Woollahra Residence by Parker Studio
Designed by Parker Studio, Woollahra Residence makes the most of the surrounding treetops, allowing the outside to flood in.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Jacqui Turk
The kitchen island and benchtops feature micro cement, giving the effect of solid concrete. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Bamboo permeates through windows into the kitchen space. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Tinted white American oak veneer was used for the kitchen joinery and cupboards. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
The light-filled open kitchen and living space. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
A series of unsympathetic renovations can often leave a home in a confused and unaligned state. Woollahra residence, home to a family, was one such space.
Caitlin Parker-Brown, director of interior design firm Parker Studio, was brought on to the project to fix the issue, with a priority to create a new ground floor layout within the home’s new footprint, including a new rear extension designed by Chris Kokkinis of Ergo Architecture.
The extension has completely opened up the back of the house, placing the design focus on the exterior, taking advantage of the incredible sweeping views over the park – the spaces are now focused on nature and the surrounding treescape, complemented with a soft muted colour palette.
The new sun-filled calm space balances the original front of the house, which has retained its character with a redesign of the mudroom and powder room.
In the open plan kitchen, the kitchen island is finished in micro cement, sweeping around in an arc at one end, against the kitchen joinery which is a white-washed timber veneer. The effect gives a hand-fished and organic look, complementary to the landscape beyond. Muted colours such as bushy pinks and blues were also used to balance out the natural backdrop.
For the original part of the house, Caitlin focused on retaining the heritage character. The charming powder room and mudroom leans heavily into the original home’s roots, adorned in rich colour and pattern. Both spaces feature graphic tumbled checkerboard marble floor tiles, embodying an old world charm, which is a welcome contrast to the new modern extension.
The joinery design in the main living room hides the family TV behind sliding doors. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Moroccan Zellige handmade tiles are a feature in the new bathroom. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
A richly detailed forest wallpaper design from Cole & Son was chosen to mimic the surrounding treescape at the back of the house. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Untitled Collage V by Diana Miller. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Untitled Collage II by Diana Miller. Styling: Alexandra Austin. Photo: Jacqui Turk