A collection of design classics brings warmth, restraint and contemporary layering to a compact, light-filled, inner-Sydney terrace.
The house
A rented two-bedroom terrace in inner-Sydney’s Surry Hills with high ceilings and natural light that blends Victorian character with relaxed, lived-in charm.
Who lives here
Emma Elizabeth Coffey, a creative director, curator and designer, and her flatmate. What I did As it’s a rental, Coffey focused on transformative but reversible updates: “I rearranged the layout through styling, softening the lighting with lamps, and layering tonal textures through art to elevate each space without changing the bones.”
Favourite room
“The main living area. It’s where the light is best, and I experiment most with form, colour and contrast.”
The ’hood
“Surry Hills feels like a creative village in the heart of the city,” says Coffey. “There are great galleries, bars, eateries and designer shops nearby, yet I live
in a quiet, leafy street.”
Future plans
“I’ll continue to refine the space with more Australian design, sculptural lighting and custom pieces, proving that even a rental can keep evolving.”
Best advice
Coffey recommends playing with proportion and texture before committing to big changes: “Small shifts in scale, sculptural pieces or tonal tweaks can completely reset a room’s mood.”
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