Virtual Wonder

Inspired by dreamy Hamptons style, a Brisbane couple built a warm and welcoming home with design surprises around every corner

Story & Styling Rosanne Peach Photography John Downs

KITCHEN
Simple and elegant with plenty of bench space, concealed storage, a deep sink to hide dishes and an Ilve stove and rangehood, the kitchen is a serious cook's haven. White satin 2-pac polyurethane Shaker-style cabinetry with antique black pull handles, designed by Garsden & Clarke Kitchens & Interiors (call (07) 3823 3977), has the feel of freestanding furniture, which helps to integrate the kitchen into the living space. A generous island bench, topped with extra-thick CaesarStone in Osprey, is the centre of family life. "I'm conscious that my boys will one day become teenagers and probably stop talking, so I love to have them come home from school and sit up there and tell me all about their day," says A-M. Stools from Villa Maison and pendant lights, available through Cape Cod Designs, are as stylish as they are practical.

STUDY
The creative hub of the home blends masculine and feminine styles to suit both A-M and her husband Luke, who share the space. A-M designed the whole room around the black library she found at Town & Country Style, adding a powerful wall of wallpaper, Designers Guild ‘Cabriole' in Noir from Oliveaux, to give the study a strong, sophisticated edge. Designing this room with enough space for two passionate people to work was vital, but with a wireless internet connection, it's just as easy
to work from the kitchen bench or the pool house. Oh, the joys!

HALL
A-M has been planning her treasured vignettes, such as the display on this La Maison console, for a long time. "I bought all of these when we bought the land four years ago and they sat wrapped up until we moved in. It was like Christmas Day!" she says.

FORMAL LIVING ROOM
The inspiration for the "great room", as A-M calls it, is harvested from the blog of US illustrator Patricia van Essche of PVE Designs, who posted a drawing that A-M fell for. "I love this space. I think it's because there's no television. It feels more like an intellectual room," she says. A grand piano, an ornate chandelier and a limestone fireplace by Architectural Ceramics Slate & Stone are equally strong focal points within the room. Amanda from Oliveaux repeated the soft hues of the limestone in luxe silk curtains in Kobe ‘Habanera' fabric and a sisal rug, while A-M chose natural-toned accessories such as linen armchairs, botanical prints by Creatively Active Minds (available through Cape Cod Designs), cushions from eBay store My Cushion Covers and - appropriately for this music lover - two music-print pillows from Town & Country Style.

MASTER BEDROOM
"I think you should see something pretty from every vantage point in the room," A-M says of the open-plan bedroom, which opens up onto a romantic ensuite. Soft white and taupe upholstered furnishings create A-M's goal of a "pretty bedroom parlour feel", with an upholstered bed and ottoman from French & English and cushions from Villa Maison and eBay store My Cushion Covers, against a base of rich chocolate Redbook carpet. Whimsical artworks from The Sweeterie (visit trufflegirls.com) and a posy of roses from Phoebe Stephens Flowers add a touch of romance.

KRISTIAN'S ROOM
The boys, Brynley and Kristian, are also beneficiaries of A-M's online travels, with youngest son Kristian's pirate-themed bedroom sporting a cheeky pirate artwork bought from Gelati Art (gelatiart.com.au) and a red-and-white striped lampshade from Red Plum Linen (redplumlinen.com.au). Stripy bedlinen from Sheridan completes the bright and cheery look.

INSIDE STORY

Who lives here? Interiors blogger and founder of Cape Cod Designs A-M; her husband Luke, a property financier; and their two sons, Brynley, 12, and, Kristian, seven.

What did you splurge on? A-All M: "the windows are timber, so they were a considerable expense. I know that's what puts people off being consistent with their windows all the way through, but I bartered with myself and made sure I saved the money elsewhere."

Details that make your heart skip a beat? "Cornices, skirtings, architraves and windows! I love that my windows and window architraves work so well together. I love these little details."

Best tips from fellow bloggers? "To create a ‘wow' factor in every room. Also to preserve the element of surprise around each corner, in terms of design. When I look around every room, there's some idea from a blogger that I've incorporated. I joke on my blog that it's really ‘the house that bloggers built'."

Any challenges building with your partner? Luke: "We're very passionate, so we'll scream and yell and dance about something, but that's just the way we have an animated discussion! It's brought us closer together. To make it work, you need to know who is the boss of the project, which is A-M. Because I knew that and it didn't threaten me, it was great."

 Visit last month's house