Something old, something new: A Federation home finds its style

This Federation home had good bones and water views, but needed a lot of love. After a significant extension and first floor addition, the renovation was complete, but still needed work.

That’s where Joanne Yeomans of Issy & H Creative stepped in. What followed was a masterclass in reading a home. Honouring its heritage while confidently embracing something bolder and more contemporary.

Come take a look inside this heritage Federation home that got a second lease on life.

A wide, symmetrical view of the formal living room at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a central black and white heritage fireplace flanked by matching arched recessed bookshelves with dark wood timber backing, balanced by a modern curved bouclé sectional sofa and glass dome floor lamp.

A styled look at the formal living room fireplace and seating area at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a white mantle with an oval gold mirror, a textured bouclé sofa with plaid and navy cushions, a marble coffee table, and an arched built-in shelving alcove.

A wide interior view of the open plan dining and living space at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Showcases an oval timber dining table with cream minimalist chairs, a textured blush rug, a dark timber sideboard with abstract artwork, and a wood-panelled fireplace wall.

This tired Federation home was well and truly ready for its transformation.

“Located in Drummoyne, New South Wales, this home had all the hallmarks of a Federation classic but it had seen better days,” Joanne tells us.

“It was very tired and dated. It needed love to bring it back to its former beauty. The renovation added an open plan kitchen, living and dining space on the ground floor. Then, on the new first floor, 3 new bedrooms and 2 bathrooms were added.

“The owners completed the major renovation and afterwards, had decision fatigue. They couldn’t visualise the finished spaces and had no idea where to start with colour or style.

“By the time I came on board, the hard work was done so I got to focus on the fun part! My clients were more than happy to hand over the reigns and trusted my vision. These are the best kind of clients!”

A beautifully preserved formal living room at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Showcases a modern curved bouclé sectional sofa with beige and navy pillows, a stone coffee table featuring a chess set, a built-in arched bookshelf with dark wood backing, and a classic white fireplace mantle beneath an ornate ceiling rose and brass chandelier.

A view of the luxury kitchen at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative, taken from behind the living room sofa. Features a waterfall marble island bench with three woven-back timber bar stools, a matching stone splashback, white overhead cupboards, and integrated dark woodgrain pantry joinery.

A luxury master bedroom at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative looking out to water views through large floor-to-ceiling windows. Features a bed dressed in white textured linen, patterned sage green accent pillows, a minimal bedside lamp, and a view of rooftops, a palm tree, and the river.

A luxury bathroom design at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a floating dark charcoal timber vanity with a grey stone top, a grey-rimmed basin with minimalist wall-mounted tapware, an oval mirror, textured grey subway wall tiles, and two round frosted globe wall sconces.

A luxury bathroom sanctuary at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a white freestanding oval bathtub tucked under a sloped ceiling, set against dark vertical timber wall panelling. A natural wood bath caddy with a rope detail holds a small vase of flowers next to hanging patterned towels.

Joanne was ready to bring in colour, art and help create cohesion between the old and the new.

“The ground floor extension had its own strong personality from the outset,” Joanne says. “It was darker and bolder than the existing home, with chocolate timber panelling, oak engineered floors and super white marble accents in the kitchen.”

“Those dark, rich materials called for colour and texture in the furnishings to match. We added bold art, layered pieces and a confident palette, all while keeping the conversation going between the old and new parts of the home.

“Bringing a home together is often about finding the right anchor pieces. In this home, bold artwork did a lot of the heavy lifting. The art we chose worked with similar tones for the furniture.

“The Anya Brock landscape in the dining room was paired with a shiraz colour buffet from GlobeWest, dining table and chairs from Casa Blanco and a pink rug from RJ Living.”

A beautifully curated interior styling vignette at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a dark stained timber sideboard cabinet topped with design books, a terracotta vase with eucalyptus branches, an eclectic green and pink checkered goblet vessel, and a large abstract landscape art piece hanging on the wall. — Landscape artwork by Anya Brock

A wide open plan living, dining, and kitchen area at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a modern oval dining table with cream minimalist chairs, integrated dark woodgrain wall panelling, a kitchen island with timber bar stools, and floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains in the background.

A classic long entry hallway at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features deep olive green walls, a traditional white architectural archway, glass bell jar pendant lantern lights, a long patterned hallway runner rug, and a curved timber console table leading to a stained glass front door.

A beautifully styled three-tier black metal bar cart at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Set against a warm vertical timber panelling wall, featuring cocktail glassware, spirits, design books, a white ceramic face bowl filled with lemons, and a framed botanical still-life art piece hanging above.

Every room in this Federation home has its own mood, yet they all still feel connected.

“In contrast to the dining room, the formal living room took on a more traditional approach. The traditional style uses a navy, brass and neutral colour palette,” Joanne explains.

“We also chose to design curves into the new bookcase joinery as a subtle nod to the modern contrast of the extension which adjoins it.

“The same dark timber is used throughout the extension, creating a quiet visual thread between old and new. It’s this kind of thoughtful detail that creates a truly cohesive home.”

A close-up view of the kitchen island bench at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Highlights the marble benchtops, three woven-back timber bar stools, a curved white island base, and rich dark woodgrain wall panelling with an integrated hidden door and black wall clock.

An expansive open plan living room, dining area, and kitchen at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a large grey modular sofa, a marble waterfall kitchen island with timber bar stools, an oval dining table, and large glass sliding doors that open up to a spacious alfresco balcony with outdoor seating.

A classic heritage formal living room at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. Features a white fireplace mantle, twin arched built-in bookshelves with timber backing, a bouclé sofa, vintage-style brass globe chandeliers, ornamental ceiling roses, and decorative crown moulding.

A close-up detail of a custom built-in bookcase at Drummoyne House - Issy & H Creative. The dark timber shelves are styled with curated hardcover books, a vase of blue hydrangeas, small sculptures, and a decorative picture frame, with a plaid window seat visible in the background.

The aim of this home is to age gracefully by design.

“When it comes to mixing heritage with new, it’s all about balance and being sympathetic to the original home,” Joanne says.

“My process always starts with observation. I usually start with appreciating and studying what is already there, then work to complement rather than overwhelm the existing spaces.