BOLD move

With a little gentle coaxing, the owner of this Sydney home moved from purely neutral territory into a wide world of colour.

-  Chris Pearson

THIS IS THE LIFE 

"We spend lots of time in the kitchen, with its deck and pull-out window," says Tan. But the living room gets plenty of use, too. "We usually spend time as a pack," she says. "But sometimes you want to sit down for a one-on-one. Here we can have deep and meaningful conversations." The two ottomans allow more to join in and a pull-down projector is perfect for family movie nights.

For Tan, the owner of this four-bedroom, tri-level terrace in Sydney's inner south, this renovation has been a journey of discovery. With interior designer Jacque Yates of Three Little Pigs as her trusty satnav and much more besides, she has ventured into unknown territory, by exploring the spectrum in its tantalising variety.

Asking for "calming neutrals" in their brief to Jacque in 2021, Tan and husband John specified a well-trodden path, seemingly a wise choice with two teenage boys, Kai, now 15, and Ren, 13, and while in the grip of the pandemic. But Pinterest and Instagram images Tan presented to Jacque hinted at something beyond beige - that she loved colour but did not realise it. So alluring autumnal hues, such as russets, mustards and sage greens - "a warm palette with underlying browns", says Jacque - now grace the home's open plan and main bedroom. "We realised we wanted joyful colours, muted but also lush and verdant, with pops of yellow like rays of sunshine," adds Tan.

When the couple bought the house in 2004, they asked architect David Ostinga of Ostinga Architecture to remodel the back and remove its jumble of lean-tos. He designed them a smart new kitchen with a built-in window seat overlooking a courtyard and recycled hardwood joinery. Then, when the couple moved overseas, the house was rented out.