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| Boiler room penthouse |
| A surprising transformation as an old boiler room is turned into a warm and welcoming home. |
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It's hard to believe anyone would describe a hospital boiler room as cosy. Well, with the help of designer Dana Tosolini, this old boiler room has been turned into a warm and welcoming home.
When Greg bought this property it had lived many lives — first a boiler room, then an apartment and finally, a designer penthouse. Initially Greg thought he would leave the house as it was because it had recently been painted in bone and navy, and had a masculine feel. But when Greg's close friend, Dana Tosolini of Concepts Interior Design, saw the property, she new it could be transformed into something fabulous.
Greg gave Dana carte blanche, a rare thing in a client. Dana accepted the challenge and set about creating a warm home with a cheery welcome. The apartment's décor was cold, so she had a clean slate to work with.
Dana spent two weeks on the design and Greg was happy with the first draft. So, without further deliberation, a painter was set to work and within six weeks the penthouse had been transformed.
Previously, Greg had lived in a small one bedroom apartment, so he didn't have enough furniture to fill the penthouse. The furniture Dana designed fitted perfectly into the new, larger space. Greg loves to entertain and can seat about 33 people on his various sofas and chairs. His dining table sits 10 and has extremely comfortable seats. In fact, Greg says dinner guests often want to spend the entire evening sitting around the table.
Greg wanted a livable house that people can enjoy, so his designer furniture is comfortable and sturdy, as well as pleasing to the eye. Wild parties often finish with guests dancing on the coffee table — something Greg encourages.
Greg was restricted to a tight budget so Dana searched Op Shops for some fantastic bargains. Most of the fabric used in the upholstery was cheap, costing about $20 per metre. A lot of the furniture was custom made by Dana, with accessories bought at various Op Shops. The overall cost of the makeover was about $10,000, which isn't bad for a whole new house.
For many, hiring a designer sounds expensive, but it can be quite cost effective — especially if the designer is a close friend. Dana was able to buy materials at wholesale price and her fee was just a small percentage of the cost of the furniture. Dana encouraged Greg to choose a few accessories and art works himself. She thought the personal touch would make the penthouse less "professionally decorated." She wanted Greg to feel at home straight away.
Dana was inspired by Greg's job as a Copywriter to write a slogan across the back wall, but left it to the professional to devise a suitable saying. So, splashed across the wall is Greg's slogan — "Hi honey, I'm home."
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More Info
To contact Dana Tosolini call Concept Interior Design.
Ph: 02 6273 9525
e-mail: cid@dynamite.com.au
Bedroom furniture from:
Isherwoods Workers in Wood
1 Knox St
Chippendale NSW
PH: 02 9211 2226
Email: isherwoods@bigpond.com.au
Lamps and other many other accessories from:
Planet Furniture
419 Crown St
Surry Hills NSW
PH: 02 9698 0680
www.planetfurniture.com.au
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Disclaimer
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