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My Houzz: A Modern Sydney Home That Grows on You
A profusion of plants (including in the tub) distinguishes an otherwise minimalist home for a horticulturalist's family
I blog about Australia's most interesting houses - from the derelict to the incredible on http://www.thehousehunter.com.au. My focus is on houses and apartments that have interesting stories as well as eye-catching design elements, and I am a sucker for heritage.
I blog about Australia's most interesting houses - from the derelict to... More »
Mark Paul and Sarah Kenny's new home is about compromise. Paul agreed to move away from his beloved northern beaches to Sydney's Lower North Shore, as long as his design principles came through strongly in the new house.
The two worked with Tony Caro Architects to completely rebuild on a lot where 1970s army officers' quarters once stood. Their new home pays homage to Paul's work as a horticulturalist and a founder of the Greenwall Company, which designs and builds vertical gardens. It also favors a minimalist, streamlined design, highlights a smooth indoor-outdoor flow and complements the couple's busy professional lifestyles.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mark Paul and Sarah Kenny
Location: Lower North Shore, Sydney, Australia
Size: Approximately 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The house was built on sandstone, which created a design dilemma. Four trenches were eventually cut out of the sandstone to facilitate the garden, pool and the detention tank.
The two worked with Tony Caro Architects to completely rebuild on a lot where 1970s army officers' quarters once stood. Their new home pays homage to Paul's work as a horticulturalist and a founder of the Greenwall Company, which designs and builds vertical gardens. It also favors a minimalist, streamlined design, highlights a smooth indoor-outdoor flow and complements the couple's busy professional lifestyles.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Mark Paul and Sarah Kenny
Location: Lower North Shore, Sydney, Australia
Size: Approximately 2,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The house was built on sandstone, which created a design dilemma. Four trenches were eventually cut out of the sandstone to facilitate the garden, pool and the detention tank.
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by Monica Kovacic
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| The original 1970s dwellings didn't provide a sound basis for the couple's plans, so the architect helped with the demolition and rebuilding. The angular exterior is made of reverse masonry veneer, meaning the brick is inside and the frame and the siding are outside for optimal thermal energy control. |
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| The lush gardens and green walls designed by Paul serve as the focal point of the home's central courtyard and pool area. "I did it over about a nine-month period and added bits and pieces as I went," he says. The garden is planted with native lithophytic and epiphytic plants, which grow off other plants and rocks. The deck was intended to resemble a wetlands area, with the fishpond and vegetation attracting regular visits from local kookaburras. Garden: The Greenwall Company |
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| The courtyard garden provides a tropical entertaining spot, with a tiled, sleek pool capping off the house's minimalist design bent. "If you build a house, you have to build a modern house. There's no use redoing the past," says Paul. Paul's work is inspired by the late Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, who specialized in tropical and subtropical landscape design using endemic plants. Barbecue: BeefEater |
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by Monica Kovacic
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| The home's architect, Tony Caro, was a protégé of the celebrated late architect Harry Seidler, who was Austrian but based in Australia. The captivating open-plan, minimalist designs preferred by Seidler are seen in the living and kitchen area. The emphasis on glass surfaces and the use of light are both principles that the architect prized. Wall planner: kikki.K; dishwasher, oven: Miele; toaster, jug: Breville |
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| The open kitchen and living space leads out onto the courtyard, offering a communal place for dining and relaxing. The sleek cabinetry assists in maintaining the space's aesthetic by keeping clutter at bay. Marimekko patterned throw pillows add colorful accents to the dark leather sofas. The weathered dining table was a secondhand find from Ipswich Primary School that Paul believes dates back to 1902. "I got it through one of my mother's friends," he says. "She brought it back from Ipswich and was going to get rid of it, so I bought it from her." |
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The home's streamlined look is occasionally interrupted by contrast. A green rug in the playroom, for instance, pops against the slick, pale surfaces and uncluttered finishings. A hydronic floor heating system was installed and is a particularly welcome feature on a cool winter's day in Sydney.
Rug: Rug Couture
Rug: Rug Couture
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The home office is a mélange of colors and files, offering a work-focused retreat from the rest of the home's careful styling.
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| The shaded glass concealing the staircase from the exterior screens the house from the Australian heat while also letting natural light in. |
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The master bedroom parallels the stark look of the home's living areas and bathrooms. A private deck extends outside past the foot of the bed.
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The master bedroom offers a well-organized, enviable double walk-in wardrobe.
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The en suite master bathroom stays true to the home's focus on greenery and regeneration. Paul uses potted plants to decorate the tub.
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The guest bathroom features Seidler's famed curves, with the ceiling-to-floor mirror lending a futuristic feel.
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This bedroom belongs to son Max when he stays at the house. The rocket- and space-theme room offers plenty of inspiration for an imaginative boy.
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| Currently, the couple is building another house that they eventually plan to retire to. "The home will have more integrated green spaces, where all the surfaces that can be greened will be greened, rather than just having a retrofit," says Paul, shown here. Houzz call: Have you made plants the focus in your home? We want to see it! |
Ideabook published on Aug. 21, 2012.
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Love the house, and the landscaping is exceptional.
I need a bath for when my grandchildren come to stay, the rest of the time it sits empty so I quite like the idea of filling it with plants.
Jasonhzy - there is mention of the dining room table in the article.
While it does drop to 15 degrees in winter in Sydney, the daysquite often hit the low 20's so we can grow subtropical plants with no problems. My goldfish lived very happily outside. I'm not sure how many plants you need inside if you have outlooks with lots of vegetation. However, the bath idea is cool.