Briony Fitzgerald Design

This house has retained all the gravitas and design pedigree of its original creator – Professor Leslie Wilkinson – who set up the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Sydney in the 1920s. This is one of a handful of the best houses from an architect who is quoted as saying, ‘it is not so important to be in style as to have style’.

Little was altered, with only one internal wall removed, but much was upgraded with all new oak floors, a new kitchen, bathrooms and dressing rooms and attic rooms re-imagined. It was a complete refurbishment with custom designed elements such as the sweep of an exquisite fitted rug on the spiral staircase and a leather clad bronze club fender in the living room which speak to the level of thoughtful design decisions. The clients’ Scottish and English heritage is reflected in the sofa choices – the Chesterfield –  and the interesting mix of existing antique furniture blended with classics such as the Hans Wegner CH24 and the Cherner barstools. ‘When clients have good pieces it often inspires ways in which we can take the design ideas further,’ says Briony, ‘to retain their personal history in a way that is re-worked to suit how they want to live now’.