Internationally Inspired – Sydney Terrace by Thomas Hamel & Associates
With a globally influenced style, Sydney Terrace carves its own unique aesthetic path, drawing from the well-travelled life of its owners. Thomas Hamel & Associates layers specialist and handmade finishes together with collected treasures throughout as an extended narrative of past adventures.
Located in amongst the famed Rocks in inner Sydney, the same-named Sydney Terrace combines a respectful approach to integrating historical and heritage detailing together through a contemporary and international lens. Drawing from the lively personalities of the home’s owners, the multi-level residence becomes a layered journey through colour, texture and pattern, bringing a similar effervescence to each of the rooms. Defying the familiar and expected stylings of the area, the owners wanted to ensure they were represented in their home and not just replicate that which has been done before them. Thomas Hamel & Associates integrates new and older collected elements amongst the highly decorative and ornate home, creating a unique and immersive experience.
Throughout, each surface is seized as an opportunity for expression. From each of the vertical planes to the flooring and rich textural, tactile rugs underfoot, the ceilings are also given their own moment through the application of select wallpaper and surface treatments. The depth and saturation of each of the comprising layers add to the complexity of each area of the home, while imbuing a series of unexpected gestures. Although revealing the heritage elements of the terrace formed a key priority for the home, ensuring a co-existence with the other applied components was also crucial. A combination of found and collected elements then forms the brief of the resulting décor, furniture, artwork and lighting throughout.
As the home opens to the surrounding landscape, steel and glass doors allow an uninterrupted visual connection between inside and out. The surrounding outdoor covered areas then become adorned with a similar level of consideration as the interior, bringing a similar plushness and opulence in the process, extending the inside out. The newly sculpted kitchen and bathrooms then combine familiar proportions of the contemporary home, but with their own twists. A specially imported Italian farmhouse sink from Florence is integrated amongst the newer and crafted joinery in the kitchen, while the bathrooms combine the carvings and careful handwork of stonemasons with a delicate weaving of bespoke custom mosaic tiles.
Sydney Terrace is testament to the importance of originality in carving homes that reflect their residents. Through a close collaboration with the clients, Thomas Hamel & Associates has created a truly unique and curious home.
