Checkmate House by Folk Studio
Elegant feminine chic meets delicately playful in Checkmate House by Folk Studio in Sydney’s inner-west.
WORDS: Hande Renshaw I PHOTOGRAPHY: Nat Spada I INTERIOR DESIGN: Folk Studio I BUILD: Modbuilt
‘The layered rugs, Jardan Lemmy Modular Sofa and custom dining nook are all unique features and I think they set the tone for the whole design,’ says Mariah Burton.
Built-in furniture becomes a feature and also a great design tool to save on space.
The marble pastel hued checkered splashback tiles were also applied around the fireplace in the same open space.
The fridge is cleverly concealed behind classic joinery in the open kitchen.
“Working with 12-foot ceilings, aged brass, viola marble, playful textiles and ornate details, we were able to inject energy and breathe life into this once-inert home by completely transforming each interior space.”
A Jardan Lemmy Modular Sofa has pride of place in the living space.
A boucle bed frame is a textural contrast against the linen bedding.
Custom built-in wardrobes frame the original heritage arched windows.
Tones of burgundy and pink in the second bedroom.
With accents of marble, brass and velvet, this aesthetic inner-west home in Sydney, designed by Folk Studio, remains sympathetic to the Victorian semi-detached home’s classic roots, while bringing a timeless, yet playful touch to the chic interiors.
Home to a young professional, the design elements within Checkmate House reflect her charismatic and bubbly personality and lifestyle. ‘We wanted this reflected in the design,’ shares Folk Studio co-founder and director, Mariah Burton.
Having worked with the client’s sister for their Young St Loft project, the design was an exercise in transferring similar aesthetics, which the client loved in her sister’s home, yet needed a very different design to suit her individuality.
Folk Studio’s main source of inspiration came from working closely with their client’s vibrant personality, while also leaning in to the building’s European heritage foundations, ‘We wanted to include a lot of custom elements and push the envelope with the finishes and colours,’ explains Mariah.
She continues, ‘Our client wanted an interior that was still in keeping with the traditional features of the home but with an injection of colour, contemporary features and a space that accommodated her friends and family.’
The space is blessed to have exceptional soaring 12-foot ceilings, the perfect canvas to work with when designing within a relatively tight spatial configuration. The design features luxurious details such as Viola marble, brass and velvet throughout, ‘As we wanted the elegance and historical features of the home to be enhanced, using luxury materials and ornate joinery details to achieve this. The soft palette was chosen to accompany all of this elegant detailing,’ says Mariah.
A knock-out addition to the otherwise soft-hued interior palette is the wine-coloured feature wall in the hallway, ‘I actually had a dream one night about painting the hallway this deep wine colour and I woke up and immediately spoke to our client about it and she loved the idea, so this was a last-minute addition to the design,’ she shares. The serendipitous decision now one of Mariah’s personal favourite design elements in the space.
There is a lot to love within the spaces, ‘The layered rugs, Jardan Lemmy Modular Sofa and custom dining nook are all unique features and I think they set the tone for the whole design,’ Mariah says.
The rich chocolate timber flooring is a wonderful contrast against the soft palette throughout.
The pastel hued bathroom space complete with pink concrete bathtub custom designed by Folk Studio.
‘I actually had a dream one night about painting the hallway this deep wine colour and I woke up and immediately spoke to our client about it and she loved the idea.’
An in-built custom desk is the perfect little nook for working from home.