In the last year or so, colonial themed homes have been on the rise with our cliental and with good reason. The theme alone is a standout with its stark black and white palette, it is old-world yet clean-cut and it encompasses a unique charm unlike its contemporary and modern cousins. A rather niche group of homeowners appreciate this distinct concept which similarly trickles into the home’s interiors even after our job is done, much like this issue’s project showcase.

The homeowners were looking to embark on a makeover with a colonial concept in mind, so it was up to the Nic & Wes team to integrate elements of colonial into its existing modern exterior. The exterior profile while not typically colonial was visually interesting. A facade repaint together with the addition of insets along the exterior walls began the transformation journey. The existing car porch roof was replaced with a green area. As balconies are an important element to colonial homes the addition helped break the existing profile. Similarly a second balcony at the top floor was also modified through its roof and railings to fit in with the colonial concept.

As with most of the homes we design, the homeowners play a huge part to define the finished look. It is through the owners that details like door coloring are determined. With this home, we were ecstatic with the owners’ bold color options. The main entrance for one adorned a rich teal coat which is a very rare yet opulent choice.

Being a corner terrace, the home encompassed a compact yet decent sized garden. An outdoor alfresco overlooking the garden is a quaint spot to wind down in the evening. Alternatively the decked patio doubles up as additional entertaining space that seamlessly connects to the indoors through a sliding glass door.

Entering through the main entrance, the designated area is quaint and cosy which sets the mood for the rest of the home. Ceiling to floor wooden slats act as a divider concealing portions of the living and dining spaces.

Once stepping down from the entrance landing, a wide uninterrupted space holds the living, dining and open-concept kitchen. The abundant light from the front and side doors keep the entire common spaces bright and airy throughout the day.

A highlight of the first floor is the open concept kitchen. For that complete in-house service, the homeowners engaged our carpentry team for their home. To keep the cabinetry in-line with the colonial theme, thin beading was included into the design for a European appeal.

To the rear of the home, aquatically mesmerizing Subway tiles line the span of the wet kitchen over contrasting stark white cabinetry. To the side, a bar-counter overlooking the dry kitchen sets up a new spot for entertaining.

Heading up to the second floor reveals the bedrooms. The entire floor much like the others has had a revamp through a repaint. The existing wooden floors remained but were re-varnished to bring back its lustre. Opting for light grey walls alongside dark stained wooden floors is a chic combination. Now adding the minute detailing of white wall beading to the top and bottom really dresses up the walls.

The owners themselves did a fantastic job of tastefully decorating their home after handover which enhanced the work done by the Nic & Wes team. Room after room was photo-worthy that I couldn’t stop myself from snapping away. Keeping to a neutral palette, the children’s bedrooms was anything butkiddy. It was not hard to imagine the children being able to appreciate their rooms even as they age.

The master bedroom opted for a deeper color palette of grey tones. Still neutral in appeal, the combination of light and dark creates dimension to the space.

Another highlight is the master bathroom with its beautiful balance of luxe appeal together with an exotic British Indian Colonial vibe.

Journeying up to the top floor, the entire space is dedicated to entertaining. The richness of the space comes from its boldness of colour. Deep teal cabinetry and walls to match only enhance the strong presence of browns in a various array of materials for that overall warm and inviting yet visually enthralling twist.

Like the other bathrooms, the same tile combinations are used throughout. An alternative option for bathrooms much like this one is to tile walls half-way leaving free-range of wall space to hang mirrors and pictures with ease.

While the floor is dedicated to fun, a discreet room tucked to a corner of the level is turned into a work room. As the space is not often used for entertaining in the day, it’s easy to remain focused while in the comforts of the home.

When it’s time to leave the workload, the connecting balcony overlooking the neighbourhood is a picturesque viewpoint as the sun sets.

Beautiful both inside and out, it is always a joy to see how existing homes can morph from one concept into another just with a tweak in design. The cherry on the cake of course is seeing how satisfied our clients are with the work we have done and how happy they are with their new homes.

Testimonial

Craig & Imelda Mapleston