Troye Sivan Converted His Home’s Wine Cellar into a Bathroom
Sure, a wine cellar is cool… if you’re into wine. But Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan decided he wanted something different.
Along with designer David Flack of local firm Flack Studio, Sivan re-imagined a Victorian-era home to create “unquestionably Australian, from the plantings in the garden to the art on the walls.” He showed off his unique pad to Architectural Digest, and the peaceful home exudes the star’s individuality.
After living in America for the last five or so years, Sivan returned to his home country to be with family in March, and decided to put down roots. The house he chose has lived plenty of lives of its own, serving as everything from a handball court and brick factory before it was transformed into a residence in 1970 by Australian architect John Mockridge.
“I wanted to preserve that bohemian spirit and honor the original architecture while creating something that feels like me,” said Sivan.
The main sitting area features a vintage Percival Lafer couch opposite a plush Maker & Son green sofa, and a custom-made coffee table (“It’s just a really, really huge log, basically”) while vintage pendant lights hang from the ceiling and Akari lamps adorn the space.
“The goal was to have a soup of light,” said Sivan. “I didn’t want hard overhead lighting, cause nobody looks good in that.”
Sivan calls the kitchen his “favorite part of the house” because it just “feels really really chill.” Green stone countertops and white Moroccan tiles sit amid plenty of wooden accents. But the one unexpected renovation the duo made was removing a toilet that was a little too close for comfort to the kitchen.
“It was still, like the kitchen,” said Sivan. “It kind of grossed me out, so we got rid of it. Because we took the toilet out of the kitchen, we needed another toilet downstairs.” Through the courtyard, the former wine cellar has been transformed into a surreal bathroom with curved oxblood walls that make it “kind of like a cave.”
“I think it’s so dramatic and extra,” said Sivan.
The dining area is centered on a custom Flack Studio oak table, and is also home to Sivan’s reading nook, where he sits with his coffee and enjoys the mornings overlooking the garden through large bifold doors. The casual courtyard garden is planted with a variety of native Australian and other species from places Sivan holds dear, like Japan and California.
Upstairs, a landing area overlooks the stunning sitting area below. It’s where Sivan loves to curl up with books or sit at his desk and get some work done. Up one more flight of a spiral staircase, and you find yourself in Sivan’s bedroom.
“My little sanctuary,” said Sivan, showing off the bright, sunny space where windows that open up to a park. Burgundy carpets and a furry white chair complete the space. A former closet space was closed off so Sivan could put in a peaceful bathtub.
“This is where I spend most of my time in this house, said Sivan, who loves watching Netflix in the tub or listening to music.
While the home is quite unusual, Sivan says it’s perfect for someone like him.
“I’d hope they’d think that I’m an unpretentious guy, maybe a bit eccentric, someone who loves art and design, someone devoted to his family — and definitely the fact that I’m gay,” he jokes.