In the kitchen, custom elements, including a sculptural island bench crafted from Calacatta Viola marble and venetian plaster, playful bar stools and squiggly cabinet handles create a rich yet inviting space. A collection of vases, sculptures and artwork contribute an eclectic and lived-in quality.
Tamsin preserved the home’s pitched roof with its ribbed beams, which evoke an authentic coastal feel. Tapware by Perrin & Rowe from The English Tapware Company.
On the Sydney Harbour, interior designer Tamsin Johnson has revitalised a well-worn modernist house, infusing it with both comfort and freshness.
The clients originally engaged Tamsin to carry out a light renovation on their large-footprint Chiswick home, under the impression they wouldn’t be there for long. However, upon witnessing the home’s “terrific bones” and prime orientation capturing the harbour views, the designer convinced them of its ‘forever home’ potential, leading to the subsequent full-scale makeover. “The brief involved a great deal of trust from the clients,” Tamsin reflects. “They were actively involved throughout the entire process and remained very open-minded. The result is a true reflection of their vibrant personalities,” she adds.
The custom feel of the kitchen continues into the living room, which is anchored by a plinth in glazed chocolate-coloured Moroccan tiles and fireplace surround in Venetian plaster. The furniture selections blend together different textures and eras, including a marble side table by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1930s French mosaic side table, a 1970s Giulietto Cacciari-style tub chair with custom upholstery, 1970s glass chandelier by Robert Sonneman, and Moroccan Oushak rug from Loom Rugs. Photograph by Bill Henson.
“The incorporation of dark timbers in the furnishings instantly enriches the spaces, imparting a sense of gravitas,” Tamsin says. In this particular space, a 1930s Italian walnut sideboard is accompanied by a 1950s Murano tangerine frosted-glass table lamp, 1920s Italian hand-painted vase, and Venini Tronchi Murano glass waterfall chandelier. Photograph by Bill Henson.
The Venetian plaster staircase features a custom bronze handrail, coinciding with the playful forms of the 19th-century French stool on the landing. Also pictured on the wall is a 1960s Murano glass wall sconce by Carlo Nason for Mazzega.
Situated on a sloping site overlooking the water, the 1970s house possessed a sense of modernist charm but required substantial interior work, according to Tamsin. “I softened the modernist austerity by introducing curves and removing some internal walls, but preserved the pitched roof with its ribbed beams, which felt very coastal to me,” she says.
To harmonise the interiors with their natural surroundings and give them more of a warm feel, Tamsin blended timber, marble and plasterwork to create the foundation of the interior palette. “The incorporation of dark timbers in the furnishings instantly enriches the spaces, imparting a sense of gravitas. The marble introduces a striking and dynamic element, while maintaining a sense of organic softness. The plasterwork plays a crucial role in warming the spaces, with its curved forms evoking a grotto-like earthly sensation,” she says.
The study features custom shelving in Venetian plaster, 1960s French swivel chairs with custom upholstery, a marble dining table by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1930s French seeded amber glass vase, and antique Moroccan Oushak rug from Loom Rugs.
The spaces showcase Tamsin’s discerning eye for both antique furniture and contemporary art, with the interplay between the two elements creating an atmosphere that she describes as “distinctly cosmopolitan Australian”. Her selections, she notes, embrace contrasts, oscillating between severe sculptural pieces and invitingly soft furnishings, imbuing the interiors with playfulness tempered by maturity.
Ultimately, Tamsin aimed to strike a balance between comfort and freshness within the home. “The design seeks to offer a natural sense of comfort, along with a sense of freshness, which is a complex term that encapsulates many things for me; it is a marriage of light-hearted sensations – playfulness, humour and light – and deeper sensations – warmth, beauty and character.”
The primary bathroom is characterised by a silver travertine vanity, Venetian plaster walls and crazy-paved stone floors. Tapware by Perrin & Rowe from The English Tapware Company. Vase by Nancy Daum.
The home’s prime orientation capturing harbour views was utilised in the new design. Pictured in the primary bedroom is an antique Gio Ponti side chair.
Tumbled Rosso Verona marble tiles create a sumptuous bathing space.
Pieces from the Edra outdoor collection from Space Furniture feature on the front porch.
