If you’re looking for a stylish haven on Sydney’s northern beaches, then look no further. In just nine months of renovations, artist, Lee transformed this Avalon village home into a light-filled space, designed for easy living. Lee drew on all her creative skills to give the home its new look. “I recognised the house had really good bones,” she explains, “but the decor was atrocious!”
THE PUMPKIN BLUES
The original colour scheme featured shades of pumpkin and bright blue, with white walls and blue cornices. The living area was lemon, with a triple-arched, dark-red granite fireplace. It now features a pared-back combination of soft white and shades of grey, while the fireplace has a feature flue, covered with French wallpaper. Two fleur-de-lis ornaments on the fireplace carry the French theme through from the wallpaper. “They were only cheap, but as they’re dark grey, they echo the touches of grey in the room and add to the look,” says Lee.
Lee redesigned the fireplace, replacing the arches with shelving either side of the grate. Her builder made a new surround using wooden reproduction pieces from a manufacturer in Rozelle then Lee tiled it with smashed marble. Large tiles left over from the front porch were recycled to create shelving space. The finished fireplace has more than a touch of France and creates a stunning focal point for the living area.
UP THE GARDEN PATH
The exterior underwent a similar transformation, with Lee replanting and repaving the garden to her own design, replacing terracotta with pale tiles. There’s a fibreglass fountain that looks like an authentic Italian one, and pebbles and grey pavers lead to different areas of the garden. The wrought-iron Italian gazebo with canvas roof is a romantic setting for entertaining. “It’s surprisingly practical too and has survived high winds,” says Lee. The outdoor table is a durable mix of stone and fibreglass and had a previous life as a dining table indoors.
STYLE AND FUNCTION
Lee added two new bathrooms and two new kitchens – one in a self-contained flat. The main kitchen, with its black granite benchtops and splashbacks, was sold, with all the appliances, on eBay. Lee transformed the space with a new Freedom kitchen with pale CaesarStone benchtops in Nougat and practical vinyl-wrapped cupboard doors in Stark White. “I investigated whitewashed timber, but decided not to go down that route as it’s hard to keep clean,” says Lee. “I am so happy with this finish; it always looks nice, has no chips and is easy to look after.”
New appliances included a 900mm Whirlpool stove, which is the focal point of the kitchen. “When you have the family over, it’s great to have a big, wide oven,” says Lee. The Bosch dishwasher is white, to blend with cupboard doors. “The dishwasher is so quiet that sometimes I have to put my ear to the door to see if it’s working,” laughs Lee.
FOR ART'S SAKE
Elements of French-country style feature throughout the interior in the form of decorative wrought-iron work and whitewashed timber furniture. Unique pieces include chairs found at a Palm Beach market and a favourite table from Tokens of Living at Mona Vale, which Lee whitewashed.
Artworks that Lee did herself adorn the soft neutral-coloured walls and include her popular lotus designs – made from dried whitewashed lotus leaves adhered to canvas – which sell locally. “I have a taupe knotted carpet in the main bedroom and taupe silk curtains,” she says. “I like the combination of this colour and white. I prefer to create almost a blank canvas with the decor so the artworks come to the fore,” she explains. “I make them the focus and I like the eye to fall gently on the other elements around the room, with nothing jarring.”
Lee’s artworks portray scenes from as far afield as Montreal, Vancouver and Tokyo – they reflect the many places she’s lived around the world, including the artists’ mecca of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now, ready for fresh inspiration, she’s putting on her dancing shoes to tango in Europe and paint on the French Riviera.
Story by Kate Williams
Photography by Tony Potter
Styling by Amy Frost