Home Tour: An Ultra Sophisticated Family Home

Location

Annandale, Inner West Suburb of Sydney 

Interior style

Fusing a heritage-listed terrace with a new build; restrained and subtle. 

Favourite room

The new extension which houses the living room, kitchen and dining are truly special. The massive steel frame windows above the window seat coupled with the plinth wrapping the living room's perimeter have produced an impressive and notable point in the house where you experience the true expanse and uniqueness.

Favourite pieces

The selection of Allied Maker pendants throughout the home are a favourite, along with the large, oversized artworks by Eduardo Santos hanging in the living room.

Victorian terraces in Annandale are some of Sydney's most coveted real estate. Their gracious beauty, when combined with modern-day living, is a lustful blend of old and new. To achieve this, the renovation process is never an easy feat. Still, for one family, it was an opportunity to create something truly special. 

When it comes to Sydney's Inner West, Annandale delivers tenfold with its tree-lined streets, heritage homes and charming village. And although the local lifestyle and the home's ornate façade alone would have been enough to win the family over. Still, it was the potential of what could be done within that got them excited.

Working within the bones of the existing 1800s Victorian terrace, Hayden Bagnall, director of Sydney-based interior design studio Baldwin Bagnall, explains that his client wanted a family home with no fuss. Yet, they had a willingness to create something that pushed the bounds of the norm. 

"Our client was open to exploring new ideas and moving away from convention. They were driven in seeking out new ideas and willing to follow our lead to ensure they would build a home that was unique to them while remaining conscious of the connection from the old and new," says Hayden.

Baldwin Bagnall collaborated with Group Architects on a restrained and subtle design – where the materiality was thoughtfully considered to create a seamless transition between the original terrace and the new build, which houses the living room, kitchen and dining. 

With its neutral feature colours and complementary textures, the home has been finely crafted to instil a sense of sophistication and elegance while taking you on a nostalgic journey. 

"The overwhelming sense of calm, along with the play on light and open space, makes the house feel considerably larger than your typical terrace," explained Hayden. 

"Aesthetically, we were interested in exploring eclectic design elements atop a neutral palette. This became the foundation onto which a selection of materials, fixtures and furnishings that, while diverse, unite through an emphasis on handmade, bespoke qualities and detail."

Working from the ethos of buy once keep forever, robust materials combined with Australian hardwood furniture, contemporary European design and handmade artisan pieces ensure the home meets all the practical requirements for a growing family while honouring a sophisticated palette. 

One of the home's key focal points is the living room, a space that delights with its play on levels, textures, and material. Stunning artwork by Eduardo Santos and ZAMI pops against the neutral palette, while a step that runs along the room's perimeter demarcates the transition from the original and new. 

The hero of the space is the window seat with its oversized blackened steel window frame softened by natural light. The seat itself was created by protruding through the sidewall, borrowing unused space from the side of the house. 

"The living room is closely connected to the kitchen, which at first glance, you're presented with the oversized marble 'chopping block' island which defines the area," says Hayden. "With light filtering through to the kitchen from nearly every side, the connection to the outdoors makes this home a beautiful living environment."

A clever use of space, the kitchen and dining are seamlessly entwined. Flowing the length of a long-elongated space to a wall of glass doors that opens out onto a landscaped garden complete with a timber deck and pool. 

"Although the new additions are of a different period, we wanted to create a language that spoke to the house as a whole," explains Hayden.

Marble and timber stairs invite you upstairs. The master bedroom opens onto the balcony of ornate balustrade, while designer furniture and bespoke artwork by Sophia Szilagyi and Antonia Mrljak add yet another layer of intrigue to the bedrooms. 

"We love the curation of objects and art throughout and the finely crafted details that anchor new features in old styles," Hayden says.

The spa-like sanctuary of the master bedroom's ensuite details Carrara Marble and the secret powder room offers an unexpected surprise. With every detail thoughtfully considered, down to the craftsmanship and bespoke furnishings, the home's modern interiors have a warmth that lingers.  

"We have created a space that aids and contributes to the happiness and wellbeing of those who live here. Each room is functional, purposeful and genuinely enhances wellbeing and quality of life," says Hayden.

Nostalgic wide streets, century-old mansions, heritage homes, and shopkeepers who greet you by name; Annandale is a highly sought-after neighbourhood with an old school charm. Despite its quiet nature, Annandale has had its time in the spotlight – once the epicentre of Sydney's indie rock scene, Annandale has retreated into its charming village atmosphere. And the locals wouldn't have it any other way. Trendy cafes and neighbourhood restaurants with a distinctly European flavour form part of Annandale village, yet it's the striking period homes and parklands that define this neighbourhood.

For brunch

Revolver Café is the go-to spot for a weekend brunch, and the coffee is spot on.

For lunch

Set in a small transformed cottage, Fez & Co has great Middle Eastern style food. 

For dinner

The Tramsheds in neighbouring Forest Lodge is perfect for lunch and dinner with plenty of global eats to choose from, and Messina is perfect for rounding out any meal

For drinks

For indoor and outdoor dining options and a family-friendly vibe, head to North Annandale Hotel.

Go-to local boutique

Jim & Jane – a fashion, homewares and gift emporium housed in a two-storey store. 

Must do in the local area

Glebe Foreshore Parks is a great outdoor space that has playgrounds, extensive bike paths, picnic spots and playing fields, and it's right on the water. 

Loving our home tour of the sophisticated Annandale House? Be sure to visit our Home Design content hub for all your design and styling needs.