"We tend to collect and display art that means something to us," Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy.
The steep staircase, tucked away among frangipanis, bottlebrushes and huge ferns, leads to a light and airy Federation house. The large front door swings open and you are greeted by Skipper, the dachshund, and his owners, the creative duo Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs.
The house, in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bronte, is very much a family home. "It's where we express ourselves," Olsen says. "It encompasses what is important to us as a family. It tells our story."
When Olsen and Ormandy moved into the house, it was dark and damp and didn't open up to the outside. "After nine years living in the space, we worked with architect Sam Marshall and pretty much started from scratch to create what we have now," says Ormandy.
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"Connection to nature is important to us," adds Olsen. "The views over the ocean are amazing and we often see whales and dolphins."
The stark white space is a backdrop to playful splashes of colour from a plentiful supply of art by Stephen, their teenage daughter, Camille, Louise's mother Valerie Strong and friends. Upstairs hangs a portrait of Louise by David Bromley, a finalist in the 2008 Archibald Prize.
Everywhere you look there are curious objects, plates and vases. The couple's decorating style is an extension of their designs - the beautiful organic-shaped homewares and jewellery they make from resin. "I have always seen a house as a human body that you dress," says Olsen. "I often say our designs are like jewellery for the home."
Photography: Jennifer Soo
