The whole-house refresh of this inner-city hideaway of a keen art collector required an astute understanding of personality and spatial functionality, bringing charm and delight while solving previously unaddressed storage issues. The house, already a sun-bleached pink externally, faces parkland and its abundant birdlife, and after finding a striking portrait of ‘Queenie’ the common Australian Galah by photographer Leila Jeffreys, our palette was born; natural pinks and greys balance snugness and sophistication. Extensive upgrading followed, with spatial flow redirected to maximise usability, pink-washed floorboards, custom joinery and fine detailing throughout, and a mixture of Australian and European furniture pieces, culminating in a cosy and optimal space for living, peppered with moments of the unexpected.