A daily dose of escapism was what the well-travelled clients wanted for their family home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. A place where they felt permanently on holidays. For inspiration, they cited classic villas along the Mediterranean coast.

The original house had a French Provincial style, and formal Parterre Garden. We replaced its rigid geometries with gentle curves in Marrakesh rendered walls and cobblestone outdoor paving. Rooms are rearranged to flow effortlessly into the garden, a series of interconnecting courtyards, each tuned to aspect and privacy.

Inside, the sunbleached palette includes Marrakesh rendered walls, terracotta, white-enamelled woodwork and aged metal architectural hardware. Furnishings are a carefully curated mix of large vintage pieces from around the world and holiday finds — rustic objects of ceramic and stone, wood, wicker and glass, that pop against the white-enamelled floorboards.

Our landscape collaborator Marcia Hosking loosened the garden’s stiff formality with billowing palms, scrambling vines, succulents and cactus, creating a robust tropical Caribbean flavour, that completes the holiday vibe.