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Home Herbert

Catherine de Meur Interiors transformed the lower level and the alfresco living area of the family residence with our Manhattan Limestone to create a timeless contemporary design with soft muted colours.

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Project by Catherine de Meur Interiors
Photography Maree Homer
Project Type Residential
Category Residential
Interior Design Interior styling by Tess Thyregod
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While the grey and white Manhattan Limestone tiles are quite neutral and elegant, the strategic placement of lighting in the bathroom made the stone look darker and much more dramatic.

Project Highlights

Manhattan Limestone at Home Herbert

Manhattan Limestone connects the interior and alfresco areas within the lower-level renovation of Home Herbert by Catherine de Meur Interiors. Honed limestone was used through the interior spaces and bathroom, while an Alfresco finish allowed the same stone to continue into the outdoor living area.

The limestone was a starting point for the wider design, which combines soft, muted colours, light lime-washed cabinetry and varied textures. In the bathroom, Manhattan Limestone Honed covers the floor and extends halfway up the walls, while carefully positioned lighting and a large mirror address the room’s lack of natural light. The kitchenette and alfresco area establish a different connection, using matching cabinetry, paint colours and Manhattan Limestone finishes to link the two spaces.

Sareen Stone supplied the Manhattan Limestone used throughout the Home Herbert renovation.

Products Used

Manhattan Limestone Tiles and Coping – honed finish for indoor and outdoor spaces

Manhattan Limestone

Other Projects

Darling Point Residence

The Perfect Contemporary Feature Wall

Hunters Hill Residence

Middle Dural Residence

Bellevue Hill Project

FAQs

What natural stone was used at Home Herbert?

Manhattan Limestone was selected for the Home Herbert renovation by Catherine de Meur Interiors. Both Honed and Alfresco finishes were used across the lower-level interior and outdoor living areas.

Where was the Manhattan Limestone used at Home Herbert?

Manhattan Limestone was incorporated into the lower-level renovation, including the bathroom and the transition between the interior and alfresco areas. In the bathroom, the Honed limestone was used on the floor and continued halfway up the walls.

Which Manhattan Limestone finishes were used?

Manhattan Limestone Honed was used for the interior areas, while Manhattan Limestone Alfresco was selected for the outdoor space. Using two finishes allowed the same stone to continue between the interior and alfresco areas.

Why was Manhattan Limestone selected for Home Herbert?

Cate from Catherine de Meur Interiors had seen Manhattan Limestone at the Sareen Stone showroom several years earlier and kept it in mind for a suitable project. For Home Herbert, she selected it for its texture, movement and suitability for a family space predominantly used by the clients’ teenage boys.

How was the bathroom designed without natural light?

The bathroom has no natural light, so Catherine de Meur Interiors used a large mirror to reflect light around the room, together with LED strip lighting and downlights. The lighting also changes how the grey and white Manhattan Limestone is perceived within the space.

Who designed the Home Herbert renovation?

Home Herbert was designed by Catherine de Meur Interiors, with interior styling by Tess Thyregod and photography by Maree Homer.

 

TAKE US THROUGH THE INITIAL STAGES WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THE HOME.

We were very fortunate to work with the noted Southern Highlands Architect, Martin McGrane, on the creative design and layout of our home. Together with Martin, we created a beautiful, contemporary open plan home to enjoy with our family and friends.  This is our forever home.

Through a friend of ours, we came across an interior designer, and a beautiful outdoor material, the Cathedral Limestone, which we just fell in love with. We worked closely with Peta Daniel, Interior Designer from Daniel Baker Design, based in Sydney.  Which was wonderful, Peta just got us and what we were wanting to achieve in our home and helped us to make it a reality, in the selection of materials and finishes.

 

WERE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE/PLACES THAT YOU TOOK INSPIRATION FROM WHEN DESIGNING/BUILDING THE HOME?

We were looking for a contemporary design, however, I didn’t want it to be too modern.  Inspired by a property in LA, that my husband came across, which we took some concepts from and added our ideas, and made it our own.

The LA contemporary look and detail leading into the house from the front door was something that we just loved.  Along with having one row of tiles that runs along the inside of the glass sliding doors leading into the living/dining room from the alfresco space was also a unique detail we wanted to include.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING PROCESS?

The build started in February 2020, and with all the delays throughout COVID, material delays, supplier issues, constant rain, mud pools, you name it, we had it!  Encountering all the possible elements, it felt like we were living in gumboots most of the time during the build.  It took 3 years to build the property, and 8 months just to get the roof on!

We had a deadline for our home to be finished by, which was our daughters’ wedding, being held in March 2023.

There were delays happening everywhere, including issues and delays with the quarry who were providing the Limestone that was to be used in all the outdoor areas surrounding the property.  We had chosen Cathedral Limestone in an alfresco finish with a lovely organic distressed finish on the edge, that we knew would complement the other natural materials we were using.  Time was of the essence, and it came to crunch time and the quarry could not provide a guaranteed time of delivery.  We thought what a disaster!

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SAREEN STONE.. AND HOW THE TEAM HELPED TO OVERCOME THE SUPPLY ISSUE WITH THE CATHEDRAL LIMESTONE.

Working closely with Michael Mastro, from Sareen Stone, he had been in constant contact updating me as best he could.  Then an alternative solution was presented, another Limestone of the same size and finish, with similar tones, which I hoped would work and arrive in time.  Sareen Stone had been behind the scenes working closely with another quarry, to create a new product ‘Lavarosa Anticato’, just for our project, so that we had a solution and were able to finish our home in time for our daughter’s wedding.

When the material arrived, we couldn’t have been happier.  We just loved the Lavarosa Anticato, and it worked so well with our colour palette, and love it even more than our previous selection.  We were over the moon!

 

DESIGNER COMMENTS:

Working with Kate and Eugene on this project was wonderful. They were passionate about the overall design but also the finer details and the interplay of the natural materials with the surrounding landscape.

It was very important that the natural material palette was harmonious, and that each element was both complementary and warm.

I’ve worked with Michael from Sareen Stone on a number of projects and have always been impressed with his professional advice and clear communication. The magnificent home warmly wrapped with the “Lavarosa Anticato” is simply stunning.   A beautiful project!

Peta Daniel, Daniel Baker Design

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Interior Designer:  Daniel Baker Design, 0414 341 778
Architecture:  Martin McGrane Architects, 0412 242 253
Photography and short film:  Bolt Media, 0426 607 040