Reviving Cremorne Deco: A Timeless Family Home Transformed

The Cremorne Deco residence is located in Sydney's Lower North Shore and was renovated by the architectural and interior design firm Michiru Higginbotham. Transform a residence built in the 1930s with P&O style into a peaceful and lasting family home. This project has breathed new life into a residence built during the interwar period. Its original architectural features have gradually been weakened over a long period of fragmented renovations. Now, through an integrated design update, the structural integrity and spiritual core of the building have been re-established, and it has been adapted to the rhythm of contemporary life.

The property owners are a professional couple who live with their two teenage children. They have lived in this residence for over ten years and have a deep emotional bond with the Cremorne community. The original intention of this renovation is not a complete reshaping, but rather to achieve a kind of "renewal rather than reshaping", creating a peaceful, practical and timeless home.

The entire renovation is divided into two phases. The first stage focuses on the outdoor space, adding a tiered terrace and a glass-enclosed swimming pool, which are embedded in the backyard according to the terrain and form a direct visual connection with the kitchen. This move makes the courtyard a backdrop for family life, featuring visibility, interactivity and privacy. The second stage shifts to the organization of indoor Spaces. Mitchero Higginbotm proposed the concept of "flow plan", replacing the completely open layout with a series of interconnected but soft-bounded areas. Under the premise of maintaining the main structure unchanged, the designer reorganized the middle floor of the three-story residence, dividing it into two clear zones. One side is a quiet private domain for parents, and the other side is a leisure area for children.

Through this adjustment, the residence strikes a balance between intimacy and spaciousness. The originally overly large formal living room was partially reconstructed, with the addition of a study and bookshelf partitions, endowing the space with a more pleasant scale and functionality. The enclosed kitchen was opened up, forming a dialogue with the garden and the swimming pool, and became the social core of family life.

The materials and details constitute the peaceful temperament of the space: the warm wood, Taj Mahal quarquartz and soft grey tones form a unified vocabulary, and the gentle arcs echo the Art Deco origin of the building with the custom-made woodwork. The nautical elements that faintly emerge in the space, such as the central island in the shape of the bow, rounded corners and horizontal lines, pay an elegant tribute to the 1930s obsession with travel, freedom and modernity.

In the heart of Sydney's Lower North Shore, the Cremorne Deco residence stands as a testament to the perfect balance of intimacy and spaciousness, where every detail contributes to a peaceful and timeless living experience. Michiru Higginbotham's thoughtful renovation has not only preserved the original Art Deco charm but also infused the space with a contemporary rhythm. Imagine enhancing this serene atmosphere with the Domvitus Matera Charming Exquisite Floral Print Pillow Cover. Its delicate floral prints and exquisite craftsmanship perfectly complement the warm woods and soft grey tones that define the residence. Whether placed on a sofa in the social core of the family life or in the quiet private domain, this pillow cover adds a touch of elegance and charm, making every room a reflection of the home's timeless beauty.