apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

WOW!

Tasteful.

Splendid!

Incredible. I would never, ever leave your outdoor living area. Really, really well done.

*sigh* I love it! Great inspirations there, too, and the "pleppy/ecrecticness" of it all!

Beautiful home throughout. I especially like the photo of the sofa with the big window where you can see the greenery of the outdoors.

One of the best kids rooms I have seen. Sp organized even that looks great!

Gorgeous home. love the asian accents, esp. the chairman mao statue.

So beautiful, but not fussy. A great family home.

Lovely home, almost casual, lived-in, stylish and not frivolous. Not hung up on accents.

That said, I have to say that the editing of AT is is making me cringe: "arriving from Australian to Anthropologie" and not "from Australia"? "Pallet" instead of "palette"?

The pallet/palette thing seems to be all over AT today...Please folks, you're making our inner artists turn over and die.

Love that it is so lived-in looking. I wish my ironing bag was that small! Thanks for sharing.

So Beautiful!!!

With that outdoor living space, no wonder your friends never leave!

Your home is lovely.

Not sure i get the Chairman Mao statue. Is it supposed to be ironic? Would the owners have a Chairman Mao statue if they were Chinese?

Given the fact that he killed 20 million people, it doesn't seem very hip to me.

I have remarked that putting images of Mao around seems to be a Decorating Trend among yuppie Western Europeans and Americans (not among, I would assume people with Asian origin, or Chinese nationals, for example).

I wonder when pictures of Hitler will be hip?

The kitchen is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks for making me hate my own home now. What a gorgeous place!

Who makes the white desk with drawers?

Your home is lovely and so inviting. Well done!

The silhouette portrait wall is so great! This is one of my favorite home tours. I wish we could see more of the bath; it looks so elegant!

I love the outside area, the Asian influences and the fact that a home can be this neat and organized with two boys!

Really beautiful. I especially love the boy's room and the outdoor space. So jealous! Well done!

Real people with children actually live like this? Sigh...I give up.

It's beautiful. The bookcase in the kids room is inspiring. Must do something about storage in my son's room!

Gotta admit I also just don't get the appeal of having a Mao statue...sort of reminds me of the trend of putting babies in Che tee-shirts. What's the appeal? The place is still stunning though.

Really great, and I agree with most of the other posters . . . clean but not fussy, contemporary without being sterile and falling back on the same old mc cliches. But the Mao thing, can that just end? I mean really.

yea i agree withe the Mao comments (is Hitler next?)...and the beautiful home comments (though I prefer a less preppy look)...and especially Auburn's comment when she said :

"Real people with children actually live like this? Sigh...I give up."

Many Chinese artists do use images of Mao and the Cultural Revolution, whether for ironic or artistic reasons. Just as Andy Warhol did.

Should we ban religious art because of the crimes committed in the name of various religions?

I love the lived-in-feel of the home, and the silhouettes!

stunning!

On a website that seems to celebrate being creative in small spaces and leaving smaller footprints on the earth (e.g. the "small, cool" competition), i find it a little smug and rather disappointing to read the comment from the owner of this home that her 2700 sq feet house is lacking in scale! It also horrifies me that despite having a perfectly lovely home they plan to tear it all down. I hope the demolition doesn't include those beautiful sandstone? walls. What a waste. What a shame.

I love the chalkboard wall in the kitchen... Thanks for sharing your home.
-maria
vintage simple

You know, I recall reading that chalk dust accumulates in the human respiratory system, and presents a minor but genuine health hazard for teachers: given that so many kids today have allergies, I'd think twice before having a whole wall where kids especially are encouraged to chalk and wipe and generate dust, for nothing.

And I agree with milly6's comments, the house does NOT lack scale (or light) by any normal standards, and I hardly live in a hovel myself!

Nothing wrong with wanting the best home possible, but a sense of perspective, and realising how lucky you are, goes a long way towards having true peace of mind, imo anyway....

Tear it down?!?!?!

It's a perfectly beautiful home As-Is -
- Why would they do such a thing?

I am in awe of your organizational skills. I would be blissed out all the time if my house was that organized.

It's such a beautiful home-- I can't imagine tearing it down, either!

Thanks, everyone.

The white oak desk was made by James Lee Warner, a Master cabinetmaker in Sydney (and a very nice guy)!

The Maos are controversial, I know. I collect Chinese Cultural Revolutionary Figures. I'm not sure why they appeal to me, but they do! They are meant to be ironic, but I take your point about them and have made the same comment to myself about a Hitler lamp. They may be destined for eBay.

