With a blank canvas on which to work their magic, design studio Ivy & Finch has turned this new house into a colourful and comfortable family home that reflects its owners’ vibrant personality.
“Our clients came to us through a previous decorating project of ours – it was their sister who recommended our work,” says Ivy & Finch’s head designer Bronwyn Burrows, who worked with team member Sophie Dye on the new decor scheme. “They had just built the home and felt that it was lacking in the soul and personality that reflected their bright, bubbly demeanour. And with an image in mind of a Hamptons-style space that showed plenty of character, we’ve brought in elements of colour, contrast and Australian themes to make the project more local and suited to the Brisbane style.”
Ivy & Finch took the lead in sourcing the full range of furnishings needed to bring to life the lush and layered mood board they’d created, including wallpaper, furniture and soft furnishings, and lashings of eclectic accessories. The team also completed a full furnish of the dining and kitchen zone and the alfresco entertainment area, which flows out from the open-plan living space. “We supplemented a lot of the client’s existing furniture in their formal living room, master bedroom, guest bedroom and ‘man cave’, and set about styling these spaces to create the characterful look they loved,” adds Bron.
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This home is located in the leafy suburb of The Gap in Brisbane, so Ivy & Finch wanted to bring an Australian bush-inspired influence to these spaces. “We looked to artwork and fabric patterns that reflected the local natural environment and selected pieces to suit the colonial style,” Bronwyn says.
The home’s foyer sets a bold tone with a striking Ralph Lauren wallpaper in Spalding Stripe from Natty and Polly, a custom-made occasional chair from EJP in Warwick Fabrics Blaze Navy and the Sorrento cabinet from OneWorld Collection.
In the family lounge and TV room, Ivy & Finch have used Bayliss’s Ivy rug in Fog Cream to gently anchor the custom-made Knightsbridge sofa from EJP in Dresden Pacific by Elliott Clarke. Bespoke occasional chairs from UD Furniture provide the perfect hit of colour and pattern, with their backs upholstered in the gorgeous floral Camellia Powder Blue fabric by James Dunlop. Designer Boys artwork in dark brown faux bamboo frames adds a finishing touch of tropical-Queensland-inspired flair. Meanwhile, in the open-plan dining and kitchen zone, the parquetry dining table by Megaria and chairs by Xavier Furniture (with custom seat cushions in Elliott Clarke and Ash Block Printing fabrics) tie in with the barstools (also by Xavier Furniture) and Bayliss Long Island rug.
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The alfresco living space is comfortably Queensland in style, with touches of rattan and green. The outdoor dining table and chairs, daybed and outdoor sofas and coffee table were all sourced from The Furniture Shack, while the outdoor rug is from Bayliss.
This once sparse and bland new-build has been thoroughly invigorated by Ivy & Finch, giving its owners a colourful and happy home to treasure with their kids and grandchildren for the years to come. “The key to softening the space and making it all feel more welcoming was to add layers of different textures, patterns and colours, ensuring that they would withstand the test of time,” explains Bron. Mission accomplished!
Photography: John Downs Photography
