Elevated and Traditional – Fletcher House by Se Déa
Combining a crafted and layered approach amongst enduring materiality, House evokes a European sensibility. Se Déa draws from a vintage musing, bringing the warm and familiar together in an elegant and refined composition, openly directing movement and flow to the natural elements.
A home reflects many parts, with reminders of both those who formerly lived there and of the history of the area at large but, ultimately, it is a capture of its current residents. With a love of vintage furnishings and objects, the owners of House wanted to instil their own passion for the past through a contemporary lens into their home. Located in Tamarama, Sydney, the residence is a celebration of its proximity to the ocean and facilitates a coastal lifestyle. Able to be opened to the surrounding landscape, bringing natural light and ventilation inward as a result, the spaces respond to the shifting seasonality while encouraging both indoor and outdoor occupation.
Familiar with the area but having lived in the more tightly packed and insular Paddington, the clients’ sought to express their distinct taste tempered by the calming surrounds of the new location. Combining a fusion of charm and of the contemporary, the result is deeply personal, bridging old and new within an overall coastal softness. The interplay of textures and materials hints at a discerning and deliberate connection between inside and out, ultimately forming a narrative that resonates with the rhythm of the sea. A combination of aged metals introduces a depth and patina that connects with a history and past, while expressive natural stone in muted and earth tone grounds the elements within the home.
The overall palette evokes a sense of playfulness and connection, emphasising the atmosphere of the nearby ocean and its rhythmic ebb and flow. Against this backdrop, the combined interior spaces are given further depth through the detailing of joinery, junctions and key elements that are interacted with every day. The incorporation of a wabi-sabi sensibility breathes a sense of relaxation into the spaces, finding beauty and ease in celebrating imperfection. As an invitation of both reflection and repose, the journey from the master bedroom and its icon ensuite connection to the terrace sets the tone for the home as a haven.
Woven between a tight-knit urban landscape and the nearby coast, Fletcher House celebrates contrasts. Se Déa ensures the overlay of history enriches the home, allowing differing chapters to coexist within an overall environment where every day feels like a holiday.
