kitchen area with pink marble island and wooden cabinets
Swivel stools by Grazia & Co pull up to the kitchen island, also Tiberio marble.

November 7, 2024

Words: Athena Waligore

Photography: Anson Smart

How This Earthy Sydney Home Embraces Multiple Eras

No matter how contemporary, every residence is informed by history. This was doubly the case for Australian firm Studio Prineas’ transformation of a home in Sydney. The clients purchased a house on a tree-lined street and brought in Studio Prineas to craft a warm residence that would encourage connection for their family. The firm, founded in 2004 by architect and principal Eva-Marie Prineas, has a reputation for understanding unique ways to integrate the old and the new. Studio Prineas’ work—both architecture and interior design—accommodated two generations and nodded to the existing architecture and landscape. “The process was a reinvention to suit our clients’ needs, and preserve and respect the heritage of the property,” Prineas explains.

The architect replaced older additions from previous renovations with a cohesive volume adjacent to the rear garden. In that living area, angular skylights and large windows bring in abundant natural light and frame views of the landscape. “Our clients fell in love with the mature gardens, therefore visual and physical connection to nature was a key part of their brief,” she notes. The space is anchored by a large Francesco Binfaré sofa in a hue that echoes the greenery outside.

Existing architectural elements also inspired the residence’s palette. “Throughout both the cottage and the new addition, spaces are bound by color-blocked applications of earthy, botanical tones derived from the home’s well-preserved heritage fireplaces,” she explains. Other materials in the home complement those tones—including brass, leather, and linen.  American white oak and rosy Tiberio marble add additional warmth. Vintage furniture is joined by contemporary pieces and colorful artwork. Lighting is a mix of mid-century classics, some by Le Corbusier, and contemporary fixtures, including a brass-and-glass chandelier by Snelling over the dining table. This embrace of eras helps create one united space for family members at various stages of life.

Take A Stroll Through This Family Home In Sydney

kitchen area with pink marble island and wooden cabinets
Swivel stools by Grazia & Co pull up to the kitchen island, made of Tiberio marble.
dining area with vintage oak table, bright artwork and orange gradient chairs
In the dining area, the vintage table is oak, and artwork is by Laura Jones (left) and Andrew Hopkins (right).
master bathroom with tan walls and tiles
Tiberio marble defines the master bathroom, and floor tiles are a similar hue.
study area with white oak shelves and green rocking chair
Shelving in the study is American white oak.
living room with earthy fireplace and brown accessories stacked on top
Existing fireplaces helped inspire the project’s earthy palette.
white lamp mounted on top of a desk setup with brown chairs and lots of light
A Lampe de Marseille Mini is mounted above a desk, which is also American white oak.
living room with dark green couch, stacking side consoles and high ceilings with skylights and Jacaranda tree
Angular skylights frame views of a mature Jacaranda tree.

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