Norfolk House by SE DÉA
Located in Paddington in Sydney, Norfolk House, designed by SE DÉA, shows how a typical 1900s terrace can be transformed in a light-filled, breezy and wonderfully calming space.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Sean Fennessy
The kitchen was moved from the rear of the home to the middle, with living spaces on either side. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
Soft creamy walls are the perfect backdrop throughout. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
A built-in custom banquette maximises floor space in the dining area. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
The interiors are a perfect balance of subtly feminine and textural with organic tones. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
When we think of a typical early 1900s terrace in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, a light-filled and calming interior is not the first picture that comes into our minds. Typically, terraces can be boxed in, dark and disconnected from the outdoors.
In the case of Norfolk House in Paddington, all our previous misconceptions are completely discarded. In their place is a terrace situated on a corner block with easterly, northerly and westerly aspects, which is light-filled and incredibly calming.
Interior designers SE DÉA optimised the interior of the terrace by reworking the floorpan and injected a soft, subdued palette throughout the spaces. The interior is a reflection of the owners’ style: subtly feminine, full of gentle textures, warmth, hints of blush and curving forms.
For the redesign of the floorpan, the existing ground floor was restructured and extended, allowing the kitchen to move from the poky rear of the home to the middle, with living spaces flanked on either side.
The goal for the designers was to give their client, a florist, multiple options for sitting and dining, along with a space that was surrounded by natural light and a garden.
Built-in furniture was also applied to maximise available space, including a custom banquette in the dining area, the living room sofa, and outdoor seating.
The material palette leans heavily into soft tones with hints of blush in the spaces. Although the home embodies feminine tones, there’s a complementary balance of strong feature materials such as nude coloured terrazzo and a timber panelled ceiling in the kitchen. There’s also a blush leather dining banquette upholstery, and creamy travertine in the bathroom – this gentle play of the feminine against the masculine, is balanced perfectly throughout the interior.
Herringbone timber flooring complements the original architecture. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
The period fireplaces throughout the home have been restored. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
“SE DÉA optimised the interior by reworking the floorpan and injected a soft, subdued palette throughout the spaces.”
The front living room. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
Design details are consistently calming throughout the spaces. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
The built in sofa in the rear living room. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
One of three bedrooms on the upper level. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
The bathroom features Tiles of Ezra wall tiles. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
A curved built-in courtyard seat. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker
A balcony was added to the rear of the home. Photo: Sean Fennessy. Art direction: Marsha Golemac. Styling: Rikke Harker