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The owner of this ‘90s brick home in Ocean Shores, NSW lives here with his partner and two housemates.
The top level is the couple’s private sanctuary (inclusive of their bedroom and a separate living area), but the existing faux period features weren’t exactly inspiring rest and relaxation.
‘It was filled with synthetic, outdated finishes — think oversized faux heritage cornices, ceiling roses, and the classic mop head pattern across the ceilings,’ says Jana Isaza-Smith, interior designer and owner of Studio Isaza.
‘From the start, I knew it needed to be stripped back to be reimagined… It had real potential once all the visual noise was removed.’
Studio Isaza took the space back to basics ready for a fresh material palette of limewash walls, engineered timber flooring, and tall skirting boards.
The hero is the custom American oak joinery — both an aesthetic feature of the space and practical aspect that conceals a split-system unit.
‘Custom joinery helped to bring that sense of permanence and quality, while also making the most of the space,’ says Jana.
The bed, bed head, coffee table, and bench seats were also custom made with Heimur Furniture to harmonise with the new interior. ‘It was about designing every element to feel like it belonged,’ says Jana.
With these tweaks, the space is now calm, tactile, and refined.
‘I am most proud of how the space feels,’ says Jana. [The owners] told me it’s the loveliest place they have ever lived in, so that is a massive win.’
