"I think there's a 'warrior-woman' energy in my house with all the girls, so we wanted the space to be very relaxed," says Sam, who lives with her husband Michael, their three young daughters and their dog in a semi-detached home overlooking the ocean.
Sam engaged Shona McElroy of Smac Studio for the design and emphasised that she'd like the home to have a calming energy to balance the family's vivacity, while making the most of space and light. Practicality for the kids was also top of mind.
Even though the home was a new build, there were still some adjustments to be made before Sam's interior goals could be realised. "There's always challenges with the build," admits Sam. "I think one of the biggest things is that you have your architectural plan, and then once they start building, the space is never exactly as it's been mapped out."
Sam had the foresight to bring Shona in at the development application stage and, thankfully, Shona was able to bring her architectural skills to the project. The powder room under the stairs wasn't fitting so it was redone and given a curved roof. A wall was cut from the entrance to bring in natural light down the staircase, and the children's bath was moved seven times to make everything fit.
"That was unbelievable," says Sam. "I don't think anyone could have done that but Shona... she is a spatial acrobat."
While it can be a risky choice opting for lighter shades of furniture with a house full of young children, Sam points out that, "although we used light colours we used special fabrics that are basically indestructible, so it all just sort of wipes off. We took all of that into consideration."
Sam's original colour brief included a lot of earthy, neutral tones, which Shona adhered to closely, with one exception - she suggested adding blush for a bit more colour. The elegant powder room displays this comforting hue, with blush also running through the marble in the kitchen counters and the bathroom tiles. The end result is a dream come true for Sam and her family.
"I couldn't be happier. Every little detail in this house was so agonised over. I wouldn't change a single thing. I love it... When you walk in, you get a sense of light and comfort and an easy feeling, which is exactly what we wanted," says Sam.