ECL EC T IC DR E A MS
A glam interior makeover transformed this landmark Brisbane property into a stylish – and super comfortable – family home.
The Tudor Revival features of this house have been turning heads in Brisbane’s north for decades. Now, after a substantial interior makeover, it is set to be a standout for many more years to come. Intially attracted by its location, owners Elizabeth and Grant Flekser were further excited by the home’s potential. Interior designer Elizabeth, co-founder of Ivy+Piper, and Grant, an engineer and project manager, knew they had the necessary skills to achieve an impressive renovation.
Built in 1938, the two-storey property commands a large corner block and exudes character with its stucco render, black fretwork and stained-glass windows. Inside, original features such as decorative cornices, intricately carved beams and porphyry fireplace were all intact. “Preserving the original features was critical, but life in the wartime era was vastly different from the way we live today,” says Elizabeth. “We needed to extend and alter the layout to accommodate our children – Levi, now three, and baby Noah – and our busy lives.”
WhentheFleksersboughtthehouse,ithadthreebedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor with the kitchen, combined family and dining areas, study, formal living room and a powder room on the ground floor. They extended the first floor to accommodate a new main bedroom suite. A detached cottage on the property (built in a congruent style and formerly used as a guesthouse) contains Elizabeth’s studio, an additional bathroom and the laundry.
Although the rooms were well proportioned, Elizabeth says they felt cramped and there was a distinct lack of
natural light. As they moved through the house, visitors had to pass through the study and kitchen in order to reach the family area, alfresco entertaining zone and pool. It was clear radical reworking was needed.
Elizabeth’s vision was to enhance the home’s charming European vibe by “adding formality to the floor plan and spontaneity in the decorating”. The masterstroke was knocking through an existing cupboard under the stairs to create a new hallway that extends from the entrance to the family room. Opening up this area also allows natural light to penetrate the downstairs rooms, lifting the interior and enhancing the visual connection between spaces.
In order to accommodate the new main bedroom suite, the original two-way staircase had to make way for a singleflight stair. “I was dismayed to lose it as it was so striking
but it was necessary,” says Elizabeth. “However, we had a wrought-iron balustrade custom made for the replacement stairs that fits perfectly with the elegance and period of the house. It’s now one of our favourite features.”
With the layout sorted, decorating could begin. “I love the juxtaposition of old and new and I wanted to showcase our treasures alongside statement textiles and wallpapers,” says Elizabeth. “It creates a feast for the eyes but doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
Certainly, there is a strong element of whimsy here. Exuberant patterns and design flourishes enhance the detailed architecture. Regulation constraints meant they were unable to raise the height of the doorway between the kitchen and dining area, so Elizabeth employed a scalloped paint stencil to draw the eye upward. Layers of lavish fabrics festoon bedrooms and living areas, delivering bursts of colour throughout.
The powder room, one of Elizabeth’s favourite spaces, features a Pierre Frey wallpaper, antique mirror and deep teal-toned window reveals. “It has a magical feel and it’s a surprise to anyone who enters. To think we put so much into the smallest room in the house!”
The property’s undeniable grace and charm has clearly captivated its owners. “Grant and I feel blessed to be custodians of this special place,” says Elizabeth. “It’s a home crafted with surprise and whimsy, where we can grow, share and blossom.”
Ivy+Piper, Clayfield, Queensland; ivyandpiper.com.au. HansConstruct, Brisbane, Queensland; hansconstruct.com.