Hearth House
Hearth House nurtures re-connections both structurally and physically within our revitalisation of a Federation-style residence in Sydney’s lower north shore. Enabling fluid passage between existing formal rooms flanking the newly revived central entrance hallway and a rear extension designed in the early 2000’s, a sunken lounge with a fireplace stokes the new heart of the family home for six in what was once a garage separating the two. Within, myriad granite, marble, travertine and terrazzo selections define expressive curves and angular planes, unifying this softly luminous sanctuary.
- SCOPE
Interior Design & Furnishing
- ARCHITECTURE
Luigi Rosselli Architects
- PHOTOGRAPHY
Prue Ruscoe
Structural alterations were introduced by architect, Luigi Rosselli, whom we worked with to determine floor and wall surface treatments that exploited the magic of natural lighting. Integral to the redesign was the removal of the hallway’s boxed in, narrow staircase. Stimulating the senses, we entwined the handrail of the new floating structure in olive-shaded leather and clad the treads with a custom runner. Its velvety topaz border framing a lighter robust loop centre shimmers under a skylight addition, opening connection between both levels.
Another key change involved the removal of the garage’s internal walls and lowering the floor to create the centralised sunken lounge and fireplace, also opening sightlines towards the kitchen. Fluted travertine tiles clad a concave natural fireplace extending to the ceiling, with iterations of its contours rhythmically linking spaces upstairs. The master ensuite’s European White Ash joinery doors reveal rounded shadow lines, reflecting the curved mirror angles above them, and the marble vanity bases in both the children’s’ bathrooms also feature concave outlines, relieving their density.
To introduce warmth and a sense of flow to encourage interaction, immersion through colour became our key focus – from painted walls to evocative carpet and rug shades. Taking inspiration from the painting we specified in the sunken lounge, delicate jewel tones are sprinkled throughout via rugs and cushions plus stone selections with expressive patterns, underscored by terracotta, biscuit and creamy clay tones.
Throughout, assorted fabrics and woodgrain patterns nourish the senses. Within the kitchen, sharp angular planes carved from granite and travertine are softened by their pairing with taffeta-like stained timber joinery. We clad the sunken lounge’s organic U-shaped lounge that mirror’s the fireplace’s curves in nubby birch-hued wool to enhance the room’s cocooning appeal and entice soft landings. The curved carpet inlay’s deep terracotta hue adds a gentle glow.
