Interiors

A Soothing Coastal Family Home Filled With Sweet + Unexpected Details

Clovelly is one of Sydney’s most tranquil neighbourhoods, known for its unique beach with concrete platforms on either side, transforming the bay into more of an ocean pool than a typical beach.

It’s unconventional, yet soothing — much like the interiors of this family dream home by Folk Studio located in the very same coastal suburb.

The resulting Clovelly House pairs pastel colours with playful wavy accents and custom details to create space that gently pushes the boundaries of what a beachside home could be.

Written
by
Christina Karras
|
Photography
by

Inside Clovelly House by Folk Studio.

Jardan lounge. Koskela Boowambillee coffee tables. Jardan Penny rug.

Calacatta Viola marble from Artedomus. Wall painted Dulux Blossom Time.

The mustard-coloured couch informed the rest of the playful palette.

Artwork by Dan Rushford. Banquette seat upholstered in mustard fabric. Jardan Huxley table. Jardan Gus dining chairs.

Custom bar designed by Folk Studio. Cult Flowerpot VP3 Table Lamp. Artwork by Victoria Zschommler.

Calacatta Viola marble from Artedomus.

The flexible floorplan allows the owners to host friends and family around the island.

Moroccan tiles are paired with more luxurious marble.

The serene space features terrazzo floors.

The second bathroom showcases a subtle blue theme.

The wavy brass Karu handles are part of a collaboration between Folk Studio and Lo & Co.

The main bedroom. Artwork by Pia Murphy.

The entry space in the hallway features a handy built-in bench with storage. Lo & Co Karu pull handles.

Writer
Christina Karras
Photography
8th of May 2024
Interior Design
Builder

Paperbark Projects

Landscape Designer
Location

Clovelly, NSW/Gadigal Country

The brief behind Clovelly House was to create ‘an unconventional, yet soothing dream home’.

After initially planning to rebuild their home, the owners realised the scale of the construction would leave them with little money to invest in their interiors, and instead decided to engage Folk Studio for an internal overhaul.

‘At the beginning of the project, our clients had just fallen pregnant,’ Folk Studio director Mariah Burton says. ‘By the time we had finished, their beautiful boy was nine months old, so we designed the home with a growing family in mind.’

This meant instilling a sense of flexibility in every room to ensure the house felt like somewhere fun they could entertain friends and family while accommodating everyday life with a new baby.

Working closely with the couple in such a milestone phase, Mariah’s goal was to create spaces that accurately reflected the owner’s personality — and their journey together.

‘I wanted each space in the home to feel custom to their lifestyle. So asking how they live and what they like to do, how they host and even what type of wine they enjoy was all part of designing little zones in the home,’ she adds, pointing out the bar area and a custom vertical wine rack that’s quickly becoming one of Folk Studio’s signature features.

The palette for Clovelly House began with the large mustard sofa that sits proudly in the middle of the living room. From here, they drew inspiration from the house’s seaside location for the blonde timbers and tonal hues, but bought in pops of pastel pink and blue for a fresh take on the coastal aesthetic.

Luxurious touches of Viola marble feature in the blush-pink kitchen and the bespoke wavy detailing above the fireplace, as each of the bathrooms also reveals subtle curves in the brass handles. And a large contemporary artwork hung by Dan Rushford is hung above the dining table, cementing the home’s cool factor.

‘I wanted to push the boundaries in terms of the colour synergies,’ Mariah says.

On one hand, the finished home feels warm and familiar, with the same light energy you’d expect from a beachside house. But up close, there’s plenty of small details that make it just as unique.

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