A Terrace Charm by Studio Gemma

In Sydney’s Paddington stands a terrace home that could easily belong in its eponymous London town. Designed by Studio Gemma, A Terrace Charm nods to its owner’s British roots while embracing its own history.

Interior designer Gemma Gillett of Studio Gemma is well-versed in the nuances of British architecture, having lived and worked in London for several years. “The client is originally from the United Kingdom but had previously lived in Bondi and yearned to be back on the city fringe. Paddington ticked all the boxes – a city location with a village community feel – and so did this home. It’s close enough to walk to the pub and just steps away from her morning coffee run,” says Gillett, citing the terrace home’s European-inspired architecture as a key motivation behind the purchase. She and her client quickly established a kinship over a shared love of traditional joinery, colours and textiles.

“Throughout the process, we leaned into the period features and used paint to make them sing,” explains Gillett.

In a bid to restore historic architectural features, Gillett – collaborating with Brad Gardner of Gardner Building Co. and Rhys and James of East 2 East Joinery – reversed updates made by more recent owners. The architectural overhaul began at the entrance, which lacked original details, and was enhanced with a ceiling rose, door architraves and dado rails with panelling. “We did this for two reasons: to bring back history and to create zones in the open-plan living spaces. Throughout the process, we leaned into the period features and used paint to make them sing,” explains Gillett, who also turned her attention to the unused nook under the stairs, transforming it into a deep cabinet. “If you know terrace homes, they often lack garages, so gaining storage anywhere was essential.”

Gillett set her sights on transforming the living area into a sunlit sanctuary, a far cry from its original cold and dark state. She removed the plantation shutters, added soft Roman blinds and installed mosaic tiles on the fireplace hearth. The walls were painted a dusty pink to highlight the original architectural features while retaining the original timber flooring. In the kitchen, Gillett took a more liberal approach, gutting the entire space and reconfiguring the layout to include an island. “We increased the length of the kitchen to get more bench space and used a pocket door system over the pantry for easy access to the coffee machine,” she says. She also managed to carve out a small Euro laundry. The joinery is a nod to English cottage kitchens, with traditional fittings and fixtures that evoke a sense of history.

Gillett enjoys rewriting the rules, especially when it comes to colour.

Gillett enjoys rewriting the rules, especially when it comes to colour. Where others might have lightened the inherently dark main bedroom, she embraced its depth, painting the entire room an inspiring shade of gunmetal blue. The designer also installed cerulean-coloured carpet to cocoon the room in blue and took a similarly deft approach in the ensuite, extending the joinery – finished in deep coral and designed like a traditional armoire – all the way to the ceiling. “We were keen to warm up the house and inject some soul,” reflects Gemma. “Colour was our secret weapon.” The result is a space that feels bold and personal, where every hue tells a story.

Interior design by Studio Gemma. Build by Gardner Building Co. Joinery by East 2 East Joinery.