Home Tour: Tom Mark Henry Reinvigorated a Paddington Terrace
Blending the old with the new to create a home full of elegance and style.
Location: Paddington, Sydney's Eastern Suburbs
Designed by: Tom Mark Henry
Interior style: A timeless, contemporary take on the traditional.
Favourite room: The kitchen is finished with Brescia Capria marble and ribbed oak joinery. It's the pinnacle of contemporary in the home.
Favourite piece: The preserved fireplace and tiled hearth with brass detailing in the living space and bedrooms
Set in one of Sydney's most fashionable neighbourhoods, Glenmore Terrace by interior design studio Tom Mark Henry reimagines the elegance and grace of a Victorian terrace house to reflect Paddington's stylish lifestyle.
Taking inspiration from Paddington's cutting-edge art galleries, high-end designer brands and on-trend café and dining scene, Cushla McFadden, Co-founder and Director of Tom Mark Henry, adapted her client's brief to effortlessly blend traditional and contemporary to afford the heritage home a sense of comfort, elegance and warmth.
THE VISION
"Our vision was to maximise the natural light and functionality of the interior architecture whilst retaining the existing heritage details and the character of the home," says Cushla. "A tonal palette injected with dark graphic detailing and textures forge a contemporary and inviting home."
The result? A beautiful, spacious four-bedroom home with multiple living zones and a modern addition at the rear of the house.
"The home has an innate warmth and familiarity akin to its heritage nature, particularly elevated through material selections, detailing and styling to complement," explains Cushla. "The palette is classic and neutral; with this minimalist approach to the aesthetic, we were able to let the heritage qualities sing."
THE HOME
By restoring many of the home's traditional features, from architraves and skirting boards to mantels and the original staircase, Tom Mark Henry gave the house a timeless quality. Yet, as you move through the home into the modern addition at the back, the kitchen, complete with a marble island and bespoke joinery, is a breath of fresh air. Combined with the courtyard garden, which has been beautifully designed and landscaped, this is the place to gather, entertain and connect.
"The kitchen is finished with Brescia Capria marble and ribbed oak joinery. It's the pinnacle of contemporary in the home," says Cushla. "The addition of the rear extensions allows for natural light to flood the heart of the home where the entertaining and comfortable living were key considerations of the client. A long skylight maximises and pulls natural light throughout the kitchen, creating a sense of connection to the landscaped courtyard."
The old and the new have a sense of belonging thanks to a mostly muted and minimal palette, light greys and white against dark herringbone timber floors and Venetian plastering. It's the perfect backdrop to the artwork and elegant furniture throughout the home, which has been sourced from places like Curatorial + Co, Georg Jensen and Maison Balzac.
"The preserved fireplace and tiled hearth with brass detailing in the living space and bedrooms inform these spaces as the focal points centralising each room and create an embodied connection to the home's history. In the design process, it is a beautiful thing to connect the client with the past of their home and envisions the future of the space," says Cushla.
With the goal of creating an interior that spoke to Paddington's revered lifestyle, Cushla and her team achieved just that. Together, they made a home full of style and elegance so the house can continue to age with grace and beauty while honouring the timeless quality fitting of its heritage.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Stylish and fashionable Paddington is a vibrant art, film and fashion district. Home to cutting-edge art galleries that showcase local and international artists, designer brand shopping, and vibrant café culture - this inner-city enclave demands attention.
Although a short 30-minute walk to the CBD and close to the sprawling shopping centre of Bondi Junction, Paddington boasts a shopping district of its own. The village clusters of Five Ways and The Intersection Paddington along Glenmore Road are favourites amongst locals. Another local favourite is the Reservoir Gardens which sits below street level along Oxford Street, providing a peaceful retreat and a place to reflect on the history, style and fashion that oozes from the hustle and bustle above.
SITCHU'S FAVOURITE PADDINGTON HANGOUTS
For breakfast: Ampersand Café is a book lover's dream. Breakfast, coffee and walls lined with books.
For brunch: Jackies Paddington is a local institution. Grab a seat in the courtyard.
For dinner: Saint Peter is a seafood restaurant with a seven-course tasting menu that changes daily.
For drinks: When it comes to pubs, you're spoiled for choice. Our pick, though, is The Paddo Inn.
PROJECT CREDITS
Design Lead: Cushla McFadden
Design Team: Carla Matias, Kelly Doyle, Lauren Brown
Build: Sheath Constructions
Styling: Tristan Qasabian
Photography: Pablo Veiga
Words: Margaret Quilter @inky.content
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