Annie and Roland's perfect production



You could be forgiven for assuming a family of five in an apartment
would spell mayhem and clutter.  
But in this home, film industry couple Annie Beauchamp
 and Roland Gallois have created that elusive quality of
beautiful pared-back style with family-home warmth.
We think for Annie, a production designer, this inviting
apartment full of art and books and fabulous pieces might
be one of her finest productions yet.



The vast spaces, light and view in this rather grand apartment
make it feel more like a house.

There's an art to displaying (and storing) on open kitchen shelves.
Annie's collection of neutral toned crockery looks gorgeous.
An ecclectic arrangement of chairs surround the antique
Swedish dining table.  Roland found the green
chairs on the side of the road, the antique
Biedermeier chairs were originally sourced for a
film called 'The Well' and a STOKKE  high chair
adds its practical Swedish syle to the mix.

We adore this simple black and white kitchen!

The family's "surrogate dog" sits quietly on the sofa below
Annie's favourite painting of a wave at night. 
The Louise Hearman work was Annie and Roland's
 wedding gift to themselves.

Inspiration for Annie's work comes from books on art,
photography, film and architecture. But most inspiring
perhaps is Annie's Grandma whose photo sits amongst
the collection.
Annie's Grandma was the first woman in Queensland
to drive a car. She brought up her two children as a
single mother and ran a photographic studio! 
Like her amazing grandma, Annie loves photography
and majored in it at Art School. 
The glass plate camera sitting on the shelf was bought
on a film Annie worked on and she intends to learn
how to use it one day.

The striking piece on the wall is by the Strutt sisters.

The sheet music was made by Roland's old flatmate, Angela
Spring who used it as a backdrop for a woman's
clothing shopfront.
We love it's new home here.

This stunning light piece is by Tse Tse Associees, 
designer friends of Rolands based in Paris.  
Annie loves these lights and also their hand blown
wine glasses and ceramics.
We think this piece looks quite Christmassy.
See http://www.tse-tse.com/ for divine French
design (and a really cute website).

An original Bestlite shines on bedlinen which was hand dyed
by the talented Genevieve Blewitt who is a dying and ageing
specialist in the film industry. 

The multitalented Roland, a film and documentary editor,
painted the work above the bed.

A 1920's flapper dress was bought at the 'Banana Room' auctions
which is an emporium specializing in vintage clothing in Adelaide.
 Annie's friend Jo Thorpe, a costume maker, lovingly restored the
front beads and Annie then wore it as her wedding dress.
Displaying it like this is the perfect way to store a wedding dress!

A Bill Henson photograph is lit from above by a stunning original
1975 Pistillino wall light by Italian Studio Tetrarch. 



Who wouldn't be inspired in this work space?

Roland mounted a film poster for 'The Night is Young'

(or 'Mauvais Sang') on canvas which hangs in the foyer.

With arms wide open, Juliette Binoche welcomes and

farewells visitors to this wonderful home.

Thankyou so much Annie, Roland, Jack, Max and Oliver
for having us!

Christian's moody monochrome makeover

Justine recently took some photos for Sydney based interior design and architecture practice, Nextspace and we couldn't resist putting them on the blog. Designer Peter Martignago has reconfigured this classic Bondi bungalow into a sleek and sexy house and owner Christian Edwards has brought it home with a restrained palette and designer pieces. We commend the boys on their collaboration in creating a stunning modern building.  But don't be deceived by the minimalist overhaul. Christian's home is brimming with heart and sentiment. And just a little bit of mystery...


A few hits of citrus add zing to the moody black and white and grey. 
The concrete look feature wall is a product called Pandomo which
goes on like plaster. Christian admits it's "expensive but worth it."
We agree. It's a fabulous look and is a great contrast with
 the original pressed ceiling and ornate chandelier. 
The low-to-the-ground Japanese style bed is from Spence & Lyda.
See http://www.spenceandlyda.com.au/ for really sexy furniture.

This light fitting came with the house. 
We love it's eighties oppulence!

The original hallway at the front of the house hints at what lays
beyond and frames the old shed.

This bathroom is just sexy. Christian says keeping the parquetry
floor for half the bathroom was a great decision as it's
nice to have that link to the rest of the house rather than
stepping straight on to tile. 
And it's always a shame to lose gorgeous parquetry.

Sleek furnishings like the sofa from Koskela and minimal
accessorising keep this room simple and stylish. 
But there is an incredible warmth of sentiment here. 
The photo by Rosemary Laing and the floor light below it
belonged to Christian's late brother. Christian refers to
that part of the house as "his little corner". 
Christian says that after turning all the lights off at night the floor
lamp continues to light up the whole room as he makes
his way to bed.
see http://www.koskela.com.au/ for more great furniture.
(and a fabulous coast shack available to rent)

Christian admits he chose the black because he
"wanted the kitchen to be monolithic" and because...well...
his mum never used to let him have anything in black. 
"Ever," he says. 
The laundry is hidden in there and also doubles as a
butler's pantry so the messy day to day things like making
toast and coffee are tucked away. This is minimalism after all.