Oh, and the "scale" includes the outside (we measure both in Australia). When we do eventually renovate, we plan to do it sensitively and reuse all possible fixtures and materials, especially that lovely sandstone wall!

The goal is to capture some natural light and have cross ventilation (The Cubby used to be my Husband's Great Grandfather's stables and sits in a bit of a valley).

Thanks for your comments!

MaxK

Just lovely! I do love all the organization. Where are the baskets for the bookcase (is that Expedit? hooray expedit!) in the boy's room from? They look great in there.

The "Cult of Mao" is still quite strong, even in China. While he certainly killed a lot of people, many see the revolution as a beginning, going from feudalist, nationalist China and evolving into an industrial world power, at the hands of Mao. His party also greatly increased education and is still seen as the leader of the working people.

Of course, there is also the argument that the reason why people had (and often still have) such a positive view of him is because they were taught such in school.

Nevertheless, Mao's image is still considered to be somewhat of a luck charm all across China. It makes perfect sense to have a Chairman Mao statue.

That's my bike! I mean, I have that bike, only mine is dusty and locked in an apt. complex. Yours looks happier.

Thanks for the inspiring photos!

An absolutely lovely,beautiful home - the tidiness of it is overwhelming. You have a stunning bedroom - I love it. Great job - stay there as it is.

I'm a little concerned that the chalkboard wall shopping list has a reminder to get an extra virgin. For what, exactly?

Amazing house feels tranquil.. almost feel I could move in !!!!! Absolutely LOVE the product ,know it well ....Murchison - Hume ...

And the Rest...

White Bathroom Cabinets from Restoration Hardware, USA
Bathroom Tilting Mirror from “Recollections,” Leichardt
Custom made “magazine rack” (in WC) custom designed and made by Peter Kater!
Bathroom vanity chair bought at auction (Raffan, Kelaher & Thomas)
Water feature (above Koi pond) from Yardware, Surry Hills
Black Lacquered Daybeds (in Cabana) from Orson & Blake, Surry Hills
Florence Broadhurst cushions (on daybeds) from Signature Prints, Sydney
Water Hyacinth Ottoman (in Garden) from Equator Homewares, Glebe
Grey Garden planters from Garden Life, Darlinghurst (Sydney)
Upholstered Linen Chair (In Charlie’s Room) from David Met Nicole, Surry Hills
Woven baskets, Floor cushions and Throw pillows (in Charlie’s Room) from Country Road)
Row of Hooks (in Charlie’s room and Laundry) from Recollections, Leichadrt
Custom made Campaign Desk and bookshelves (in Ben’s Room) by James Lee Warner, Sydney (drawer pulls from Mother of Pearl & Sons, Sydney)
Chinese bedside tables (in Ben’s Room and Master) from Cotton Love Home
Antique Apothecary Bottles and antique desk calendar, (on Ben’s Desk) from Society, Inc. Paddington (Sydney)

Phrenology Head and Hand (in Ben’s Room) from REMO, Sydney
Brown cloth stationary boxes and files (Ben’s room) from
Kikki K.

mk

i find it funny that people are so concerned when folks choose to put statues of Mao in their homes. Yes, he was a naughty man. We get it. Now let's talk about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who both owned slaves in addition to other presidents. No one is up in arms over images of these men who supported an institution that has had lasting effects on our population for over 500 years. Give it a rest, folks. This is a design site. It is not a platform for your pseudo-liberal ideologies.

2 Questions: Where's the bunk bed from and do you have the name of the paint color in that child's bedroom? Both are must haves!

Thank you!

The Bunk beds are from Asset Furniture (Drummoyne) and the Paint is Porter's "Lake George." (all listed above).

Max,
What a gorgeous house you have. I love that you've managed to create glamour and chic without having to blow the budget by using IKEA cupboards in the kitchen and classic but not over the top expensive tiling in the bathroom. Creating a beautiful home is all about the choices that we make and not just the price tags - and your home is in an inspiration.
sx

Beautiful house! Thank you so much for showing the silhouettes that Karl created for you. Our website is www.cutarts.com if anyone would like to have original silhouette art done!

Lauren Johnson

Now let's talk about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who both owned slaves in addition to other presidents.

Wow, I never knew that. So did the other presidents that George Washington owned have to sleep with the slaves, or did they get their own dorm?

