Photography: Tom Ferguson | Styling: Olga Lewis
Colour, texture and whimsy are woven into this California bungalow in Sydney’s Inner West. Home to Ebony and Sean Russell and their two children, the spaces are eclectic and thoughtful, with a mix of materials and new and vintage pieces. Ebony, a ceramicist, has layered art throughout, including some of her own beautiful pieces.
The family bought the house in 2019, with the intention to renovate. “It was definitely a fixer-upper,” says Ebony. “It was liveable, but it was not in any way comfortable.”
The renovations started later than they had hoped – with lockdowns forcing them to wait – but in 2022 they asked architect Mark Szczerbicki, of Mark Szczerbicki Design Studio, to undertake the project.
“I previously designed the neighbours’ extension, which they really liked,” says Mark. “When they became friendly with the neighbours, that’s how they found me.” The original three-bedroom home was “a bit of a squeeze for four humans, two cats and Ebony’s art practice”. The kitchen was in one of the bedrooms and everything was separated from the big backyard by a “ramshackle” shed at the back.
The initial brief was straightforward, with generous bedrooms for the children and a shared bathroom top priorities. Ebony and Sean wanted to retain as much of the original character of the house as possible, with the facade remaining. The brief also included an art studio with kiln for Ebony’s practice and space for the couple’s art collection.
“We wanted a house that had two bedrooms for our daughters and a nice space for me and Sean – a parents’ retreat with a bedroom, walk-in robe, ensuite and an office for Sean. We wanted it to feel like a section of the house that was an adult zone,” says Ebony. “And to then have a hidden extension at the back that gave us all the mod cons.”
“I’m in no way a beige sort of person – I’m a maximalist.”
EBONY RUSSELL, ARTIST AND OWNER
The extension houses living, dining and kitchen spaces, connected but not all open-plan, with areas for entertaining and family gatherings. “We wanted the TV to be in a separate area – so the family and entertaining area was based around conversation,” says Ebony. The television can be found in the rumpus room/library.
The renovation was a collaboration, with Mark, Ebony, Sean and Ebony’s good friend, designer Anna Dance, all involved. “While we did the architecture, Anna and Ebony drove the interior design process,” says Mark. “We did the base design for the joinery, the layout and so on. Colours, materials and finishes were chosen by Ebony and Anna, then we oversaw the construction of it.”
The windows and cladding on the extension were Sean’s area of expertise, having worked in the field for many years. “That was what he was passionate about, and the project uses a type of top-hung door in the living and dining area, which was a new product at the time,” says Mark.
With the interiors, Anna, who lives in Brisbane, made a few visits to Sydney where she and Ebony would go on “reconnaissance missions”. “Anna knew me so well and she shared my aesthetic,” says Ebony. “But also wasn’t scared to take on all these different surfaces and have fun with that.
“I’m in no way a beige sort of person – I’m a maximalist. When it came to choosing all the things for the house, I relied on Anna to help me navigate that. In terms of the style of the house, I wanted rich textures and layered surfaces.”
When the family first moved in, Ebony had worked from a building at the back of the property. Now, she says, “it’s a privilege to get to have a studio at home which isn’t a bench in the laundry or the lean-to at the back of the house. My practice with ceramics is time pressured, so I need access to my work 24 hours a day to continue the layers. The studio at home has been amazing.”
“In terms of the style of the house, I wanted rich textures and layered surfaces.”
EBONY RUSSELL, ARTIST AND OWNER
THIS IS THE LIFE
Ebony says one of the joys of the renovation was the relationship they built with their architect and their builder. “It was phenomenal,” she says. Favourite rooms? “We love so much about the house that I’d find it hard to choose just one,” says Ebony. “I love the butler’s pantry because it’s such a small space, but it’s so rich with the chequered terrazzo tiled floor and deep terracotta walls.”
The Design Team
Mark Szczerbicki Design Studio: markszczerbicki.com
Miso Building: misobuilding.com.au.
Ebony Russell: martinbrownecontemporary.com/ebony-russell/
Shop the look
For maximum visual impact and warmth, artfully layer textures and finishes in rich hues.
Floridia Round Wall Mirror
Freedom, $199
Gracie Peach Terracotta Rug
Miss Amara, $719
Bambury Linen Coverlet
Freedom, $649
The Lowdown
Mustard Made, $419
