Houzz interview: Vivian’s delightful Sydney home

Vivian and her husband started renovating their Sydney home short after moving in. Room by room they transformed the house and created an airy, bright and beautiful nest for their little family.
Along the process, Vivian gave birth to an adorable baby boy and quit her job. She is now a stay-at-home mom and the proud owner of a relatively new and charming blog named ishandchai (if you are curious about the name then keep reading). Always working on new house projects, Vivian says that interior design has become all what she thinks and talks about with friends and family (and she is sure that they are sick of hearing about it)!
Well Vivian, here at houzz we love looking at your sunny home and hearing its story. I’m very happy to introduce you to Vivian from ishandchi and her lovely home.

Please tell us about your “first meeting” with your house to be.

I bought the house before I was married and my husband and I now live here with our son and cat. I hadn't seen the house before the auction but my parents had viewed and researched the property and I trusted their opinion. Definitely not a recommended way of making such a large purchase but it worked out for the best in my case.
When I first walked through the house the thing that struck me was how light and bright the home is. It is an elevated property with a garage underneath. From the balcony we have distant views of the city and it's lovely to sit here in the mornings.

The first step of your remodeling process

My husband and I renovated when we moved in. The house needed work and the first thing to go was the green shag carpet - yuck! Next, we knocked down a wall separating the kitchen and living area to create an open plan space. We ripped up the laminate floor in the kitchen to reveal wooden floorboards underneath which we polished throughout the house and then installed a new kitchen and new bathroom pieces (vanity, toilet).

The biggest renovation challenge you faced

Trying to decide how much of the home to renovate. We are planning to extend in the future so we didn't want invest too much money in renovations when there was the possibility we may have to re-do in the future. The kitchen was the largest expense but it had to be done. It was in an awful state with laminate doors that were chipped and peeling. In an effort to make the kitchen bearable I painted the cabinets a canary yellow colour but I don't think I could have lived with it that way for long so we ripped it out.

Your favorite style and colors

I love to mix new with old furniture. A lot of my furniture is neutral in colour but I am slowly adding colourful accents with wallpaper and accessories.

A spot in your house that makes you very happy/proud

The nursery is my favourite room. The Catherine Martin wallpaper used is a beautiful vintage-style circus print that I love. I'm really proud of the way the room turned out.

Your precious accessory/furniture/art

The old mirror which hangs in my studio and given to me by my parents. It used to hang in my parents home before they renovated. It's one of the only items to survive the renovation. Everything else was either sold or given away.

Your next house project

I have so many projects on my list - to finish decorating the studio and the master bedroom, tackle the study, reorganize the laundry (or turn it into a sunroom) and one day we may renovate which will add to my growing list of projects.

5 things that houzz readers need to know about your blog

1- The main focus of my blog are my home decorating projects but sometimes a little bit of fashion or food crops in.
2- I regularly update the quick links at the top of my blog page with things I love, must read blogs I've stumbled across and Etsy finds.
3- 'ish & chi' comes from 'fish & chips'. I had seen a photograph of a model standing outside a store with a large fish & chips sign and the first and last two letters were cut from the frame. I was pregnant at the time and had food on my mind!
4- I usually post in the evenings once my son has gone to sleep.
5- I love getting to know readers via their comments and by visiting their blogs. There are a lot of very talented and inspiring people in the 'blog world'.

Best tip for the remodeling beginner

Reuse what you own. If you are renovating your home it can be tempting to want to start from scratch with new pieces of furniture or accessories (if the budget allows of course). Sometimes though, I think a piece of furniture that has travelled with you for years adds character to a home and can become one of your most treasured pieces.

Last but not least: as a houzz friend, you get to choose a giveaway gift to one of the lucky readers that will share their thoughts about your house and interview.

Here's my little giveaway gift choice:
I would like to choose this ABC Love print which I've had my eye on for.. forever!

The original ABC Love Screen

If I had the space I would purchase this print for my son's nursery though I think it would look great anywhere in the home. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful home Vivian!
For your chance to win the ABC Love print, selected by Vivian, comment on this interview by Sunday, June7th at 5pm EST.

