Wolseley Home by Mrs Smith

When interior designer Tahma Smith of Mrs Smith design studio was approached by the owners of this Mosman home, they were adamant the interiors shouldn’t fall flat against the Sydney harbour outlook. While they knew their prized views were something special, and not to be competed with, they had no desire to be driven by a typical coastal aesthetic. 

Instead, they lifted cues from contemporary Paris – it’s eclecticism and its elegance. Asked to consider these keywords every step of the way, Tahma has let the gentle flow of the day create a symbiotic relationship between inside and out. From cocooning, colourful spaces to free-flowing, open-plan areas, Tahma and her team have given the enviable Wolseley Home a defining je ne sais quoi.

On first glance, Tahma says there was nothing particularly noteworthy about the home’s bones  – except for its exclusive location. “It lacked personality and any endearing or interesting features to work with or retain, so my challenge was to create these moments for the owner and beyond,” Tahma explains. The late 90s three-storey townhouse was dated inside and had several bulkheads interfering with the home’s sense of connectivity. “My client wanted to start from scratch and so we completely gutted the space internally,” Tahma says. 

Tahma knew that nothing could compete with the views – or the abundance of natural light – so set out to establish a cohesive relationship between the interiors and outdoor area. Essential to this relationship was introducing natural materials such as Calacatta, Concordia and Superwhite Dolomite stone, chevron rubbed European oak flooring and aged brass, enhanced and varied by natural light. To create a simple, neutral colour palette, Tahma relied on alternating two tones: Porter’s Paints Dusty Mule and Dulux Natural White.

“This home is quite literally flooded with natural light,” Tahma says. “It was more important for me to create depth; areas that were a little more about shadow play and ambient light than full throttle natural glory.” This approach transpired in intimate pockets of the home, ready for relaxation and reflection, while Simple Studios’ window furnishings filter natural light, creating a soft glow and dappling shadow.

Tahma and her team concealed a lot of the home’s hardworking areas, such as the scullery behind wall panels in the open plan kitchen and living space. Wall panels in the master suites and hallway also hide extensive storage. Everything in the home is made with love, thanks to a passionate team of craftspeople. In particular, Jonathon West was responsible for all of the custom joinery in the home.

Naturally, Tahma snuck in a foraging trip to Paris and dedicated herself to finding unique objects on 1st dibs. “It wasn’t about newness or on trend product,” Tahma says. “I wanted this home to be filled with treasures that told a story and played with contrasts.” And with this approach, this Mosman home is a spectacle looking in and looking out – thanks to Mrs Smith design studio’s fastidious eye for detail and pared-down, eclectic aesthetic.