A simple and elegant design can have an amazing impact on a home.
It can even make it a home for generations to come.
This is the story of how one Australian family transformed a simple wooden house into an opulent living space.
Read moreABC News: “I have had the pleasure of working with many of the designers and decorators on the Silver House Project,” says Joanne Brown, a Sydney-based designer.
“Their passion for the art of decorating and the beauty of the building is just extraordinary.”
She says it was the first time her family had come to Australia, and was inspired by the architecture of China.
“They had taken us on a tour of their studio and they were very passionate about the way they wanted the house to look,” she says.
The home, built in the 1950s, has a massive open roof, an open floor plan and an eye-catching entrance hall that leads into the dining room.
Joanne says the interior is inspired by Chinese classics like the Golden Pavilion and the Great Hall of the Ming Dynasty.
“The architecture was designed for an urban setting,” she explains.
“It was designed to be contemporary, modern, elegant and contemporary.
It was designed with a huge open window, and we were able to get the whole room into a beautiful space.”
Joanne says she chose to build the home in the same style as Chinese houses from the late 19th century.
“When we first arrived, we didn’t know what to expect,” she laughs.
“We were so nervous we were going to get ripped out of the house,” she recalls.
“The first few months were so hard because it’s such a beautiful house, but it’s really beautiful.
The architecture was also a great compliment to the space.”
It’s also been a great experience for the family.
“We’ve got two young children who love the house so much,” she adds.
“And they love the dining area and the living room so much.”
Joane says the Silver house project has been very rewarding for her family, with the couple having a beautiful time and seeing their new home as an oasis.
“It’s a wonderful house.
It’s got a lot of history, and it’s been a very, very special experience,” she said.”
Our kids have loved it so much that they’ve asked to take a tour and we’ve had kids who have been there and they love it.”