Euro CHIC

A French-influenced and family-friendly style update has given this Sydney home great looks and even better liveability.

- Chris Pearson 

This elegant five-bedroom home in Sydney’s east proves good design and a young family can mingle beautifully. Its owners may have a toddler and a newborn, but that doesn’t mean style was shown the door.

The home’s interior designer, Jemma Brender, had recently welcomed her own new arrival when a friend asked her to revamp their home. But what started out as a modest tweak “grew and grew”, says Jemma, who masterminded the renovation in conjunction with architectural firm Palace Studio.

When the owners bought the house in 2016, they were smitten by its harbour views and classic architecture. “We loved the charm of the facade and the overall style, with its Spanish overtones,” she says. “We also loved the grand staircase in the entry. We wanted it to be the centrepiece for the house.” A woodfired pizza oven on the terrace sealed the deal for the sociable owners.

THIS IS THE LIFE

Now the floor plan has been flipped, the hub of the home is firmly the north-facing kitchen/living area. There’s plenty of room for the children to play and for frequent guests to mingle. “My favourite features are the pool area and the kitchen, and still that pizza oven that I first fell in love with, especially now with its refreshed look,” says the owner. “I love the natural light that floods the house too.”