Blending Heritage with Modern Luxury: Inside Lynda Kerry's Darling Point Residence
When interior designer Lynda Kerry, a California native with over 30 years of experience across Australia, USA, and Mexico, envisioned her Darling Point residence, she sought to create a space that perfectly married American heritage with Spanish mission influences. Featured in Belle Magazine's December 2023 issue, this project showcases how natural stone can transform a space while respecting its architectural heritage.
For this transformation, Kerry collaborated with architect Andrew Barnyak, whose extensive experience in North America and Australia gives him a unique edge in translating American design styles into the Australian context. "Since we were going with a California Spanish Mission, we wanted a natural stone which in my view was the only way to go," explains Barnyak. "We wanted something that was timeless, elegant and not too dark which would add too much contrast to the exterior."
Kerry's design aesthetic, known for being cheerful, elegant, and relaxed, shines through in every detail. Her passion for blending interesting pieces of furniture with pattern-on-pattern fabrics and textures is evident throughout the home, creating spaces that are both sophisticated and comfortable to live in.
A standout feature of the residence is the innovative internal atrium, previously an outdoor patio. "I wanted to incorporate that into the house but still feel like this was an outside area, hence the Juliet balconies with the glass roof," Barnyak notes. "Then I thought of bringing the paving into this area as an inlay. The colour we chose complimented the timber flooring which gave it that outdoor feel to the dining area - something that we don't often see in Sydney."
The project features Cathedral Limestone in alfresco finish for pool coping, step treads, and balconies, while Charcoal Granite Cobblestones and Flamed tiles create a dramatic entrance. The pool area showcases Snowflake Mosaic tile interior bordered by Cathedral Limestone, exemplifying how traditional materials can enhance contemporary design.
