in bed, and this design was perfect,” says Connors.
“Minerva selected the bedhead shape she liked best from a shortlist, and I chose a fabric to suit. The soft colours of this Christopher Farr Cloth linen in Carnival worked with the room scheme, and the large-scale, multi-directional print was perfect for the bedhead’s proportions,” she says.
“Minerva loved the fabric the minute she saw it, but James needed a little more convincing,” she says. “We got him over the line in the end with some more masculine bedding to balance things out.”
“I think it was lucky I had just given birth when I showed my husband the bedhead material!” says McKell-Wright.
The Zuster bedside table was made to a custom height to suit the bed
The elongated marble and brass Lee Broom Tube wall lamps from Space Furniture were chosen to suit the shape of the bedhead and the position of the windows. “The existing scones over the bed would have been obstructed by the wings of the bedhead, and the low position of the windows didn’t leave room for anything other than a long, slender light,” says Connors.
“Plus, we also felt they balanced the masculine and feminine elements in the bedroom,” she says.
The elongated marble and brass Lee Broom Tube wall lamps from Space Furniture were chosen to suit the shape of the bedhead and the position of the windows. “The existing scones over the bed would have been obstructed by the wings of the bedhead, and the low position of the windows didn’t leave room for anything other than a long, slender light,” says Connors.
“Plus, we also felt they balanced the masculine and feminine elements in the bedroom,” she says.
“I do love a print,” says McKell-Wright. “But it does have to be a specific one – and Kate chose some amazing ones. My favourite is the one we had made into cushions for the bar stools in the kitchen.
“I also adore the print on the bedhead and walk-in robe. It’s whimsical and feminine, and I love falling asleep with that beautiful pattern above me,” she says.
“I also adore the print on the bedhead and walk-in robe. It’s whimsical and feminine, and I love falling asleep with that beautiful pattern above me,” she says.
The wallpaper on Cleo’s wall is Jimmy Cricket Woodlands Lilac Grey design
“I’d had this wallpaper stored away for Cleo for some time until I could finally do her room,” says McKell-Wright. Connors selected coordinating linens for the wallpaper in each of the kids’ rooms.
“I’d had this wallpaper stored away for Cleo for some time until I could finally do her room,” says McKell-Wright. Connors selected coordinating linens for the wallpaper in each of the kids’ rooms.
Wallpaper: Anewall Little Explorers
The open-plan living area leads out to a terrace with an outdoor kitchen
For Connors, this was a dream project. “Working with a client the second time around means you know each other really well,” she says. “Plus, Minerva invested a lot of trust in me and approved and proceeded with almost every selection we made. This doesn’t always happen – a scheme can often get watered down due to budget or the client having their own ideas.
“But in this case, the finished result was everything I’d imagined.”
For Connors, this was a dream project. “Working with a client the second time around means you know each other really well,” she says. “Plus, Minerva invested a lot of trust in me and approved and proceeded with almost every selection we made. This doesn’t always happen – a scheme can often get watered down due to budget or the client having their own ideas.
“But in this case, the finished result was everything I’d imagined.”
McKell-Wright is equally smitten with the end result. “I love the ease of it all,” she says. “And how the beautiful, quality pieces we’ve chosen feel so in harmony with the house we fell in love with,” she says.
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More
Want to see the personal story behind another renovation? Watch our latest episode and read the story behind My Houzz: Kate Upton Surprises Her Sister With a Home Renovation
Do you love this family home as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see the personal story behind another renovation? Watch our latest episode and read the story behind My Houzz: Kate Upton Surprises Her Sister With a Home Renovation
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Minerva and James McKell-Wright, their three children (aged five years, three years and nine months), two dogs and a cat
Location: Hunters Hill, NSW
Size: The ground floor measures 239 square metres and the first floor is 114 square metres
Interior designer: Kate Connors, Connors & Co
Stylist: Kate Connors and Kate Abdou
Great proportions, exquisite detailing and natural light – there was plenty for Minerva McKell-Wright to love when she laid eyes on the four-bedroom, three-bathroom Hamptons-style house that would become her family’s new home. All it needed were personal touches to see it reach its full potential. She knew exactly who to call: interior designer Kate Connors of Brisbane-based firm Connors & Co, who had helped bring McKell-Wright’s previous Balmain, NSW, home to life.
“I had worked with Kate before and instantly connected with her style and wonderful personality. She has a knack for elevating spaces with a beautiful, luxurious ease, which I love,” says McKell-Wright.
“This house was beautiful, but it was lacking a feminine softness – something I really wanted Kate to bring to the design,” she says. “With three young children, I also wanted to make it as functional as possible.”