Summer holidays in Corsica inspired the renovation of this 1920s Ashgrovian Queenslander designed by the French homeowner, Aude Charmetant of Aude Interiors.

Aude and her family purchased the property in Ashgrove, Brisbane after a previous renovation that had opened the home’s upper floor. The ground level, however, remained underutilised and cut off from the large backyard.

Aude sought to overcome these issues in a major renovation that would simultaneously inject personality into the interiors through a thoughtful use of colour.

Together Ben Phillips, draftsman and director at Lifebox Design, Aude raised and completely redesigned the ground floor.

What initially housed three bedrooms, a rumpus room, and underdeck storage is now the heart of the home inclusive of the light-filled living area, kitchen, office, and a guest bedroom.

‘I wanted it to feel spacious and full of light. So, we created a void above the kitchen, and we used high ceilings, lots of windows, and skylights to let in the natural light,’ Aude says.

The colour and material palette is drawn from nature and speaks to her European upbringing. The pink marble benchtops are from Italy, the terracotta tiles are from Morocco, and the feature wallpaper in the dining area depicts Lake Garda.

‘I used vibrant and muted tones drawn from the natural beauty of these surroundings,’ Aude says.

‘I imported the steel doors from Sydney, the cement tiles from Morocco and Vietnam, and the wallpapers from France and England.’

The remaining bedrooms and bathrooms were moved to the upper floor, including the main bedroom that replaces the previous kitchen.

Throughout the home, colour works to set the intention of each space. Vibrant and cheerful tones in the downstairs communal areas shift to soft golds in the bedrooms, and inviting green on the original facade.

The updated home very much retains the feel of a traditional Queenslander specific to the suburb, while reflecting Aude’s personality, and being more appropriate for its subtropical climate.

Aude likens the interiors to a picturesque Mediterranean landscape that captures alluring sunset hues.

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