Home Tour: A Federation Beauty By The Seaside

Designed by: Jillian Dinkel Interior Designs

Location: Manly, Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Decor style: A Federation home with touches of fun and whimsy

Favourite pieces: The custom rug we created with The Rug Establishment

On a quiet street in the beautiful seaside suburb of Manly, along Sydney’s Northern Beaches, one of the original Federation homes was in need of a little love. Enamoured by what the home once was and the panoramic ocean views, the owners wanted to create a family home that blended the old with modern design touches. 

With years of experience working in heritage and period homes, Sydney-based interior designer Jillian Dinkel set about reinstating and preserving the character of the house. Focusing on the formal dining and sitting rooms, Jillian masterfully brought the old and new together to create an inviting, design-led space that is oh, so pretty. 

“The house was in a state of disrepair, having had many uses and iterations over its lifetime. My client saw this as an opportunity to restore the house to its original glory,” explains Jillian. “Our studio specialises in period homes, and our hallmark is our unique perspective on finding a balance between the old and new. We wanted to reinstate the charm of the home’s Federation soul while introducing pops of soft colour and curves, curves, curves.”

THE BRIEF

The brief was straightforward, reintroducing a sense of grandeur and formality into the two formal rooms – dining and sitting – at the front of the house. It was to be the last remaining piece of the home’s top to bottom renovation. The result is a balance of traditional elements, and modern design, with accents of colour weaved throughout to create the perfect family home.

“As nearly blank shells, devoid of some of its period detailing, our client was focused on reinstating these architectural features while injecting a sense of fun and whimsy into these spaces. Colour, bold art choices and large-scale decorative lighting were all welcomed additions,” says Jillian.

PERIOD FEATURES

The first step was to replace or restore the period features of the home. The traditional archway which separates the dining and sitting rooms, complete with the Federation style keystones and wrap-around patterned plaster, reflects the curves of the stained glass window in the sitting room. The marble fireplace invites people into a space that Jillian had a lot of fun designing with modern custom pieces.

FURNISHING & STYLING

“All the soft furnishings were custom-made, from unique upholstery fabrics to the creation of a totally one-of-a-kind traditional rug. So much care and detail went into the creation and specifications of each of these pieces,” explains Jillian.

The powder blue walls nod to the home’s seaside location and ocean views. The soft curves and accents of colour in the furnishings and styling combined with the oversized pendants overhead create many moments of visual delight and drama. These bold and stunning pendants are one of Jillian’s favourite ways to inject interest without overwhelming a space. Yet, the piece that Jillian loves most is the custom rug she created with The Rug Establishment.  

“The sitting room is a welcoming space that draws you in, inviting you to stay a while. The eye moves around the room from the custom traditional rug’s multitude of soft muted tones that are reflected in the powder blue armchairs, the pink velvet sofa and pops of brass and marble in the room,” Jillian says.

In the dining room, Jillian talks about the wallpaper. “The boldly framed Chinoiserie style wallpaper holds court in the formal dining room, letting curved dining chairs and a bold chandelier intertwine in the foreground,” she says.

When asked what she loves most about the rooms, Jillian thought of the plays of colour, “I love how the two rooms flow into each other. The pops of pink play so wonderfully against the powder blue walls in the sitting room.”

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

Tucked away on a small peninsula surrounded by popular surfing beaches and the spectacular bushlands of North Head, Manly is laid back yet bustling. Manly-siders embrace day-trippers and tourists, sharing with them the natural wonders and world-class shopping and dining that define this beachside suburb. Manly is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts, with surfing beaches, coves, and inlets providing a water wonderland for surfers, kayakers, parasailers, swimmers, divers, and snorkelers. Plus, an extensive pathway hugs the foreshore, guiding walkers and joggers along the bay, through North Head Sanctuary and up into Sydney Harbour National Park and pass the beaches.

SITCHU’S FAVOURITE MANLY HANGOUTS

For coffee: Ruby Lane is as much a go-to for coffee as it is for breakfast and to stock up on some organic groceries.

For brunch: Fill the sand between your toes at The Boathouse, Shelley Beach.

For lunch: Queen Chow at Manly Wharf is a must for Cantonese food with a view.

For dinner: Daniel San is a neon-drenched Japanese-inspired Rock n’ Roll restaurant and bar.

For drinks: Three levels with a rooftop bar and retractable roof, Greenhouse has fast become a Manly favourite. Great cocktails and tapas are on offer as well.

GET THE LOOK

The Rug Establishment

PROJECT CREDITS

Design: Jillian Dinkel Designs @jilliandinkeldesigns
Editorial Styling: Claudia Lambert Interiors @claudialambertinteriors
Photography: Pablo Veiga @_pabloveiga
Build: Prekaro Projects @prekaro_projectsnsw
Words: Margaret Quilter @inky.content