A complete transformation of a heritage-listed, double-fronted terrace in the heart of Paddington, this project reimagines the home as a grand four-storey residence for contemporary living. Gutted and rebuilt behind its historic façade, the house now balances its original character with light, volume and functionality suited to the residents. The brief called for three bedrooms with ensuites, an additional powder room, a kitchen with butler’s pantry, and a dedicated wine cellar. Colour, pattern and William Morris wallpaper were central to the vision – layered, expressive and sophisticated, but with a clear request for no pink. From the outset, the clients’ art collection, together with Marylou’s considered use of materiality and fabric, shaped the palette, creating a contemporary interior that honours the home’s retained heritage character.

On the ground floor, the plan was reshaped to establish a grander sense of arrival. The staircase was relocated to create a more generous entry hall, framing views through to the garden and setting the tone for the colour story beyond. At the front, the formal living room and study retain the spirit of the original terrace, with restored fireplaces and heritage detailing anchoring each room.

Here, Marylou’s use of colour, wallpaper and floor coverings begins to unfold. William Morris patterns wrap selected walls, while painted joinery is matched to tones found in both the wallpapers and the clients’ artworks. In the powder room, distinctive tiled floors and walls work alongside veined stone and sculptural mirrors, creating jewel-like spaces that feel bold yet harmonious.

Towards the rear, the house opens into the main living, dining and kitchen spaces, with a bar opening off the living room. The kitchen, supported by a functional butler’s pantry, is grounded by natural stone benchtops and checkerboard stone flooring, giving a sense of permanence and durability. Timber flooring carries through the entrance, formal living, study, passages and stairs, providing warmth and continuity, while decorative lighting – clustered pendants and carefully placed wall lights – adds a contemporary note that ties the sequence of rooms together and gently highlights architectural details.

The roof space has been transformed into a generous third bedroom with ensuite, turning a previously dormant area into a comfortable retreat. Enveloping wall colour, patterned textiles and a carefully edited mix of furniture and lighting give this level its own personality, while still echoing the palette and motifs found throughout the home. The result is a secluded, calm and spirited sanctuary.

The lower ground was excavated to create a new basement level, introducing a garage, cellar and generous storage. Responding to the clients’ wish for a wine cellar, this level is conceived as an intimate retreat rather than a purely functional space; the cellar includes a table and bar stools so it can be enjoyed for tastings and conversation as part of the broader entertaining experience. Custom joinery, atmospheric lighting and richly toned finishes make the cellar feel like a natural extension of the spaces above, stitched into the home’s vertical circulation by an internal elevator that connects three of the levels.

Across all four levels, original fireplaces and heritage elements are retained or reinstated wherever possible, grounding the new work in the building’s history. The elevator, joinery, tiling and lighting are resolved as part of a single interior language, ensuring that bold moments of colour and pattern feel seamless rather than eclectic. Layering William Morris pattern, stone, tiles, sandstone, curated art and custom upholstery, Tapestry House becomes a richly expressive yet calm and cohesive home – heritage-listed, deeply personal and designed to endure.