For interior designer Lauren Steel, unearthing the heritage features in this classic Newcastle cottage was a labour of love.
Stepping inside the front door, on a leafy Maryville street by Throsby creek, the details are the first thing to catch your eye. Light streams through the French doors at the back of the property, bouncing off the timber floors and illuminating decorative cornices, ornate wall panelling and ceiling roses. Those period gems are what attracted Lauren and her partner Mitch to the home over six years ago.
Good Bones
"We were renting on the same street," Lauren says, "and we were looking for a period home to buy." But while the Federation features were in abundance, the pair had their work cut out for them, with the home in need of a major refresh. "It was wild," says Lauren. "There was a Disney themed room, an outer space room, an under the sea themed bathroom – but it had all the bones."
They could both see the vision. The couple bought the house, lived in it for a year as it was, and then renovated.
"The archways really transformed the hallway, or the whole house really."
A former lifestyle editor at publications like Vogue Living and Madison, Lauren has always been drawn to styling and design. When asked about her aesthetic, she doesn't have to think twice. "I would describe my style as refined and classic," she says, "but I hope it's also joyful and playful." That balance is evident in her home, with the original features elevated by modern additions and a sense of lightness expressed through colour and pattern.
"We actually put in the archways ourselves and added decorative cornices and ceiling roses in the other bedrooms," says Lauren. A lot of the tiles were period-inspired as well. We've tried to bring it back to life in that way."
"We had a simple white subway tile behind the oven initially, but we realised it needs to be something much cooler and more fun so we did the check."
Colour Confidence
As with all long-term renovations, it was a learning curve. The pair did a large chunk of work in one go and then chipped away at it gradually over the years. "There's a few things I would have done differently," Lauren says, "but I still love it!"
"When we first renovated, like a lot of people we kept it quite classic and timeless because we did plan to flip it and sell it. Now, looking back I probably would have made some bolder choices, especially when it comes to paint colours. That's why the laundry's green, because we did that more recently and I think that is a room you can have a bit of fun with."
By Design
Over the five year renovation, Lauren closed the retail arm of her business – House of Lita – formalised her interior design training through Sydney Design School, and launched her re-branded business Studio Lott. An interior design studio, it boasts private and commercial projects throughout the region, as well as a range of bespoke fabrics featuring classic stripes in custom colours.
The transition feels right. "I'm almost surprised that I didn't do design from the beginning," Lauren says, "but then I wouldn't be here if I hadn't followed that path through publishing – and I loved the time I had working for those brands."
Now, every Studio Lott project starts the same way: with a moodboard.
The Storyboard in Chalk | The Buttons in Butter, Chalk, Blush and Sage
In The Mood
The Storyboard makes the perfect place to start workshopping a project, with The Buttons adding a pop of colour to tie a vision together. Currently on Lauren's vision board? Studio Lott's latest project: "We're working on a bespoke stripe offering in our fabrics. I'm really excited about it because you'll be able to select the exact colour combination you want, so it will be completely unique and customised for you."
The Mixer in Blush | The Baskets in Sage, Olive and Blush
A Nod To Glass
The Storyboard isn't the only Mustard piece you'll spot in Lauren's home. The Mixer and The Collector, both from our Glass Collection, are just the right solution for this heritage home. "The lockers are so perfect for a home like ours because there isn't a lot of in-built storage, so if you have a little nook or a spot underneath a window, they fit in so perfectly." The Glass Collection is a favourite, and with its vintage-inspired glass fluting and modern colourways, these pieces look custom-made for Lauren's fresh take on classic styling.
The Lowdown in Olive | The Small Ledge in Berry
Kids and Colour
As a mum, Lauren thinks kids rooms are the perfect place to play with bolder colour. "Wallpaper is a really nice way to bring that in, while also honouring a more period style home. Pattern and colour is perfect in a kids room, and I really think it's ok for it to feel like their own – especially if it helps them stay in their own bed!"
With all its special features on show, this heritage home has well and truly had new life breathed into it. In more ways than one – new baby Ted is the latest resident. We can't think of a lovelier place to come home to for the first time.
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