Kelly House

Channeling Grace Kelly’s sophistication and class, this grand Double Bay freestanding house – originally two separate residences – draws on a minimal palette that allows the heritage detailing to shine.

This is juxtaposed with a considered selection of furniture and the client’s collection of contemporary art.

Double Bay is an affluent harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. It’s located four kilometres from the Central Business District.

The house had been renovated several times for different owners. That meant that Anna Carin Design was confronted with a patchwork of styles and materials.

The metaphor of ‘Grace Kelly’ was introduced by the principal designer from Anna Carin Design Studio as a way to set the tone for the project as well as the quality of work they wanted to achieve.

Tradesmen were briefed on this concept and an image of Grace was taped to the wall throughout the entire renovation as a constant reminder.

Sophistication. Class. Effortless elegance.

During the demolition stage, carpet was removed in the dining room, uncovering the original tiled fireplace hearth.

Ironically, the tile had the motif of The Lily of The Valley which was Grace Kelly’s wedding bouquet.

New Vola timber flooring by Tongue N Groove was installed throughout.

All five bathrooms and the kitchen were renovated to create a coherent interior.

The design was very much about removing and refining, rather than adding, to reveal the true nature of the house.

Careful curation of the clients’ existing furniture and new selections complemented their collection of art and contemporary style.

The design celebrates the heritage features and proportions of the existing architecture while bringing it into current day with the curation of furniture and bespoke joinery.

This project proves how small changes to the spatial layout can make a big difference.

As you would expect for a high-end residential renovation, quality fixtures and materials were used throughout to create a home that transcends time.

Project Details

Project size – 360 m2
Site area – 642 m2
Project Budget – $1,500,000
Completion date – 2018
Building levels – 2

Project Team

Interior Design

ANNA.CARIN DESIGN Studio

ANNA CARIN design [ACD] is a multi-faceted interior design studio based in Sydney specialising in Scandinavian influenced high-end residential interiors.

Originally founded in 1996 as INNE – a forerunner in introducing Scandinavian furniture to the Australian market – ACD has since developed into a fully-fledged design business, supported by a highly-passionate and creative team, offering customised service and expertise to a discerning client list.

Swedish born Founder and Principal Designer Anna-Carin McNamara has a Master of Arts degree from the Royal College of Art in London and has worked as in-house designer for prominent interior house Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm and as Senior Designer with Rupert Gardner Design, also in Stockholm.

She draws on local and international influences, in particular from her Swedish roots, for all of her design work and creative undertakings.

www.annacarindesign.com.au

Photography

Justin Alexander

Justin Alexander is an interiors and architectural photographer who works with prominent architects, interior designers, and design publications.

www.justinalexander.com.au