W
ith its dazzling white-
painted facade draped
inbougainvillea, cactus
and tall palm trees just
visible over the fence,
this mid-century house in Sydney’s east
could easily be located inCalifornia. And
that is exactly what the owner, health-club
entrepreneur Marcello Jimenez, wanted.
When Marcello bought the three-storey
house – once the Cambodian consulate – in
2014,it was very dated, with dark timber
floors, an enclosed kitchen and 1980 s
decor. But the beauty of the1950s design,
by renowned Sydney architect Douglas
Snelling, shone through.
Marcello says his vision was to “LA-ify”
the property. “It’s not a Frank Lloyd Wright
house by any means, but between the home
and the garden, it had a very Palm Springs
feel.” He engaged interior architect/
designer Romy Alwill, principal of AlwillInteriors, for the project. “I think the house
was lacking focus and, as a result, soul,”
says Romy. “There was plenty of space but
it hadn’t been well allocated.”
The ground floor contains a sitting
room, adjoining bedrooms for Marcello’s
two children – daughter Arie, eight, and
son Sol, five – a family bathroom, and a
large open-plan kitchen/dining/living
room with views over the pool and to the
city beyond.
The lower-ground floor is largely the
children’s domain. The generous family
room is currently furnished comfortably
yet practically for playtime. Marcello has
plans for a circular leather sofa, but he’s
waiting for the right time. “The kids are
still young and I’m particular, so it’s fine
as it is for now,” he says. There is also a>