Iris is a Newtown home that came together room by room, each space asked to work harder and feel more like the people living in it.

In the laundry, function came first. We needed to fit a full washer and dryer as well as a pull out ironing station, without losing any sense of ease or order, and the black finishes that had dated the space had to go. What emerged is a laundry that finally has room to breathe, practical, considered and no longer an afterthought.

The powder room was a different brief altogether: to move it away from feeling like a functional utility space and into something closer to a jewel box within the home. The clients were drawn to beautiful natural materiality and wanted a room that felt sophisticated, warm and memorable. We approached it through tone, texture and form, building a layered, immersive atmosphere around a custom stone vanity with exaggerated bullnose profiling, chosen for its sculptural presence and strong material character. Rather than leaning on contrast, we layered tonal blush and burgundy hues throughout to create a cocooning space that feels both dramatic and refined. Handmade wall sconces, an organically shaped mirror, richly veined stone and deep toned marble floor tiles all play their part, with subtle brass detailing bringing warmth and softness to the restrained palette. The result is a powder room that feels intimate, layered and luxurious.

"We wanted this space to feel unexpected, somewhere that immediately made an impression, but still felt warm and inviting. Nikki really understood how to create that balance. The stone vanity is probably my favourite feature, it feels more like a beautiful sculptural piece than a traditional bathroom vanity."

The living room held the biggest transformation. The brief was to take a formal heritage room, full of beautiful original architectural details but stark and underused, and turn it into a space the family would actually want to live in. We embraced colour as the driving force, enveloping the walls in a soft blue that creates a rich backdrop for the ornate plasterwork, original fireplace and decorative detailing throughout the room. Rather than restoring the space to a traditional heritage interpretation, we explored how colour, form and contemporary furnishings could respectfully coexist with the home's history. A sculptural curved sofa softens the room's formal proportions and encourages conversation, while oversized contemporary artwork creates deliberate contrast against the ornate detailing. Personal pieces, including a family heirloom clock and a brass leopard collected on the clients' travels, were woven into the scheme, adding narrative and a deeper sense of connection to the home.

"The blue walls completely transformed the room. What was once a space we rarely used is now one of our favourite places to relax, entertain and spend time together. It feels both bold and incredibly welcoming."

Iris is proof that even the most functional rooms in a home, a laundry, a powder room, can hold as much personality and craft as the ones designed purely for show.