"A lot of my furniture is neutral in colour but I am slowly adding colourful accents with wallpaper and accessories".
"I love to mix new with old furniture".
"The nursery is my favourite room. The Catherine Martin wallpaper used is a beautiful vintage-style circus print that I love".
For your chance to win the ABC Love print, selected by Vivian, comment on this interview by Sunday, June7th at 5pm EST.

Comments

moderngirl Charming!!!
4 years ago ·
silver69 I LOVE your home Vivian, you did a great job. The nursery is stunning!
4 years ago ·
diva2009 Lovely home Vivian, thanks for sharing. May I ask where did you buy the crib? It's gorgeous!
4 years ago ·
Kim Great interview. I love the photos and the overall look. Your photo is also beautiful (very nice jacket!).
4 years ago ·
mom2boys Stylish and elegant. Where did you get the beautiful bedding for the crib?
I also like the giveaway gift you have selected- great print!
4 years ago ·
sweetdreams You have a gorgeous home! I like the touches of colors that you added against the whites.
Do you have many single family homes in Sydney? I hope that I will be able to visit Australia one day...
4 years ago ·
vidastyle Lovely home - I llove the patio
4 years ago ·
lindseyclare such a lovely home. i love Viv's style :)
4 years ago ·
tinyconcept I have been a fan of Viv's for along time - I just love the nursery!
4 years ago ·
ruzana I love your blog (and your home and your designs) but never knew the story behind the name. brilliant!
4 years ago ·
Yo Misma Viv, you have a wonderful house! And the finding of your blog's name is adorable!
4 years ago ·
sara1972 You have a beautiful house! What a cute story about your blog's name!
The blog seem very nice. I'll read more in the evening. Sara.
4 years ago ·
shardan77 Gorgeous home Vivian. I read your blog but it's great to see photos of your home all together. If only my house could look half as nice.
4 years ago ·
maria great interview!! i always wondered the meaning behind the name 'ish&chi'. Love your home and love your blog :)
4 years ago ·
bonnie I only recently discovered Vivian's blog and just adore her style. I spent half my weekend searching Sydney for a similar mirrored table!!
Thanks for explaining the Ish & Chi as well- it did have me wondering!
4 years ago ·
Kathleen Forbes I really love the dining room. It's so simple, clean, and beautiful.
4 years ago ·
star_dust I LOVE your house! Thank you houzz for introducing Vivian and ishandchi (i also like the story behind the name!).
4 years ago ·
claire I'm so happy to see a Sydney house featured here as it is one of my favorite cities! Houzz- it's about time to add some Australian architects to this site...
Vivian- I think you have created a beautiful warm nest for your family. Would love to find our more about your studio and your work.
4 years ago ·
Beth Hundley The nursery is so inspiring....yea for vintage wallpaper! Thanks for sharing and the fabulous blog.
4 years ago ·
Ish and Chi Thank you everyone for you sweet comments on my little home!

diva2009 - the crib was bought from a Melbourne seller on Ebay. It came in 183247239239182 pieces which we had to put together.

mom2boys - the sheets are from Nest Nursery.

sweetdreams - you must come!

clairek - I sell fabric artwork and prints on Etsy and have so much fun doing so. You can check out my store here if you like: www.ishandchi.etsy.com

Thanks everyone and thanks Adi and Houzz for this fun interview!

Viv xx
4 years ago ·
karen74 I LOVE your home!
4 years ago ·
Veronica You go girl- doin' it for the Aussies! x
4 years ago ·
liz Beautiful and Inspiring! I love the wallpapers in the kitchen and in the nursery- they add a lot of style to both spaces.
May I ask where did you get them?
4 years ago ·
babalisme This is a great interview!! Been following ish+chi blog! My favorite is the nursery too!
4 years ago ·
littlesunshine I LOVE your kitchen (adding it to my white kitchens ideabook)!
Great interview!
4 years ago ·
anastasiac Viv's home is just beautiful - love the light and brightness! her blog is also lovely and its great to have her as a blogging friend!
4 years ago ·
Lynnee All of the rooms looks to warm and clean and inviting - it was hard to pick a favorite. If I had to - it would be a tie between the nursery and the dining area. Thank you for sharing!
4 years ago ·
Caitlin Hughes-Whittaker The office/study is delightful! I love crisp white with punches of color.
4 years ago ·
yvetteyasui love the whimsical framed coat hooks and use of wall paper as accent.
4 years ago ·
amyks What a beautiful home!
4 years ago ·
smstock lovely
4 years ago ·
shonagh fabulous place--love the coffee table!
4 years ago ·
midwifekim I can understand people getting sick of talking about renovations. My father did his home over the last 5 years.... and we're just starting ours. It's good to have an outlet! Your kitchen is great- so bright and calm.
4 years ago ·
Ish and Chi Thanks again!

