Art House in Woollahra, Sydney by STUDIO CD Design

Following on from a career in editorial styling for the likes of Vogue and Elle Décor, Claire Delmar of Studio CD Design steps into the residential design and curation world with her latest project Art House. The grand house in Sydney’s Woollahra has distinctly traditional bones, which Delmar transformed into a theatrical family home with contemporary forms that sit harmoniously within the heritage foundations.

“We were fortunate enough that our client gained complete trust in us from the initial design presentation which meant we could push the boundaries of creativity,” says Delmar.

The overall design had to cater to a young family with a newborn, focusing on furniture suitable for children to play around. As the family do not plan on living in the home forever, the brief also stipulated that each piece had to be considered for their next space. Items like joinery were designed to be removed, along with details such as bed trims.

Originally built in 1900, the home plays on contrasts between old and new, masculine and feminine. Mixing modern and traditional elements through colour, murals, texture and materials create a visual journey from room to room, each with its own distinct features. Contemporary pendant lights and art contrast intricate cornicing on the ceilings and marble fireplaces. Delmar’s personal favourite space, the formal living room, has a sense of fun while maintaining the air of timelessness and calm.

As well as unique art and lighting pieces, custom furniture plays a significant role in creating a playful but sophisticated family home while allowing traditional architectural features to shine. Custom pieces with heritage detailing act as deliberate contrasts from the addition of neon, stone or modern hardware. Meticulous attention to detail throughout defines the home.

“There were lots of laughs from slipping on the car turn table, almost ending up underneath the car, tripping over the clients’ gorgeous white dog Levi as it was camouflaged in the drop sheets, but luckily, not too many design surprises,” reflects Delmar. “Overall, it was a very enjoyable and fairly seamless project.”