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Paddington Project

Frankly Interior Design transformed a traditional home in Paddington into a contemporary living space with a design scheme and colours tailored to the client. The client has a passion for blues so we tried to carry this through to each of the spaces. Whether this was in a grey-blue tone or the more obvious blue in the custom blown glass pendant lights above the dining room table.

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Project by Frankly Interior Design
Place Paddington, Sydney
Project Type Residential
Category Residential
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In the bathrooms, our Manhattan Limestone was used for floors and walls. Although they are a grey tone they have fabulous warmth to them, making the spaces feel very welcoming.

Project Highlights

Natural Stone Landscaping in Paddington, Sydney

Natural stone paving plays a central role in shaping the home’s outdoor areas, creating a structured and cohesive courtyard environment. The stone surfaces enhance spatial flow while maintaining a refined and contemporary design language.

Selected for its durability, slip resistance and low-maintenance qualities, the natural stone performs exceptionally well in high-use urban spaces. The result is a sophisticated residential landscape that balances functionality with architectural clarity.

Products Used

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

Manhattan Limestone

Other Projects

Stairs as the Central Piece

North Harbour Residences

Coastal Whale Beach House

Bar La Salut, Redfern

Artarmon Showroom Transformation, Sydney

FAQs

Why is natural stone ideal for compact urban homes in Paddington?

Natural stone is durable, low-maintenance and visually cohesive, making it perfect for maximising smaller outdoor spaces in urban environments.

Can natural stone be used in courtyards and small outdoor areas?

Yes, it is ideal for courtyards, offering a refined finish while providing long-lasting durability for high-use spaces.

What types of natural stone are commonly used in Sydney landscaping?

Limestone, travertine and granite are popular choices due to their durability, natural textures and versatility.

Is natural stone suitable for high-traffic outdoor areas?

Absolutely. It is highly resistant to wear and provides slip-resistant surfaces, making it suitable for busy outdoor zones.

How does natural stone enhance indoor-outdoor living in urban homes?

It creates a seamless visual transition between interior and exterior spaces, improving flow and enhancing overall design cohesion.

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