liz - The wallpaper in the kitchen is by Florence Broadhurst: www.signatureprints.com.au

I bought 2 small rolls of leftover paper for $40 each. You can achieve a similar look using wrapping paper or fabric. I like the metallic sheen of the Broadhurst paper though. I think it suits the kitchen with all its stainless steel appliances.

The wallpaper in the nursery is by Catherine Martin for Porters Paints. My son is fascinated with the print on this paper and it's a good way to keep him entertained looking at all the circus animals.

I plan to include a complete source + price list over on my blog in the near future.

Thanks for looking at my home photos!

Viv xx
4 years ago ·
Tracy Mihes You guys did a great job!
4 years ago ·
kathleen_f B E A U T I F U L !
I love every single room in you house!
Who is your favorite architect/designer?
You probably like contemporary designers like Mark English (http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/313/Mark-English-architects)
4 years ago ·
Lucy McLintic I have read Vivian's blog for a while and always admired her home (that nursery!), so it's lovely to learn more of the story behind it. Most of all, though, I like her mantra of re-using what you own. I'm always inspired by the creative ways people make beautiful homes out of things they've inherited, found or had for years. Bravo to Vivian for doing such a great job while holding onto that philosophy.
4 years ago ·
deodand For years I was against having so much white but it's really grown on me. I think I will have a lot of white in my next house - it never fails to be cheery with the right furniture.
4 years ago ·
tiina_of_liviaconcept this house is just fantastic! i love the way Viv combines silver, mirrors and gold. it's a lovely combo with a lot of white and some shabby colors. i also love the Formidable painting. veeeery lovely!!
4 years ago ·
Stacie Velten Great transformation to your home, Vivian. It's fresh and light and crisp. The colors are great but not overbearing. Thanks for sharing.
4 years ago ·
Brooklyn Limestone What a beautiful space. Love all the white...just makes it so peaceful.
4 years ago ·
fabbrunette Honestly, that is probably the most gorgeous home I've seen in a long time. I'm also a huge interior design fanatic, and have trouble finding a style in a home, from top to bottom, that I absolutely love. Your home has it all. That ABC Print would look scrumptious in my little girl's room!
xoxo
4 years ago ·
rebeccam That bassinet! It almost makes me want to add #5 fo my brood! (I said almost. remodeling our own house with 4 kids "helping" has been a treat to be sure..:)

Lovely, lovely home. It would make me happy every day to be there!
4 years ago ·
lynnie Aha - so that's where ish & chi comes from! I feel a bit daft now that I never wondered about it before. The house looks lovely as ever, Viv - I am still lusting after your fab mirrored console, it's just divine.
4 years ago ·
miso Viv's house is gorgeous. So polished and stylish but it still looks like a home and somewhere you could relax.
4 years ago ·
vintageprincipessa Amazing...... once I finish my PhD I am going to be a real person again, and hopefully one day I'll manage to create a space as beautiful as this one! A very inspiring interview.
4 years ago ·
new hue: home staging + room makeovers Your home is gorgeous. I can't wait to check out your blog.
4 years ago ·
bobishi Beautiful:) I love your blog viv:) I find your design ideas soooo refreshing and bright:) Also I love that we have the same dining chairs:) Makes me feel very cool hehe:)
4 years ago ·
Adi Tatarko Thank you everyone.
The lucky winner of the ABC Love print is kapachino8!
Congratulations and thanks again Vivian for letting us peek into your gorgeous home.
4 years ago ·
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Ideabook updated on Oct. 24, 2009.

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