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Stickybeak: A Steep, Narrow Site Makes Way for a Fun Family Home
Spilling over six split levels, this spatial puzzle of a house was renovated for family, by family
Julia Fairley
13 novembre 2018
The year 2015 marked many a milestone for the Trentini family. Not only was it the year Justin and Samantha Trentini decided to renovate their family home in Annandale, a suburb in Sydney’s inner west; it was also the year Justin’s sister, interior designer Kathryn Trentini, embarked on her first major project: renovating her brother’s home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Justin and Samantha Trentini, their three sons and the family’s toy poodle, Bella
Location: Annandale, NSW
Size: 150 square metres, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, plus a studio
Designer: Kathryn Trentini, Trentini Design
Builder: Mark Murphy, Nu-Build
Budget: $150,000
“Justin is my brother and after I set up my design studio he wanted to be the first to engage my services,” says Kathryn. “I’d say it worked out well for both of us.”
Who lives here: Justin and Samantha Trentini, their three sons and the family’s toy poodle, Bella
Location: Annandale, NSW
Size: 150 square metres, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, plus a studio
Designer: Kathryn Trentini, Trentini Design
Builder: Mark Murphy, Nu-Build
Budget: $150,000
“Justin is my brother and after I set up my design studio he wanted to be the first to engage my services,” says Kathryn. “I’d say it worked out well for both of us.”
Justin and Samantha’s home is set on a steep, narrow block that cuts down and away from the front door towards the rear of the site. The contours of the site and its limited width – the block is only 3.2 metres wide – mean the home cascades over six split-levels.
“This made for a dramatic effect upon entering the property and it was something that I was excited to work with,” says Kathryn.
The existing property was designed by Caroline Pidcock and built in the mid-1990s, and it sat beautifully in its somewhat challenging site. “However, the home felt really tired and dated, and despite the multiple skylights and the central atrium, the house was quite dark,” says Kathryn. “The studio space was really basic and was used purely as a storage area – an absolute sin in Sydney’s inner west!”
“This made for a dramatic effect upon entering the property and it was something that I was excited to work with,” says Kathryn.
The existing property was designed by Caroline Pidcock and built in the mid-1990s, and it sat beautifully in its somewhat challenging site. “However, the home felt really tired and dated, and despite the multiple skylights and the central atrium, the house was quite dark,” says Kathryn. “The studio space was really basic and was used purely as a storage area – an absolute sin in Sydney’s inner west!”
Kathryn began by proposing a neutral base palette to lighten up the home, which is evident here. Initially, Justin and Samantha did not have a definitive brief in mind. Instead, they began by showing Kathryn images of design styles they liked, and through conversations, they collaboratively nutted out a brief.
“The main concern that came from these conversations was the desperate need for storage,” says Kathryn. The designer responded by working crafty cupboards, drawers and joinery into every room. Here, an unsightly metre box is hidden with a custom-designed shelf, creating the perfect perch for a touch of greenery.
The Kelly Gang Pendant light: T-bac design; wall paint in Whisper White: Dulux
“The main concern that came from these conversations was the desperate need for storage,” says Kathryn. The designer responded by working crafty cupboards, drawers and joinery into every room. Here, an unsightly metre box is hidden with a custom-designed shelf, creating the perfect perch for a touch of greenery.
The Kelly Gang Pendant light: T-bac design; wall paint in Whisper White: Dulux
This tall, narrow cupboard in the family bathroom stores bulky items, while a custom-designed shoe drawer prevents the boys’ footwear from littering the floor after they’ve been kicked off before entering the shower.
“They are a busy family – all three boys play sport and other extra-curricular activities, which means that there is a lot of equipment,” says Kathryn.
Trentini Design excavated previous ‘dead’ zones to claim extra storage space. “Due to the narrow block all excavations were done by hand,” says Kathryn. “All deliveries were carefully scheduled to ensure that they were made as and when it was absolutely necessary in the project timeline.”
“They are a busy family – all three boys play sport and other extra-curricular activities, which means that there is a lot of equipment,” says Kathryn.
Trentini Design excavated previous ‘dead’ zones to claim extra storage space. “Due to the narrow block all excavations were done by hand,” says Kathryn. “All deliveries were carefully scheduled to ensure that they were made as and when it was absolutely necessary in the project timeline.”
The existing kitchen was redesigned entirely and features more hidden storage. A small niche under the stairs houses appliances such as the family’s robotic floor mop. “Packing in storage options has certainly contributed to the homes’ ability to cope,” says Kathryn.
Larger dry bulk storage was created by excavating the space below the entrance, which is accessed through this integrated timber door in the kitchen to the right of the stairs. Kathryn also extended the overhead cabinets to reach full-height, creating extra cupboard space in the new timber-and-white kitchen.
“The use of timber in the kitchen was met with resistance at first, given that Samantha had specifically said she did not like the existing timber kitchen,” says Kathryn. The designer solved this by pairing matt white cabinetry with timber joinery to balance out the space.
“The use of timber in the kitchen was met with resistance at first, given that Samantha had specifically said she did not like the existing timber kitchen,” says Kathryn. The designer solved this by pairing matt white cabinetry with timber joinery to balance out the space.
Kathryn also extended the kitchen into the dining space by about 500 millimetres. Originally the owners were skeptical about relinquishing such valuable floor space, though the kitchen is now one of Justin’s favourite rooms in the house.
