For Jane, it’s architect Phil Abram’s attention to detail that makes this place so special.
“The joinery and the sense of continuity from front to back are outstanding,” she says.
Other touches that might initially go unnoticed make you realise how clever this place is.
“All of the doors in the living areas are externally mounted and open outwards so you get more of a feeling of space inside. The deep reveal in the kitchen window cheats space there too…”
The benign dry warmth of the Mediterranean inspires a certain style of architecture: sun-bleached colours; bold, simple forms; and unfettered classical detail. This was the essence of the brief given to architect Phil Abram for a new Sydney home…
Even a trip to the bathroom at this home transports the visitor to exotic cultures… visitors are momentarily swept away to a place where temples reign and worship is a way of life – and that’s just while you’re washing your hands.
“The owners came to me with so many things they wanted to include,” says architect Philip Abram, “everything from African dolls to Balinese brackets and Indian elephant masks. So I knew that I had to provide lot’s of spaces to hang and display the things they’d collected. They also wanted a house that was unpredictable, with loads of light, warmth and openness.”
Phil had captured their thoughts brilliantly. In place of the dark, two storey jumble of stairs and unusable winding pathways, he created a huge entertaining-friendly home, complete with two extra storeys tucked into the existing roof line and a sun soaked courtyard.
“We both enjoy good food and wine, and love having friends and family around” the owners say…
At first sight you’d think the Abram family home had sat there for a hundred years. It’s wide verandas, lead-light windows and luscious paint colours are all vivid reminders of days when life was slower, sweeter and simpler. But looks can be deceiving.
“It only had the bare bones of the original federation character,” Philip recalls.
