Unsaid and done

Tacit understanding between architect and owners produced a home that is eminently liveable and makes a style statement without saying a word.

- Sarah Pickette

LIVING Charlie the Australian shepherd’s warm brown coat is in perfect harmony with the rose and earth tones throughout this art-filled home. Artwork on wall at right by Aida Tomescu. Rugs by Robyn Cosgrove; the Seal armchairs are vintage finds. &Tradition ‘Mayor’ sofas, Cult Design. Le Klint ‘Arc’ floor lamp, Great Dane. Gubi coffee table, Own-world. The large artwork above the sofa is by Belinda Fox and the smaller works to its left are by Joshua Yeldham (top) and Dean Home (bottom). All cushions in Missoni fabrics.

Friends who’ve known each other a long time often possess the ability to communicate wordlessly. And it seems that design professionals can do the same with their repeat clients. There was no brief when architect Brooke Aitken set about updating the interior of this Sydney home – but she didn’t need one.

“In Brooke we trust,” says the homeowner. “This is the fourth house we’ve worked on together. She has impeccable taste and we adore her.” Having known the family of four for more than a decade, Brooke understood exactly how they wanted their new harbourside home to look: colourful, welcoming and a natural showcase for the art and designer furniture they’d collected over the years.

“The bones of the house were perfect, which meant all our energy could go into its interior decoration,” says the owner. Brooke had inspected this house with the family before they bought in 2019 and she’d encouraged them to snap it up. With no structural work required, Brooke’s architectural skills were set to one side temporarily and she focused on decorating.