When Ramy and Kerry first moved into their architecturally designed home in Freshwater, New South Wales in 2004, their lives were just beginning. They were starting a family, their careers were taking off, and their home became a background character in their busy life story.

20 years later, though, the couple decided they wanted a change. The easy solution could have been to start again. However, the pair loved the street, their favourite beach was just down the road, and they had so many fond memories of their kids growing up that they couldn’t bear to leave them behind.

The answer, then, was to breathe new life into their much-loved family home.

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frotn+of+house+

  “Ramy and Kerry really wanted a fresh coastal feel but with luxury inclusions,” says Fee Bruzzano from FE Design Interiors. “Their brief was simple: ‘make the best of this tired interior’.

Once they understood that my intention was to elevate the way they lived, they trusted me with suggesting cosmetic makeovers to some areas of the house and significant changes to others. The result is a home for all occasions, but most of all for this beautiful family to enjoy life again.”

To turn Ramy and Kerry’s dream into a reality, Fee first pulled apart the whole ground floor to unearth the homes’ ideal flow and function. The existing kitchen wall blocked a lovely view directly to the pool from the front door and the rest of the house, so Fee saw an immediate opportunity to open up the house and allow light and connection with the outdoors.

Purposeful Surrounds

ds1150 fe design freshwater hires 1
ds1150 fe design freshwater hires 1

While the home’s aesthetic needed to revolve around clean, luxurious, coastal design, Ramy and Kerry also wanted to incorporate two fireplaces into their living spaces so they could create a cosy ambience for family gatherings and get-togethers with friends.

“Each fireplace has its own special feel and purpose,” says Fee. “One is more formal and elegant in a quieter part of the home, which we layered with stunning, unusual, fluted Carrara marble paired with white shaker cabinetry and back-lit shelving. This timeless part of the house is perfect for get-togethers over wine and conversation.”

ds1150 fe design freshwater 02 hires web res
ds1150 fe design freshwater 02 hires web res

“The other fireplace is in the busy family zone opposite the kitchen and near the alfresco area to the pool. This area is used mostly for everyday activities, and with its V-groove is a more relaxed and fresher coastal feel. Grab a magazine and a cuppa, and cosy up!”

“I like to specify Escea fireplaces because of their heating capacity and beautiful dancing flames,” she says. “They are quite linear, and the ability to mix up the fuelbeds makes them a contemporary design rather than more traditional fireplaces.”

Ramy and Kerry’s family home now ticks all their boxes – and more. For Fee’s efforts, the home was also shortlisted in the 2023 IDEA Awards, in the Residential Single and Interior Curation categories.

Embracing Family Life

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collage 1_4

“The beautiful fireplaces add so much ambience to each room. These living spaces now effortlessly allow for gathering and conversation in a way that’s really respectful and natural to the house,” says Fee.

Both fireplaces featured in this home reimagination are Escea DS1150 gas fireplaces from Jarrod and the team at Stoke Fireplace Studio Sydney. Fee has worked with Jarrod for over 10 years – his extensive industry knowledge ensures clients' fireplace visions are realised with ease and efficiency.

Learn more about the Escea DS1150 gas fireplace here.