Welcome to Blackheath
A collector of Fine Art & beautiful things, the owner of this beautiful historic Blackheath abode approached Thornton & Blake to re-design their weekend retreat into a full-time residence, whilst they made the tree change from the hustle & bustle of Sydney to the beautiful Blue Mountains.
Head Designer & Director, Anne Hogarth delivered an Interior Design sympathetic to the period of the home, whilst offering warm & playful elements, that are reflective of the owners affable & vibrant personality & love for colour, interesting patterns, textures & thoughtful design.
Beginning in the lounge room, a linen textured blend was chosen for the blockout drapes, which provided much needed insulation to the windows, as well as light blocking qualities. The drapes were intentionally hung high cornice level, to accentuate the tall ceiling space of the intimate room.
The client had invested in a high quality sofa many years before. With plenty of life still left, the three-seater sofa was reupholstered, choosing a durable James Dunlop Soho fabric with FibreGuard to ensure it would endure the test of time, especially with the resident indulged pets in mind.
Contrasting lamp shades in a tribal inspired embroidered linen provided interest, movement & texture to the space.
To warm this beautiful space, a Jetmaster fireplace was installed, a decision made as much for the ambience as it was for the functionality of warmth. The addition of a marble hearth was reminicient to the period of the home, whilst using clean white surround & mantle supportive of the owners love for contemporary & thoughtful design. A custom made screen provides safety for the resident pets.
With historic houses often lacking in storage, the addition of custom made cabinetry provided much needed space for the clients’ many books & meaningful collection of interesting pieces. Finished in Porters ‘Guerilla’ green not only gave the cabinets a grand presence to accompany the historic hard bound books, but also opportunity for contrast with the lighter white ceramics and flowers foraged from the garden.
Within the bedrooms, heavy blockout drapes custom crafted from a heavy textile blend were selected as much for their thermal protection from the Blackheath climate, as they were for their style & superior quality.
Bamboo blinds gave the bedrooms the benefit of privacy during the day, whilst still allowing the natural light to spill into the room. They also added a lovely, natural texture to the space, softening the heavier drape.
An armchair from the client’s collection was recovered & custom handcrafted armoire supported with functional living & comfort in the guest bedroom.
Finally, the original kitchen was calling for a renovation. Presenting in good condition, the original crisp apple green tiles hold much character, paying homage to the period of the home. Fresh new wall paper in a vibrant duo-colour print was selected to compliment the tiles. Choosing a floral pattern with much movement added a playful warmth to the space, reflective of the clients vibrant personality.
With tall ceilings to work with, extra tall cabinetry was included in the kitchen design to provide additional storage within the intimate kitchen space. The choice of a traditional marble counter once again supported the period of the historic home. Finally, bamboo blinds bring interesting texture to the space, whilst remaining functional & easy to clean within the frequently used kitchen space.
Interior Designer: Anne Hogarth, Thornton & Blake