Balmain East House by Studio Johnston

Once cool-toned and industrial, Balmain East House has been reimagined by Studio Johnston to embrace the warm colours of its natural surroundings.

Since Balmain East House was first completed, the suburb sharing its name has evolved. The owners of the waterfront home also felt that the residence, built in 2006 and designed by Nordon Jago Architects, needed to evolve. “It was very typical of its era, with a lot of white, a lot of steel and very sharp angles,” says Stefania Reynolds, head of interiors at Studio Johnston. “It had quite a clinical, sterile feel and we really wanted to introduce colour into the house.”

The client’s brief centred on bringing a sense of warmth and softness into the dwelling, directing focus to the coveted harbour view and improving the sense of flow.

The client’s brief centred on bringing a sense of warmth and softness into the dwelling, directing focus to the coveted harbour view and improving the sense of flow. Studio Johnston started at the lower level, converting what was a yoga studio into a self-contained retreat that includes a second kitchen, dining and living room, three bedrooms, a mud room and study. “This space spills out onto the outdoor terrace where there’s a pool, a curved inbuilt seat and a pizza oven. This then steps down to the lawn and the water.”

This level connects to the next by an external mustard-yellow spiral staircase and an internal timber staircase. At the top of the internal stairs, a dining room, living room, powder room and study are located to the right, while, on the left ­– and facing the harbour – there’s a kitchen with intimate banquette seating, a bar area, main bedroom and bathroom.

“We needed a product that was really robust and the Zip HydroTap is extremely useful for someone who likes to cook and entertain often.”

“The kitchen was very central to the design,” notes Reynolds. “The client loves cooking, so the kitchen had to work hard in order to accommodate all the things that she needed, and we wanted it to serve as both a functional and social hub.” Central to the fitout is Zip’s HydroTap Celsius All-in-One Pull-Out. “We needed a product that was really robust and the Zip HydroTap is extremely useful for someone who likes to cook and entertain often.” Its integrated hose system – featuring a snag-proof, pull-out sprayer – allows the sink to be effortlessly cleaned while its bold design establishes the product as a sleek focal point. “Being able to access chilled, boiling or sparkling water on demand when you’re hosting is also very convenient.”

For the house’s palette, Studio Johnston looked to nature. “The surrounding trees have a lovely olive undertone, and it’s a colour that really resonated with the client.” Mustard hues add contrast throughout. “The olives and mustards weave in and out of each other in subtle ways on both a large scale and small scale.” The greens bring a calming, tranquil feel to the spaces, while the mustards are “more optimistic and dynamic.”

“The olives and mustards weave in and out of each other in subtle ways on both a large scale and a small scale.”

Balmain East House has been softened to embrace the soothing aspect of its harbourside setting. Studio Johnston uses a compelling colour story to link indoor and outdoor spaces, resulting in a warm residence that functions optimally for a family who loves to entertain.

Architecture and interior design by Studio Johnston. Build by SQ Projects. Landscape design by Tarn. Tapware by Zip.