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merchant house scope

56 Ellalong Road Cremorne 2090

Dear Robyn,

You opened the front door of your house to me last Thursday and the sight of what lay beyond the front door blew me away - what a unique and charismatic interior! You no doubt just think of it as ‘home’, having lived there for many years and having been through so much there more recently with losing your beloved husband. But I am here to tell you, this is a truly fabulous corner of the world and I’d be thrilled to help you get it back up to speed and ready for the next chapter of your life.

The following is a summary of what I understand the scope to be, it is a guide for where we will go with the house so it’s really important that you analyse this and feel free to add, subtract, multiply or divide as you see fit, so that we end up absolutely on the same page before we even begin.

The letterbox is a cheeky signalling that this house is quirky and dares to be different. But it appears that the time has come to bring that flavour of ‘different’ back into line with a 2024 refresh!

Entrance Portico:

I’m not sure why this feature is not standard issue on every single house throughout the known universe!. A spot out of the weather as a soft landing pad to either rummage in your handbag for a house key when coming home, or indeed, for your guests to compose themselves before knocking, or even just for the postie to leave packages safely - it truly is an unsung architectural hero.

Your particular portico needs to remember this… !!

The point of entry to any home is the ground zero for impact, it is the first impression and it counts.

The bare globe above left leaves us in little doubt that this is a style rescue emergency!!! But I am well aware that there are a few such priorities on our list, so we will be economic in our choices. Stylish and understated - and definitely not competing with the letterbox!

Entrance Foyer:

I have an idea for this short hallway just inside the front door, and I’m very much looking forward to sharing it. Again, it forms the entry point to the home and it should look and feel appropriately chic. The architect responsible for the 60’s reno will be clapping his hands up there in architect heaven (if there is one!!) when he sees what I have in mind.

The photos above are not close enough to see the issue as I am identifying it. I think the entrance looks tired and my suggestion would be to address this with a number of clever moves that will really shift the dynamics of the space.

In a perfect world, the carpet would be replaced as although it isn’t stained, it shows the ‘bruises’ where furniture has sat and th underlay has flattened with time, which is what gives it a tired and worn look. Could we investigate whether there are floorboards beneath that could be polished?? I don’t think the carpet upstairs needs replacing, but I think there is a strong argument for replacing it downstairs. Perhaps we could investigate carpets and costs in the weeks ahead,

This area is a reception zone - it needs be warm and welcoming and fresh, just like the woman who lives here!

Robyn, with the greatest respect, the furniture selection that has evolved over the years and found itself here, is at odds with the style of the house and it’s time to bite that bullet.

The chair that served your husband so well during his illness, has done its job and done it well. But it is time to move it from this prime position, along with the Bunnings chair and the tired couch.

So very often - less is more!

This part of the house in particular, is suffering from a little resident absence. It can be hard to analyse your own home in this way, and I do apologise if you feel confronted by my comments - I want the very best outcome we can achieve and this can mean being a little blunt at times.

I would strongly suggest that we start again and refurnish this space. The cupboard under the stairs you have attachment for and if you don’t wish to banish it, I will work with it. But a modern piece with an asian sensibility, it could be argued, might find a better home than as a feature of a sixties style interior. Food for thought!

Dining Room:

The table is beautiful, the interim chairs (until the originals return from the south!!) are perfectly adequate, but the sideboard (here comes the challenging bluntness again… eek!) is not really your friend.

Definitely a new rug, a total rethink of art, a pendant light in keeping with the style, and new curtains. Not a huge amount of budget required for this, but the changes we can make here will again, totally reset the tone.

And definitely, time for new curtains. I so love the colour of these old ones, but the fabric does deteriorate over time and these have served you well.

I have some good ideas for replacement!

New lamps are also on the list of things to consider - consistency in design is so important for that overall look of a cohesive plan. It makes for harmony - everything in its place.

The Deck:

This house is a beauty - I particularly love the way it flows to an outside area drenched in sun and with a green and leafy filtered water view. It’s divine. We just need to furnish it comfortably so that you are drawn out there for the six warm months of our Sydney year. Easy.

Whether it is an outdoor dining table and chairs, or just comfortable lounge furniture, the space needs to fit with the way you would use it the most. I agree that the dining table is just inside the doors, so why would you bother replicating the setting just a few meters away? I have the same approach in my house - I don’t see the point in taking up the outdoor space in that way.

But a small table to sit at with a coffee or whatever, could be worth thinking about. I’ll look forward to showing you options.

The garden is so lovely and it’s such a drag that you’ve had all these issues with leaking ponds and pools. But in time, you’ll get back out there and whip it into shape, of that I am sure.

Kitchen and Bathroom:

You have said you don’t want to make any changes here - that is music to my ears as it means more wiggle room for the list!! I like the kitchen - I like the colour of the benchtop and as it’s all in good condition, why make any (expensive!!) changes? We are going to pack such a new punch with the rest of the house!

Your Study:

Once again, you’ve expressed no desire to make changes here. If it aint broke…. spend your money where it will count most!!

Once we get underway, it may be that things occur to you with this room that you’d like to address and we can always add to the brief if that is the case. The design fee covers it all.

Upstairs:

This is where we can get busy Robyn!!! This space is so unique and fabulous - it’s wild!

The tough love? We ditch all the furniture here. This area needs to be restful and the way to achieve that in the first instance, is to open up the furniture layout, declutter and simplify. I know exactly what I will be suggesting as a solution but it will include getting rid of much of what is here.

The shelving units are great, but the couches need to make a swift departure, along with the mismatch of lamps and other bits that are not having any kind of conversation with each other at all!!!! The focus of the whole scheme up here is luxe comfort.

The electricals are a work in progress and the blinds we think are fine - so let’s get rid of the rest and with a clean slate, design a space that will feel light, spacious and free from the disjointedness from which it currently suffers.

One perspective might be to have to comfortable armchairs with coffee table at the television end, lounge furniture in the centre, and a divan or day bed on the other end, nearest the top of the stairs. Imagine this as a place to lie and read on a cold Sunday afternoon….

A small table and chairs could be added where the chequered sofa bed currently is (I think it’s a sofa bed??) for those times you want to write or do whatever else one does at a table!

This central area is the place to entertain, because there is more room for spacious seating, and because the view to outside and the corresponding light coming in are at their most advantageous. You will not be wanting a maze of obstacles in your way to watch tv in the evening, I will be very conscious of the sizing of selections I show you.

By the way, there is a small cabinet in the nook where I propose a daybed be introduced - it is gorgeous and will be invited to stay, but not necessarily upstairs. I think it would be a better replacing the piece of furniture already mentioned which is currently downstairs, under the stairs. It matches the one that has a tv sitting on top of it currently - they’re very cool!

Bedrooms:

Robyn perhaps you’re not ready to venture into here yet, but I’d really like for us to have a conversation about both the bedrooms, especially yours.

I understand there is an issue with damp. Would you consider moving to the other bedroom? Might be something to think about? But either way, I’d love to help you make both of these rooms look and feel as fabulous as we will make the rest of this fabulous home.

In Summary:

There is a lot we can do here to really improve this amazing house. I just love it! But not a single house in the history of housing can withstand years of an ailing partner, a pandemic, a record period of rain… without showing some wear and tear. Time waits for none of us.

I feel very inspired by your home and I would very much enjoy being part of its renewal.

I look forward to speaking further!

Henrietta x

Johnson House scope

Merchant House CIP