My Houzz: Vintage Treasures Adorn a Faded Beauty
http://www.decor-ideas.org 05/07/2015 06:15 Decor Ideas
When confronted by an aging and somewhat neglected house, most people would immediately set about repainting, brightening and modernizing. Debra Cronin, an established Sydney interior designer, went against the grain when she moved into a sprawling three-level terrace house in Woollahra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, in 2009. The 110-year-old home lay unoccupied for 40 years, and Cronin was faced with evidence of its quirky past, such as loot-stashing holes in the walls, barricaded windows and a detached staircase. She left the old floorboards and original features intact and has filled the grand spaces with collectibles, found items and unique objets d’art. The rooms are furnished with a combination of antiques, industrial pieces and warm textures — imbuing the home with a sense of wonder and adventure.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Debra Cronin of Debra Cronin Design and her dogs, Rosie and Ted
Location: Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia
Size: 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
When Cronin moved from London to Sydney in 2009, she was seeking a change from her career as a makeup artist, and looking for a way to showcase her passion for interior design with a project she could make her own.
When a run-down rental in Woollahra, which had been abandoned for 40 years, presented itself, Cronin took a chance and launched headfirst into the project. She signed a 10-year lease for the 110-year-old home and invested all of her money in creating a home that was a direct reflection of her style. “It was totally unlivable, ransacked and empty,” Cronin says of the home’s original state. “When I got the keys off the owners, it was the first time in my life that I really thought, ‘Have I made a huge mistake?’” she says.
As a makeup artist in London, she spent a lot of time on location in beautiful homes. She wanted her Woollahra home to also be a location home and knew that it would be the perfect way to get into the competitive world of interior design.
“I knew it would mold my career as an interior designer, so I set about decorating it in a very fun and kooky style to have it featured. It’s sort of Addams Family meets Alice in Wonderland,” Cronin says.
Cronin frequents auctions to build up her impressive eclectic collection of furniture and knickknacks. Raffan Kelaher & Thomas and Lawsons are a couple of her favorite auction houses. She also makes the occasional trip to the country for an auction and scours eBay France and Etsy to find truly unique pieces.
The baby grand piano seen here is one of her won items. “I bought the baby grand for $50, which I thought was a steal, but it ended up costing me $300 to get home! I love it, though, and it’s in the perfect spot in the front room,” she says.
Cronin’s love of secondhand treasures stems from her time living in Notting Hill, London, where she used to sort through the wares at the Portobello and Golborne Road markets. The interior designer notes that you have to be selective when shopping at secondhand markets: “It’s dangerous because you can end up with so much stuff,” she says.
The feature wall in the front room (see first photo) shows off Cronin’s collectibles in all their weird and wonderful glory. One of the many things the eye is drawn to is the array of taxidermy displayed on the wall. “I’ve collected them over the years,” she says. “As long as it’s not killed for the taxidermy and not gone to waste, I’ll bid on it. Most are over 100 years old — it seems a shame to not still enjoy them. They should live on!” she says.
BEFORE: Here is the living space before the transformation. The mammoth makeover took Cronin an unbelievably short time of four months. “I’m a German machine; there was an incredible amount to do. There was no front door, the stairs weren’t even attached to the walls, and there was no power on the top floor,” she says. “I was going to auction houses every week to furnish it. I had brought my own things, but in a home this large, it just disappeared,” she explains. “I definitely have a love-hate relationship with renovating now.”
AFTER: The made-over home is almost unrecognizable. The original peeling walls are a recurring feature throughout the home and suit the mostly auction-bought decor to a T.
“I really recommend buying at auction — it’s a great way to buy,” Cronin says. When she’s not bidding for herself, she is sourcing beautiful one-off pieces for her clients. “It also satisfies my shopping addiction,” she says jokingly.
While the eclectic designer is proud of her collection, she also has regrets about things she has missed out on at auction. “There was a collection of antique-framed butterflies, about 30 in beautiful old wooden frames. I wish I had have continued to bid, but I bowed out. If it’s a one-of-a-kind item, it’s worth paying for,” she says.
The long hallway from the front room to the living room and kitchen is a testament to the many years of inhabitants the walls have seen. “I love transforming. I tried to keep as much of the weathered look as possible while mixing it with the new. The layers of history show the story of the house,” she says.
The last tenant was quite elderly and passed away in the home. When Cronin moved in, the walls had been hammered in and there were holes in the floor made by people who had broken in and searched for stashed money.
BEFORE: Every part of the home was outdated, and Cronin had to work hard to not only bring it up to date, but to make it a home that she would be proud to showcase as a representation of her talent.
AFTER: The kitchen is the heart of the home and where Cronin loves to entertain. “It’s a very social house, with a constant flurry of visitors,” she says.
A view of the courtyard is made possible by the large pane of glass that Cronin installed. She was originally going to have French doors but found that the most cost-effective solution was glass. “I’m so happy with it; the room wouldn’t be as bright or dramatic without it. I love relaxing on that daybed — it’s wonderful in the morning with the sun shining through,” she says.
The small but well-appointed courtyard is where Cronin spends a lot of her time during the hotter months.
The master bedroom clutches at the natural light that comes through the window, but Cronin has also embraced the darkness of the home with gray walls and heavy wood furniture.
“The interest of things is more valuable to me than their actual market worth. A weathered side table that has a story really appeals to me,” Cronin says.
The guest bedroom is spacious and continues the eclectic theme with an antique French headboard that Cronin picked up at auction, along with a fringed lampshade.
Bookcase wallpaper: Deborah Bowness
The pale pink and maroon that Cronin painted the walls provide a welcome contrast against the original staircase and flooring. The paintings are also highlighted against the deeply colored backdrop.
“I spend the most amount of time in my upstairs office talking to clients and being inspired,” she says.
BEFORE: Upstairs, the second living room also underwent a transformation. The once-barricaded window and decaying walls provided Cronin with an opportunity to completely uplift the space.
AFTER: A fresh coat of paint and a new pane of glass make the room feel bright and friendly.
“Having a collection is what appeals to me. I find it hard to describe my style. One of my friends once described it as a creepy but beautiful nightmare — I quite like that,” she says, laughing.
One of Cronin’s favorite rooms is the bathroom. The rich wooden cabinetry and generously sized bathtub make it a very relaxing room to be in.
One of Cronin’s adorable dogs, Ted, finds the light downstairs.
Cronin has a passion for creating rooms with drama, which is evident in every room in the house.
As a regular host of parties, she has made the most of her dining room with a towering wine collection and a long dining table, which set the scene for nights of feasting and drinking.
Cronin decorated the ceiling with what she calls her “decanterlier.” Using butterfly hooks and wires, she suspended a collection of decanters. She then powered them with 12-volt halogen capsules.
Cronin is pictured here with Ted and Rosie. “If you go back to my Addams Family reference, they’re my Cousin Its,” she jokes.
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