Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Modest Terrace Impresses With a Bright, Cheery Interior
A colourful renovation brings light and life into a simple family home in inner-city Sydney
Tucked away on a quiet street in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner-west, this family home looks modest from the street. A single-storey terrace on the end of a row of three, it stands out no more and no less than its neighbours. Inside, however, is a whole new world. Thanks to careful decorating and renovations that included adding on an extra bedroom, a rear extension and an ensuite bathroom, the home is now flooded with natural light, big open spaces and splashes of bright, bold colours.
The front of the terrace remains almost exactly as it was when the couple first arrived. The timber floors have been polished throughout and period features in the hallway and bedrooms were retained for their character.
The hallway lamps are from Dedece+, and Angela bought the mirror from a vintage store on Enmore Road 13 years ago.
The hallway lamps are from Dedece+, and Angela bought the mirror from a vintage store on Enmore Road 13 years ago.
Angela says the bedroom she and Jason share is their favourite room in the house. “It’s very peaceful and tranquil in there – my space away from the busy living room,” she says. When they began the renovation, there was no specific style in mind, more of a mix of what she and Jason love, Angela explains. “Lots of colour was important!”
The bedside lamps in the main bedroom were designed by Tom Dixon. The artwork above the bed is by Gloria Petyarre, bought from Kate Owen Gallery in Rozelle.
In 2013, after the arrival of their third child Luca, Angela and Jason decided to add an ensuite to their bedroom. Borrowing space from the third bedroom, the compact ensuite uses neutral fittings and white subway tiles to create the illusion of a bigger room.
The bookcase in the bedroom is from Top3 by Design. The dresser is from Ikea and the hanging shelf from Kmart.
Jason and Angela’s two youngest kids, Lola and Luca share a bedroom that vibrantly reflects their personalities and a fun-filled childhood.
Keeping the palette neutral has allowed the kids’ brightly coloured bedspreads, toys and ornaments to really stand out.
Angela and Jason have also furnished Katia’s bedroom with simple, colourful pieces that create a calm retreat for her to play in. “I’m drawn to clean, Scandinavian furniture, so the bright colours can do the talking,” Angela says.
The zebra head was handmade in Africa. The artwork above the bed is by Meredeth Gaston.
Colour certainly does do the talking in this house. When they started the renovation process, Angela and Jason were quite sure of the style and design they wanted. For this reason they decided to use a draftsman to draw up the plans over an architect, allowing them full creative freedom.
This tall orange door at the end of the hallway slides opens to reveal the main bathroom.
A bold contrast to the orange door, the bathroom is tiled floor to ceiling in small aqua mosaic tiles, and features a large walk-in shower.
The living room extension downstairs is at the rear of the house. It is an ultra-modern space with clean lines, that is flooded with natural light – quite a contrast to the period facade at the front.
To allow more natural light into the hallway and west-facing living room, the ceiling was raised, with high windows and skylights above the kitchen and dining room. Designing the space with a draftsman meant the Westermans could incorporate his experience and ideas with their own.
Because the house was elevated at the rear, they were able to have internal stairs down to ground level, which meant they could have really high ceilings (four metres at the highest point).
Because the house was elevated at the rear, they were able to have internal stairs down to ground level, which meant they could have really high ceilings (four metres at the highest point).
Spanning the width of the block, the only eye-level windows in the living room face onto the back garden. To make the most of this, bi-fold doors that open all the way across extend the living space right into the yard, creating extra space for the kids to play without being too far away.
The couple always find they have a house full of extras so they needed the living area to be a space where they could entertain without feeling claustrophobic. It was important for them to be able to see the kids outside too, so the living area had to flow directly into the backyard – with no steps for small children to stumble on.
The couple always find they have a house full of extras so they needed the living area to be a space where they could entertain without feeling claustrophobic. It was important for them to be able to see the kids outside too, so the living area had to flow directly into the backyard – with no steps for small children to stumble on.
The kitchen was designed and made by A-Plan kitchens in Camperdown. The Westermans gathered ideas from friends’ houses and incorporated their favourite bits. They had a hankering for an enormous sink and put their whole existing kitchen on eBay for the cost of their new sink. The appliances are from ILVE, who were Jason’s client at the time, so they were able to go top of the line with the oven and range hood, which helped to make a good kitchen great.
In the dining and living areas, Angela and Jason have continued to use bold primary colours, which reflect the playful family energy in the house. Drawing the eye to the soaring ceilings, a giant green pear sculpture is perched atop the ledge separating the stairwell from the kitchen. The red stools and orange armchair add contrast, and the multi-coloured light shade pulls it all together in the centre of the room.
Nori table by Kristalia: Fanuli Furniture; dining chairs: Clickon Furniture
Nori table by Kristalia: Fanuli Furniture; dining chairs: Clickon Furniture
Renowned Australian artist Miranda Skoczek is a good friend of Angela’s. Some of her artworks are on display throughout the house, including these two in the living room.
Continuing the colourful theme, Angela and Jason chose these floating shelves from Milano Furniture for their living room storage. The armchairs are original Douglas Snelling chairs from Revival Furniture in Milton on the NSW South Coast. “They are my favourite pieces in the whole house,” says Angela.
TELL US
What do you like about this bright terrace? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What do you like about this bright terrace? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here: Jason and Angela Westerman and their three children, Katia, Lola and Luca
Location: Marrickville, NSW
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Angela Westerman, a naturopath, and her husband Jason, a creative director, bought this terrace in 2003. Back then it was a small two-bedroom cottage that lacked natural light or a decent living area for their growing family. In 2008, with their second child on the way, they replaced the existing living room with a third bedroom and extended into the back garden to create an open, airy living space and kitchen.