“By repositioning, the kitchen now functions at its optimum with everything in reach,” says Kathryn. “It also allows two people to be in the kitchen at one time without feeling like they’re on top of each other.”
Joinery: Kelloway’s Kitchens; timber cabinets in Smoked and Limed: Royal Oak Floors; white cabinets in Alabaster: Laminex; benchtop: Caesarstone
“By repositioning, the kitchen now functions at its optimum with everything in reach,” says Kathryn. “It also allows two people to be in the kitchen at one time without feeling like they’re on top of each other.”
Joinery: Kelloway’s Kitchens; timber cabinets in Smoked and Limed: Royal Oak Floors; white cabinets in Alabaster: Laminex; benchtop: Caesarstone
A breakfast bar cleverly provides valuable bench space and divides the kitchen and dining areas. But its true beauty lies in the subconscious directive it communicates: the bar stools on the other side of the bench subtly entice people out of the main cooking zone and into the dining side of the bench, freeing up space for the chef within the central food preparation area.
“The breakfast bar was a big winner in the design because it allowed an additional three people to be comfortably seated if necessary, as well as being able to feed the boys easily,” says Kathryn.
Bar Stool One in Oak: Another Country; Beat Stout Pendant in Black: Tom Dixon; walls in Whisper White: Dulux
“The breakfast bar was a big winner in the design because it allowed an additional three people to be comfortably seated if necessary, as well as being able to feed the boys easily,” says Kathryn.
Bar Stool One in Oak: Another Country; Beat Stout Pendant in Black: Tom Dixon; walls in Whisper White: Dulux
“The furniture in particular was very considered,” says Kathryn. “Given the narrowness of each space I needed to include items that didn’t make the rooms look cramped. The round dining table provides good traffic flow and visually allows the eye to pass over it without stopping – no hard edges, so no start-and-stop.”
An artwork by Emma Gale that the owners previously purchased inspired the wallpaper that adds interest to the dining area.
Quadrangle 2 wallpaper: Rebel Walls; Lyssna round dining table 1500 millimetres in American Oak Clear: Tide Design; Yo dining chairs: Tide Design
An artwork by Emma Gale that the owners previously purchased inspired the wallpaper that adds interest to the dining area.
Quadrangle 2 wallpaper: Rebel Walls; Lyssna round dining table 1500 millimetres in American Oak Clear: Tide Design; Yo dining chairs: Tide Design
Although the home features a neutral base palette, neither Kathryn nor the owners shied away from accent walls. “There needed to be cohesion through the design but I wanted every space to have individuality,” the designer says.
Pictured here, the master bathroom received a splash of pattern courtesy of the black wallpaper, while the red pendant light picks up on the touches of red in the accent wall.
Pictured here, the master bathroom received a splash of pattern courtesy of the black wallpaper, while the red pendant light picks up on the touches of red in the accent wall.
“The total budget for the project was $150,000,” says Kathryn. “There were no budget blowouts, I’m happy to report. The budget was great to work with but it still meant some definitive sleuthing to provide the exact product the clients were after.”
Grove Garden Black Background wallpaper: Osborne & Little; Judy Pendant in Red: Lightly; Goccia R197mm black tap: Gessi; Alape Circa 450mm basin: Reece
Grove Garden Black Background wallpaper: Osborne & Little; Judy Pendant in Red: Lightly; Goccia R197mm black tap: Gessi; Alape Circa 450mm basin: Reece
Like other areas in this house, cleverly hidden storage also features in the living room. The stairs that lead into this room house a disguised wine cellar in the space beneath them.
“I’m most proud of the way the home functions on a daily basis – that is has resulted in a beautiful, robust family home,” says Kathryn. “Everything has a place, and everything is within perfect reach. There is no pretension and no need to handle it with kid gloves.”
Armchair: Ikea
“I’m most proud of the way the home functions on a daily basis – that is has resulted in a beautiful, robust family home,” says Kathryn. “Everything has a place, and everything is within perfect reach. There is no pretension and no need to handle it with kid gloves.”
Armchair: Ikea
Since the major aspects of this renovation concluded in 2015, minor works have been undertaken and completed as well. The second bedroom recently received a new wardrobe and study area, and Trentini Design has embarked on the last of the rooms to be revamped.
“The owners decided to do some parts of the renovation over a period of time, so some aspects are still ongoing,” says Kathryn. “The master bedroom is being updated this year, as is the third bedroom – custom joinery is being designed as we speak to again maximise storage capacity in both of these areas.”
“The owners decided to do some parts of the renovation over a period of time, so some aspects are still ongoing,” says Kathryn. “The master bedroom is being updated this year, as is the third bedroom – custom joinery is being designed as we speak to again maximise storage capacity in both of these areas.”
This property brings a whole new meaning to what a family home can be. It may not be the property the Trentinis grew up in, though every room is testament to how the family worked together to create a home that several generations of family will remember.
Tell us
What do you think works well in this home? Tell us in the Comments, save your favourite images and like or share this story. Join the conversation.
More
Want more inspiring design? Take a look at last week’s Houzz Tour: the Melbourne home of an artist and concreter.
Tell us
What do you think works well in this home? Tell us in the Comments, save your favourite images and like or share this story. Join the conversation.
More
Want more inspiring design? Take a look at last week’s Houzz Tour: the Melbourne home of an artist and concreter.
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