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A Midcentury Ode to the Outdoors – The Sundowner, Newport
In her beautifully transformed midcentury home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, owner Tonia Kelly embraces the indoors and outdoors to create a beach-house vibe redolent of the 1960s – with help from outdoor machine washable rugs by Double.
After retiring from her stellar career as a ballerina – she trained at the Australian Ballet School and was with the Sydney Dance Company for 12 years – Tonia Kelly looked to pursue new interests along with teaching ballet. A course in colour and design blossomed into a passion for interior design and decorating – a passion that’s evident everywhere you turn in her transformation of The Sundowner, a midcentury beachside home in Newport on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Tonia has spent more than a decade taking The Sundowner back to its midcentury roots. Nowhere is that more beautifully realised than in the living area, a paean to funky beachside 1960s living, where a striking stone fireplace, vertical timber panelling and classic pieces by Eames and Selig are framed by oversized, timber-framed floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the outdoors in.
Spending time outside is in Tonia’s DNA, so it was natural that she gave the home’s outdoor spaces as much consideration as the interiors. Replacing dated outdoor fixtures with midcentury-influenced hardware was a priority, including removing a glass balustrade from the patio and installing a crisp white wrought-iron version that echoed the original.
“Two rugs are always useful to define areas. There could be one for the seating and dining space and another for a play area.”
Her approach to alfresco living led to her to discover Double Rugs, whose machine washable Outdoor rug collection proved to be a natural fit. Tonia appreciates that when it comes to the outdoors, practicality remains paramount: outdoor rugs need to be “washable and able to cop muddy paws, feet and coffee that never stays in its cup”, she says. The rugs in the Outdoor Collection also have an underlay of rubber non-slip protection, ensuring both stability on hard surfaces and durability in the harsh Australian conditions.
But it’s not all about practicality: looks matter, too. For Tonia, Double Rugs’ curation of colourful and abstract patterns, neutrals and luxurious vegan fur textures gives them a tangible versatility. “Outdoor rugs put personality into what might be an otherwise bland, unused space,” she says. They can also help to define and separate areas. “Two rugs are always useful to define areas. There could be one for the seating and dining space and another for a play area. They can create a focal point to the exterior and can even be a giant yoga mat for a dedicated exercise space, if that’s your thing.”
Not surprisingly for someone with a midcentury crush, Tonia embraces colour. “Grey and beige be gone,” she laughs. “And welcome sage green, mint green, watermelon pink, soft pink, orange, yellow, creams, white and brown.” She suggests pairing “curvy interesting chairs” with a fringed umbrella and a geometric or striped rug – like the Ojai Burnt Orange New Jute, Julius Cream Outdoor, Jig Multi Outdoor and Marsh Sage Outdoor – to create an alfresco setting with timeless appeal.
“Double Rugs’ Outdoor Collection is soft and comfy to laze around on if you are a floor dweller or love going barefoot,” Tonia says. “And they’re super practical and funky. Don’t take yourself too seriously – have fun with them.”
Visit Double online to explore the range.
