An interior decorator gives a 1970s duplex some wow-factor
Interior decorator Claudia Stephenson and her husband Julian, a personal trainer, searched high and low for a new rental where they could have a young family before they bought their own home.
A 1970s duplex in Sydney’s Lower North Shore ticked all the boxes. The apartment had been gutted and turned into a neutral base for Claudia to furnish with decorator items that give the space plenty of personality. “I wanted a modern eclectic feel that was functional, comfortable and had a bit of ‘wow’ factor,” she says. “That’s where art, rugs and decorator items shine the most.”
Words by: Natalie Walton. Photography: Maree Homer. Styling by: Jackie Brown/Real Living.
Claudia, pictured here with son George, bought the Blu Dot ‘Strut’ desk in Watermelon after seeing it in the office of JCrew creative director Jenna Lyons. “It’s the perfect punch of colour for my work space,” she says. “I love that it’s ‘cluttered’ with my favourite things.” The Hay chair is from Cult.
The vintage chair from Mitchell Road Antique Centre was perfect for nursing and stylish to boot! Claudia’s mother-in-law Anne Stephenson painted the mohawk artwork above.
Baby George is happy in his Oeuf cot. The Garcon wall sticker is from Etsy store Decal Chic, while the star bedding is from Aden + Anais.
A neutral kitchen that was large enough for the couple to entertain but didn’t jar with Claudia’s aesthetic sensibilities was one of the attractions of the duplex.
A photograph by Claudia’s brother-in-law McLean Stephenson creates impact above a sideboard from Blu Dot in the dining room. “It is one of the first works I got from him,” she says.
The pair of artworks by Melbourne artist Kate Banazi is one of Claudia’s favourite features. For a festive touch, string lights from The Woodsfolk drape around the artworks and into an open book on the sideboard.
“I wanted a sophisticated layout that wasn’t centered around a television,” Claudia says. “I managed to pull this off, and it really works for us for both lounging and entertaining.” She also wanted to add eye-catching art and furniture that wouldn’t date in five years’ time. Sofas, coffee table and rug from West Elm
Comfy chairs and a large table were a must for the couple’s first real dining room. Claudia found the marble tabletop on Gumtree and had a local tradesperson build a white steel base for a streamlined look to counterbalance the busy chairs from Glicks. The graphic black sculpture is from West Elm.
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