At KWD we work on such a wide variety of properties, and each of these properties has its own unique identity. So when we sit down with our clients we listen closely to their brief, look at their collection of ideas and images that they have put together to show the design style they want to achieve, and talk through the lifestyle of all the family members who will be living at the property.

We also take a very close look at the space planning, at the way the home is positioned on the property, and the structural elements of the existing home so that we ensure we create the ideal design.

When the KWD team was engaged to work on this stunning property in Manning Road in Kew, the style of the home was very conservative – and part of it was already under construction.

With an Edwardian/Federation style exterior, the clients wanted both classic and contemporary features in the interior. Working to a very tight brief with a short timeline, our goal was to create a wonderful family home which allowed for a young family to grow and enjoy.

Key elements to focus on were creating comfortable yet formal living and large entertainment areas, designing a more casual meals area and planning individual private zones.

It was important to maintain a conservative balance throughout and to bring a sense of functionality to each of the areas.

The property had to reflect the owners’ contemporary yet classic style, highlighted with unique and very special features throughout. The furniture for each room was carefully selected to enhance the owners’ existing collection and then styled to meet the classic yet contemporary look.

We were given images of the clients’ furniture in storage, photos of furniture from the clients’ last house and descriptions of furniture for which there were no images, and all of this information was used to create the final result.

The clients were truly wonderful to work with and probably the greatest difficulties were trying to ensure that supply deadlines were met within the tight timeframe. With some of the bespoke finishes, considerable time is required and getting timely decisions on finishes was very important. On a house of this era, there are always going to be construction issues and it was a pleasure to work with both the architects and builders to resolve any issues.

To fulfill the brief KWD was involved in most aspects of the interior design and provided specifications for joinery, paint colours, wallpapers, floorboards, carpets, stonework, tiles, door hardware, tapware, sanitary ware, window furnishings and furniture.

Timber flooring was selected to match the existing floor boards and then stained to bring a sense of warmth and comfort.

Bespoke luxurious carpets were designed for the bedrooms and a beautiful selection of rugs were sourced for the living and entertainment areas.

Stair runners that pay homage to the age of the house whilst being more contemporary in character enhance the stunning mahogany staircases and give them new life.

The bathrooms were given a more contemporary feel with stunning stone, tiles and luxury tapware, and the kitchen was totally modernised with Super White Dolomite marble.

Stunning wallpapers were commissioned as artwork in the master bedroom and formal dining and grasscloth wallpaper featured in the study, entrance and the powder room.

 

Shutters were used where needed for a more contemporary feel and their functionality.

 

The most rewarding part of this special project was seeing the smile on the faces of the clients in their new home, and we were honored to have the opportunity to revitalise a property of such standing whilst preserving its integrity.

It was a privilege to have the blessing of our clients to incorporate a wonderful use of colour, texture and design – natural stone, timber, wallpapers, carpets, rugs, runners, furniture and soft furnishings – and to be able to play with this diversity to enrich the tapestry of this beautiful, warm and inviting family home.

“I want to thank you for the incredible job you have done making this amazing property we purchased into a very much loved and cherished family home. The house for me is perfect in every way. It’s warm and elegant without being overbearing or stuffy, it feels and looks like the beautiful family home I always imagined. When friends and family come in for the first time not only do they comment on how beautiful the home is but also how it is very much a reflection of me and our family and that was exactly what I was hoping for. I cannot tell you how very much I love our home, it’s the first time in many, many years we have felt truly settled. We feel blessed every day to be living here and you were both an integral part in making our dream home a reality. Both of you were always lovely and very easy to work with and accommodating of our thoughts and ideas, I particularly loved the fact you were open to using our furniture and perfectly incorporated what we had into the new decor of the home. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of renovating our home and appreciate all the time and care that went into our project.”
Nicole and Ross Begley

http://www.katewalkerdesign.com.au

Photography: Armelle Habib

Styling: Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors