Houzz Tour: A Sophisticated Look for a Busy Family

When your new home is a different style and size from your last, it’s a gamble whether your furniture will work in the new space. That’s what one family encountered when they moved into a spacious new house in the leafy Hawthorn East suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Though the home fit in with the area’s large new mansions and stately Edwardian houses, the family’s furniture did not fit in with their new home.

They turned to Lauren Macer, director of Sisalla Interior Design, to create a coherent interior that would look polished and sophisticated but also be a low-maintenance backdrop for their busy lives. “As is typical of a lot of new houses, the rooms are very spacious and, although it’s great to have a lot of space, it’s also important to create a feeling of comfort and atmosphere,” Macer says. “ A big, empty white room does not feel like home.” Of their existing furniture, her clients kept a few key midcentury pieces, as well as some great artworks. These pieces became the stylistic inspiration for the home’s interiors.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with 2 teenage boys
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms

The colors of the dining chair backs in the family area were pulled from the surrounding artworks for an eclectic vibe.

“Mixing up the colors of the dining chairs was a little unusual; however, the end result is a really interesting and fun space,” Macer says. “And the client has been thrilled with the result, too.”

Chairs: Café Culture + Insitu


When it came to the spacious family area, Macer needed to design an open-plan living area that each member of the family could use simultaneously, while also creating an interior space that looked clean and sophisticated.

The TV is integrated into the back wall with shelving above and a large mirror adjacent so it isn’t the first thing you see when you walk in. The large ottoman adds a pop of color and works better in the space than a coffee table — the boys can sit on it and put their feet up on it.


This area has a lighter overall mood than the rest of the house, with accent pieces creating a brighter color palette.


“I’m really happy how the family living area came together,” Macer says. “The whole family uses this area simultaneously with ease and, even with two teenage boys, it always looks good.”

Mirror: Meïzai; ottoman: Jardan


The colorful poolside furniture ties in well with the interior’s fun and stylish family areas.


The formal living and dining areas called for a more sophisticated and grown-up approach. A darker palette, with accents of turquoise and blues drawn from the artworks, creates a feeling of modern luxury.

Dashes of glamour are found in layered textures, lighting and art glass with metallic accessories.


In the formal dining room, Macer redesigned the table using the clients’ existing tabletop.

“The client had owned the existing table for many years, and it had sentimental meaning; however, the style wasn’t right for the space,” Macer says. “I designed a new steel base and the existing timber top was refinished, resulting in a beautiful new piece.”

Layers of lighting also have a dramatic effect. “We added pendant lights, lighting for the artwork, and floor and table lights that give a textured lighting effect and so much ambience,” says the designer.

Table: Black Dog


The saturated turquoise floor rug in the formal lounge ties the space together.

“I love large floor rugs that define an area within a larger space,” Macer says. “The largest rug possible in the space works well with the furniture on the rug. My pet hate is little rugs that float in the middle of the space; they actually make the space feel smaller.”

Macer loves the aesthetic effect the sheer curtains create in the formal lounge and bedroom. “They soften the spaces and are simply beautiful,” she says. “As designers, we can get obsessed with allowing natural light into spaces, but in this case it was about filtering the light and darkening the room to create a moody effect.”

Rug: The Rug Collection


Much thought went into the lighting choices throughout the house, the idea being to really make the spaces come alive and to add instant atmosphere at night. “We installed pendant lights over the dining tables, kitchen bench and cascading over the stairs, which gives the spaces a real presence,” Macer says. “We also installed directional ceiling lighting pointed towards the artworks, and the result is amazing.”


To create a more intimate and serene atmosphere in the spacious master bedroom, Macer went with a dark blue palette layered with natural linen bedding and sheer curtains.

“The bedside lamps add a dash of luxe to the master bedroom; I love them,” Mercer says.

Lamps: Euroluce


The clients wanted to keep their black leather armchairs, but they were in poor condition. “We reupholstered them in a beautiful linen, and they came up beautifully,” says Macer. “I also love the sheer curtains that run along the whole wall; they add a romantic, soft feel.”


Macer liaised predominantly with the lady of the house throughout the project. Although she met with the husband only once or twice, he is just as thrilled as his wife with the result.

“He said that he loves coming home each day and stepping through the front door; it really feels like home,” Macer says. “To me, that’s what it should all be about.”

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