  Keeping the shed was important to Christian as
"it tells the story of the house." Apparently the shed used to
belong to someone who loved to tinker with motorbikes
and fix things, so it's well equipped with a bench and vice. 
Christian was pleased to find it also came with "some really
cool ladders and an old-skool plane". 
As well as being a keen carpenter, the previous owner was
also fond of security.  Every door and window was wired
up and the main activation switch was inside the master
bedroom. Christian supposes this was what served
as the panic room!
Christian really started to wonder about the history
of this house though when he found a bullet casing as he
was pulling up the carpet. 



The artworks are by Christian's good friends Guy Warren
(the large one) and Stu Bailey and were given to him while
 both of them were still at art school. Guy's work is painted
on two patterned curtains that Guy and Christian
found at an Op Shop in Canberra, so Christian can't
help feeling he had a hand in its creation.

The table was an ebay find which Christian bought
 for nothing but worked hard on to get the look right.
"It was covered in a horrible laquer and looked very country
 kitchen despite being made from recycled pine," he explains. 
Christian left it in the rain and elements for two years
while working on the house, which stripped it of the
shiny finish and gave it a lovely grey weathered look.  He then
lightly sanded it to get a mix of grey and raw wood.
But his favourite thing about it is a crucifix that had been
carved into it by the last owners with what looks like a
compass point. A bit like those desks at highschool!

errr...sorry mum. 


Thanks for sharing your wonderful home with us Christian. 
It pleased the eye, brought on a tear, made us smile
and left us wondering...

The crew on this project were;
design Nextspace http://www.nextspace.com.au/
build Jimmy Eltenn
landscaping and deck Tim Hewitt & Ben Sutton

How to do colour

We think it's probably quite rare for people to buy old homes and not change anything. It's especially remarkable when the new house has a highly personal and rather brave colour scheme that comes with it. When Judy Park bought her 1920's home, she loved her inherited reds and oranges and pinks and yellows and embraced them as the perfect backdrop for her own unique style.

 Nostalgic pieces and family portraits pop with freshness and fun

against their vibrant backdrop. The painting on the right is Judy's 

grandaughter Lottie (now 20) painted by her mother Sassy. It's

based on the idea of a 17th Century portrait with the Park family

motto. See http://sassypark.com/ for more of her fabulous work.

The centrepiece table and single chair are from Judy's parents 

home. Judy's mother loved buying wonderful pieces from

auction - a talent Judy shares. Judy discovered she also has a 

talent for French polishing after a little mishap with the table.  

Apparently layers of newspaper do not protect varnish from

lifting while doing a bit of handiwork with metho!  

 


Leslie Moline, a family friend and artist, painted the large portrait

of Judy's mother in the 1950's and the smaller ones of Judy's

son and daughter when they were little. Apparently Leslie lacked

confidence in her work - amazing we know. Judy's supportive

mother commissioned the artist to paint the family.

Clearly this was a win-win arrangement!

Judy loves bentwood chairs and bought this one when she

married. It's been recovered several times since and we love

this subtle classic floral against that wall.







A zinc top kitchen table and chairs bought at auction originally

came from a Domestic Science School

(the Tech. Colleges of the 1950's). The wording on the back

of the chairs reflect the domestic skills taught to the young

female students. Judy bought six chairs but only three had

writing on the back - the other three she stencilled to match with 

made up lessons; "Laundry", "Sewing" and "Baby care".

Fabulous!




Judy's collection of muted milky tones began with a milk glass

goblet bought in 1959 from Marion Best fabrics in Woollahra. 

We confess we're thrilled that Judy visited the first shop in Sydney

selling Scandinavian design. 

The groundbreaking shop closed in 1974 but see www.hht.net.au/online_features/highlights/finding_aids/marion_hall_best_collection 

for a fascinating insight into the legendary Marion Hall Best.

Judy has been adding to this beautiful collection ever since,

including hand made porcelain made by daughter Sassy.

 


An adventurous use of colour looks incredible in this sumptious

room. The rich red walls are capped with an orange ceilng. And

we love the stark white wall asserting itself through the doorway.



This fireplace is just stunning - such a feminine colour but striking
effect.



The lovely peasant lady on the right of the window was bought in

Russia on a trip by ship from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Judy loves it's naivety - the cows outsizing the chickens -

and she wishes she had more of this artist's colourful work.

Judy laments there was no time to shop - the MS.Tolstoy was

about to leave!





Judy has portraits of all her children painted by talented 

Rockhampton artist, Ben Wichkam. This young boy

however, was adopted from hard rubbish day! 

Judy's "adopted son" has replaced the portrait of Judy's

younger son (who has been relegated to the dressing

room as he wasn't keen on his portrait).



Judy says this home has a very welcoming feel and that she

was very lucky to buy it.

We couldn't agree more.

Thankyou so much Judy for sharing your beautiful home with us.