EXPERT TOUCH

The full-scale revival of an interior designer's own 1980s terrace deploys subtle colour, texture and creativity to glorious effect.

- JackieBrygel

As a renowned interior designer, Talia Levine certainly knows a thing or two about the renovation process. But could too much knowledge be a hindrance when it came to the top-to-toe renewal of her own family home? Quite the contrary, Talia is happy to report. Indeed, with longtime friend and design partner Louise Smith by her side, Talia was simply in her element. As was Louise.

To the pair, who run Sydney-based interior design studio Smith+Levine, breathing beautiful new life into the mid-1980s terrace Talia shares with her husband Dan and their two young sons Gabe and Toby was an opportunity to relish.

 "This project was unique, but from the outset we treated it as any other Smith+Levine project," says Louise. "Talia and I met with the architect together, and I was the contact person if Dan had any queries regarding design decisions. As we would with any client, we met with Dan at each stage of the process."

When it came to their vision, Talia, Dan and Louise were in full agreement. To bring the dated three-storey terrace with its "hard, noisy and very beige" finishes into a bright and functional new era while maintaining the integrity of its past.

"The home was dark, cold and dated when I first saw it, but there was definitely potential," recalls Louise. "The vision for the architecture and interiors was to embrace the existing features of the terrace with its round columns and low concrete ceilings. We wanted it to have interest, but to remain relevant for years to come."