The lucky family living in this Federation double-brick bungalow in Sydney’s Inner West enjoys a wonderful journey in time whenever they walk into their stained-glass hallway. Immersive colours in the front highlight the home’s charming period features, while the light-soaked back is uncompromisingly modern, with nods to the past.
Walls painted Dulux Natural White Half. Simon Gavina ‘Kazuki’ chair by Kazuhide Takahama, Vintage wall llights, Etsy. ‘Hurricane’ pendant, Dunlin. Rug, The Rug Establishment. E (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
Trims painted Dulux Natural White. Render painted Dulux Antique White U.S.A. Door painted Dulux Chinchilla Chenille. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
When the owners, interior designer Caitlin Parker-Brown of Parker Studio and husband Tim, and their two children, Archer, seven, and August, four, first stepped inside in 2021, there was plenty to love about the enchanting four-bedroom home, starting with its picket fence.
“The original character drew us in,” says Caitlin. “The proportions of the front rooms, the ceiling heights and the period detailing gave it a special presence.”
Joinery in Russet veneer, Processed Forest Products. Esmeralda quartzite benchtop, CDK Stone. Brodware ‘Winslow’ mixer, Candana. Pendant, Etsy. ‘Paf Paf’ chairs, District. Table, MCM House. Bowls, Katarina Wells Ceramics. Floor tiles in Corso ‘Renaissance’ limestone, Surface Gallery. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
Joinery in Russet veneer, Processed Forest Products. Esmeralda quartzite benchtop, CDK Stone. Brodware ‘Winslow’ mixer, Candana. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
The home’s ornate cornices, ceiling roses, stained-glass windows and architraves were largely intact. But there the bouquets ended. The floorplan was fragmented, with a visual disconnect between the heritage front and a basic 1950s addition at the back. So the couple called in architects Potter&Wilson.
“We wanted a highly functional family home that would work effortlessly day to day, with clear views to our kids playing outdoors, a strong indoor-outdoor connection, generous storage and considered joinery,” she says. “And distinct zones, with a quiet sense of retreat at the front and expansive shared living at the rear.”
Central to the brief was to honour the original front while allowing the rear to feel “crisp and contemporary, with a refined, but relaxed, ambience”.
Pendant, Etsy. ‘Paf Paf’ chairs, District. Table, MCM House. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
And the overall ambience? “It had to feel warm, with layered colour, natural materials and spaces that felt grounded.”
Walls painted Porter’s Paints Tiramisu. Trims painted Dulux Magnitude. De Sede ‘Terrazza’ sofa, Domo. ‘Sammi’ floor lamp, About Space. Atmospheric 13 artwork, Sibu Gallery. ‘Owan’ pendant, MCM House. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
Imogene Potter and Simon Wilson of Potter&Wilson demolished the back and replaced it with a spectacular pitched volume that introduces scale and lashings of light. The back of the house opens to the garden through svelte-framed steel glazing to create visual continuity between indoors and out.
And the brick exterior with tiled roof echoes the front. “The pitched ceiling at the rear is transformative – it elevates what could have been a standard extension into something spatially generous,” says Caitlin.
“In the original front, we leaned into more sculptural furniture with richly coloured upholstery.”
CAITLIN PARKER-BROWN, INTERIOR DESIGNER & OWNER
Artwork by Lauren Jones, Studio Gallery. Bedcover, In Bed. ND ‘Trisse’ side table, Great Dane. Unitex rug, Rug Culture. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
‘Roma’ travertine wall and floor tiles, ‘Ice Pink’ border and floor tiles, and Calacatta Viola marble benchtop, all Surface Gallery. Joinery painted Dulux Hog Bristle Half. DADOquartz ‘Liberty’ bath, and Brodware ‘Neu England’ tap and shower sets, all Candana. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
At the front, she restored the cornices, ceiling roses and architraves, and, where they could not be saved, she had them replicated. Meanwhile, she pulled up carpets to reveal original hardwood floors, which she then limewashed.
Chandelier, Sputniklights. Artwork near bed by Kai Hagberg, Bison Art. Lamp, Euroluce. Bedhead, McMullin. Bedcover, Cultiver. Bedside tables, Rachel Donath. Rug, The Rug Establishment. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
“I embraced depth, and used colour drenching to give those heritage rooms intimacy and drama.”
CAITLIN PARKER-BROWN, INTERIOR DESIGNER & OWNER
Walls painted Porter’s Paints Back Country. Artwork above fireplace by Samuel Condon, Studio Gallery. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
The contrast between front and back is clear and deliberate. Rich, moody wall colours, including dusty rose, gold, ochre and eucalyptus, define the original section. She then transitioned to warm neutrals at the rear.
“As you walk through hallway door, you can feel the shift. The rear becomes lighter but, still warm, preventing it from feeling like a stark white box.”
‘Wiggle’ chair, Living Edge. Wall sculpture by Kenya Peterson. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
THIS IS THE LIFE
“The rear living space is the heart of the house, where we spend most of our time, cooking, doing homework and sitting together in the evenings,” says Caitlin. “With the connection to the garden, we easily move between indoors and out, which was important to us.” The original front, meanwhile, quieter and more intimate, is where the family retreats to for reading or working.
Wall and floor tiles, and Calacatta Viola marble, all Surface Gallery. Brodware tapware. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
Like the palette, the furnishings reflect the house’s duality. “In the original front, we leaned into more sculptural furniture with richly coloured upholstery, as it pairs well with the ornate detailing. In the back, the key piece of furniture is a generous, well-upholstered sofa,” says Caitlin.
Walls painted Dulux Rustic Wagon. Basin in Calacatta Viola marble, Surface Gallery. Vintage mirror. Wall light, Sputniklights. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
Her favourite features? “The pitched ceiling has completely changed the feel of the home. But its connection to the outdoors is probably what we appreciate most day to day, having the doors wide open and being able to see the garden and pool from the kitchen. You can feel those links, not only between inside and out, but also between old and new.”
Walls painted Porter’s Paints Old Moss. &Tradition ‘Montera’ table lamp and ‘PK9’ chair, both Cult. Vintage desk. Rug, The Rug Establishment. Kartell ‘Componibili’ storage cabinet, Space. ‘Owan’ pendant, MCM House. Artwork by Stanislas Piechaczek, Studio Gallery. (Photography: Pablo Veiga | Styling: Corina Koch)
The Design Team:
Parker Studio: parkerstudiointerior.com.
Potter&Wilson: potterandwilson.com.
Build By Design: buildbydesign.com.au.
Writer
Chris Pearson