SET IN STONE

WITH ITS ALLURING MIX OF MATERIALS AND ERAS, THIS HOME OFFERS A MASTERCLASS IN ENDURING STYLE AND ELEGANCE

- JACKIE BRYGEL

Downsizing from a large family house can be an opportunity to start afresh, particularly if the new abode presents as a blank canvas. This late-1800s sandstone cottage in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs was calling for a new aesthetic when it came on the market in 2021. While brimming with history, it appeared somewhat clinical after a contemporary face lift had stripped the home of much of its personality.

But to one of the new owners, who has a background in furniture and homewares retail, a beguiling makeover beckoned, just as it did for the interior designer she engaged, Cameron Kimber. For both parties, it was a case of looking to the past while embracing the present. With their shared love of antiques, the pair knew exactly where to begin when it came to the home’s dramatic reimagining. “We both love the more traditional and classic styling,” says the homeowner.

The original structure was largely unchanged and features a study, sitting room, casual living, dining and a galley-style kitchen on ground level, with bedrooms above. However, the major cosmetic makeover that unfolded over nine months unlocked the home’s true potential. “We installed beautiful oak parquet flooring that instantly gave the house a lovely warmth, added new steel-framed glass doors out to the rear courtyard, and completely redid the kitchen, as well as introducing new cabinetry, carpet and wallpaper throughout the house,” says the owner.

Then it was time to dress the spaces with statement pieces, many of which, of course, were antiques, as well as a curated collection of artworks and richly layered soft furnishings. “We asked Cameron to come back to us with his ideas – and we loved all of them,” says the homeowner. “I trusted him implicitly as I’d seen a lot of his work and just adored it. Cameron brought in a beautiful palette of colours and styles for the house in a very classic, almost English country style.”