Not this house nor nearly any space on this site looks "lived in;" Most look composed for glossy magazines, not messy human habitation. That said, this home is truly gorgeous in its composition, although like many other spaces on this site, the emphasis seems to be excessively consumerist-- tasteful, yes; acquisitive, absolutely. So many spaces here are like exercises in a very precious and aesthetic conspicuous consumption, but disciplined (perhaps like the humans who would have to use it without making any marks beyond the blackboard or who soil so few clothes, they can be stored in a tiny laundry sack).

I suppose the point I'm getting to is this: why pretend that there is an ecological sensibility at work when what is going on is about buying things and arranging them? This doesn't seem like a home for people but a place for things--really nice things, though, placed well. It's not an environment. It's a cabinet.

I find that the place looks a bit too catalog-y for me. For example, those laundry sacks look like something out of a Pottery Barn catalog. I think it could have been photographed differently. The outdoor space is great though!

I like the fact that there is no "dead space" and that nothing seems fussy or over-designed. Practical, smart and elegant. One could easily imagine being comfortable in each of the rooms. Who makes that bicycle?

The laundry bags mentioned above are I think from the home-owners' own line of eco-conscious home cleaning/laundry products. Which is probably why they look perhaps a little 'staged'...

If my home were on Apartment Therapy I, too, would give it a bit of styling spruce-up before taking the shots! Give these guys a break!

Gorgeous home!

@blandwagon Extra virgin toothpaste. Duh.

I'm fortunate enough to have actually been to Max's home, and I have to say that it's absolutely divine. It's beautifully decorated but still feels very much like a family home. Well, done, Max. You've done an amazing job.

Natalie

Dear Max

Love your use of color, very fresh and innovative.
Simple yet elegant, and very practical at the same time.
Ofcourse this goes for the Murchinson-hume products too!!!
In your house your board for messages in the kitchen and the Cabbana to sit on are my favorite.
Also how all things in your home have a place.
The Cabbana is really inviting in fact I would love to be sitting on it with a glass of champagne.

xxx Hanneke

What an exotic mix of styles, so glamorous and so welcoming. I want to move in!

Dear Max,
Beautiful house,

Absolutely love the cleaning products,
I'd like to know a bit about them please ;P

xxx penelope

Oh, just to live here... love the kitchen and outdoor cubby... sharing a bathroom with all those boys - my thoughts and sympathies are with you!

OOOHHHHH!!!! I'm loving this one. The choice of colours for the walls are beautiful. I don't know which one I like best, the blue in the childs room or the gold in the master bedroom. So chic... And the cabana room, I imagine would be wonderful in Sydney in the summertime. Pass me a canape!

The kids bedrooms are gorgeous. I love the bookshelf storage and the blue is inspired. Lots of good tips to push me through the upcoming renos. Thanks

This house doesn't look catalogue-ey at all. Not once have I seem someone manage to combine so many influences without making it look over-cluttered. It is simple, chic, elegant and practical. That is a feat. Bravo.

I think the house is delightful, tasteful and doesn't sacrifice comfort to overly styling, which lets you know a family live there and live rather well.

Not at all sure what all the Mao rubbish is above, though. It seems to be rather spiteful, odd, ill thought out nit picking that has absolutely nothing to do with interior decorating. You could even see the Mao statuette as a nod to the design theme that runs through the house, with its lacquer boxes which come from a period of bound feet, but I don't see any feminists going bananas over the fact. I think the fact that Mao has been reduced to a novelty item is rather apt and to carry on this nonsense about him only serves to give him some form of power. The man's dead, so why not use him as a bookend!

Great sense of space and comfort and luxury without being forbidding or cold. I think this is what most homes strive for but rarely achieve. Possibly a smidge of jealousy may have inspired other posters.

The thing that surprises me is how people manage to have kids and go for cream colour schemes, and there seem to be a couple of kids in the photos for this house (unless they're props).

Anything of ours that is cream-coloured inevitably seems to end up with large multicoloured stains on it courtesy of our 2 and 4 yr old.

PS Ah ... re-reading I think I've answered my own question - you've gone into the natural cleaning products biz and are using the kids as guinea pigs...

Stylish, clever and practical! It's got it all - well done!

Lovely Home! We have had the pleasure of seeing the “before” and “after” of the renovation. And to think the kitchen was done in only 3 weeks time from start to finish. The photos of the home are just stunning. The decorating is very professional, not to mention the descriptions of the home.

