The home
A 1901 bungalow with a Cape Cod-style extension on the edge of Centennial Park, in Sydney's east.
![“Growing up, I’d sit at the bench watching my mum cook,” says Claire. “Now I love to cook, so I’m always in the ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817191125im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/w/3/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvow4x.png/1492736190121.jpg)
Who lives here
Interiors stylist and designer Claire Delmar, her husband James, an IT sales director, and children Leo, 7, and Willow, 2.
![A corner of the home’s main living room. The artwork is by Christopher McVinish and the chair by Norman Cherner. In the background, Claire has fitted a vintage bar door on the bathroom.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817191125im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/w/7/w/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png/1492672359452.png)
A corner of the home’s main living room. The artwork is by Christopher McVinish and the chair by Norman Cherner. In the background, Claire has fitted a vintage bar door on the bathroom. Photo: Jennifer Soo
What we did
"Downstairs, we knocked through walls to create a large open kitchen, and the living space now has bi-folds leading onto the deck," says Claire. "I've used minimal materials: wood, cement, marble and aged brass. I'm always drawn to a palette of greys, often with a touch of navy."
![In the main bedroom, the curtains are made from a re-purposed table runner.
The photographic artwork is another by Claire and Felix Forest.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817191125im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/w/8/j/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png/1492672372970.png)
In the main bedroom, the curtains are made from a re-purposed table runner. The photographic artwork is another by Claire and Felix Forest. Photo: Jennifer Soo
Favourite room
The kitchen. "The cabinet doors' glass panels are made from salvaged bar doors," says Claire. "The splashback is cheap, double-compressed cement from Bunnings. And on one wall I have a long, floating shelf that displays some of my ceramics collection."
The 'hood'
"Great neighbours, good coffee shops, and I love walking around Centennial Park."
![A table and chairs set bought on Ebay feature in the kitchen’s breakfast
area. The artwork is a photograph by Felix Forest.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817191125im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/w/9/0/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png/1492672384791.png)
A table and chairs set bought on Ebay feature in the kitchen’s breakfast area. The artwork is a photograph by Felix Forest. Photo: Jennifer Soo
What's next
"To renovate upstairs and give it a more modernist style," says Claire.
![In Willow’s bedroom,“I thought it needed a bit of femininity, so I commissioned
[Sydney-based artist] Claire Nakazawa to paint the tree,” Claire says.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817191125im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/w/8/x/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png/1492672384353.png)
In Willow’s bedroom,“I thought it needed a bit of femininity, so I commissioned [Sydney-based artist] Claire Nakazawa to paint the tree,” Claire says. Photo: Jennifer Soo
Best tip
"Keeping to three materials is good: I've used mainly wood, concrete and brass," says Claire. "And stay with three colours, so everything works back with the base. That way, it's classic and can last for years."
![Claire has a passion for ceramics and creates styled still-life images of tabletops for
her blog, The Palate Project. Photographic artwork by Claire and Felix Forest.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170817191125im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/w/8/m/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x0.png/1492672381173.png)
Claire has a passion for ceramics and creates styled still-life images of tabletops for her blog, The Palate Project. Photographic artwork by Claire and Felix Forest. Photo: Jennifer Soo