Lovely Home! We have had the pleasure of seeing the home before and after of the renovation. And to think the kitchen was done in only 3 weeks time from start to finish. The photos of the home are just stunning. The decorating is very professional, not to mention the descriptions of the home.

Bottom line, well done.

Max Kater was born with style and panache. It doesn't surprise me one bit that her place turned out so perfectly! I am a Designer in Los Angeles and I plan on borrowing the chalk board idea (fantastic) I will give her full credit of course! Well done!!!

I believe the homeowner meant they were planning on tearing down some of the DECORATING, not the house itself: "In 2007, we did a DIY on the bathrooms, kitchen and garden (on a tight budget) to keep ourselves happy. Even though we plan to tear some of it down and start again, it was well worth it!"

The blackboard dust worry is so off-the-wall. I really doubt that the kids are going to be writing on the chalkboard full time.

Beautiful home my Australian Princess. Love the digs who would of guessed SCV brought out the Diva in you. The outdoor space is my favorite I can envision myself having a glass of wine or two in that spot. Love the entire home and keep bringing the masses your passion and products.

Gorgeous yet functional! Who wouldn't want to live there?
I would never leave the outdoor living area!
Thanks for sharing and inspiring me to get organized!

The best thing about this beautiful home is how much fun i always have when i visit! Not only does it look gorgeous but Max & Pete are always the most relaxed and fabulous hosts. xx

Very Very Clever. Just shows what you can do with a bit of imagination and a hell of a lot of style. I love it.

Janevir, i think you'll find that max has changed a number of her original comments including those about "tearing it ALL down". Max, i also live in the eastern suburbs (the phone number is a giveaway) and i have a good understanding of how scale works in australia. it was the comment you made about being embarrassed about the scale (given the ridiculously high cost of homes in the region and luxury of having a backyard) that seemed a little ungrateful/greedy to me.

I agree with Milly. Worse than wanting a larger house, Max is clearly testing his cleaning products on his own children.

The Department of Community Services will be hearing from me.

I adore this house. Oh to have such syle! Clearly this is a beautiful sylish home and lived in with children which makes it even more remarkable. I would love to be sitting out in the cabbana having a glass of wine on a balmy Australian evening! Also tremendous use of colour on the walls - classic and understated. You can pop me in this "cubby" any day and I will be in heaven.

I am certainly inspired.

Hee hee, I have just copied the greeny blue paint in the boys bedroom for our front sunroom and it looks perfect!! My husband thought I was mad but it makes the room... So, many thanks for the inspiration! I wonder what else I can steal!!!! And MikeA, you are joking right???

Errmm yes sallsall, for the avoidance of doubt (as the lawyers say) I was indeed joking (I read somewhere recently that on internet dating sites sarcasm was like the number one turnoff for men - luckily my partner is not a man).

I am in love with this home. Design meets functionality! I can picture every room being used and lived in. Often in featured homes I find myself thinking....."Does anyone really live there?"Truely impressive what you have done.
Thanks for sharing and making us all want to be designers in our own homes!

What is it that drives me to take the virtual tour of "Max and Peter's Cubby" once a week? I suppose it's that I've found the other tours either too stuffy, or too funky. M&P's is a beautiful balance of chic style, functionality, and just a wink at ironic cheek. In a "kid-centric" world,(and I'm a firm believer that children should play outdoors or in their rooms) I can easily see a comfortable family picture of unity in the common areas. Bravo, Max and Peter Kater! I would move into the cupboard in the blackboard wall at a moments notice!
And to their detractors...this is a design mag, no? If we're going to get all politically correct about our style, must I take down my treasured "Torture Instruments Through The Ages" poster??

I'm redecorating my Costa Rican villa and keep coming back here for inspiration. I think I have managed to find a fabric inspired by your green geometric pillows on the day bed for some ottomans and may even have to hide a tin of St. George by Porter's for my boys bedroom walls as well. Thanks.

I have never felt compelled to comment before, but have to say that cabana/outdoor space is one of the best I have ever seen. And the kitchen and bathroom aren’t too shabby, either. My only complaint is that I wanted to see more of it! Great job, guys.



Oh, and please don’t let the grumbling and yard-less (hello Milly6!) prevent you from posting your new house on AT. If you can achieve that level of chic using IKEA and Bunnings I can’t wait to see what you do when you do renovate! Overall this is one of the best tours I have ever seen. Well done.

Stunning, darling, warm and welcoming and So well put together. Bravo!