Hillside House | Christina Symes
Set high on a hinterland ridge, Hillside House is a sanctuary of warmth, stillness and soul for interior designer Christina Symes. It is a personal retreat shaped by intuition, restraint and the quiet luxury of daily rituals.
Modest in scale yet rich in atmosphere, Hillside House distils Christina Symes’s design philosophy into a tactile, personal expression. The project allows her to live within the ideas she has spent years crafting for others. “It was a really beautiful process,” she says.
As co-founder of interiors firm We Are Triibe, Symes has long been a force in the Australian design landscape. Alongside her business partner and close friend Jessica D’Abadie, she has led projects that are defined by thoughtful design and a cohesive aesthetic – from creating refined homes to building a considered lifestyle brand in their second venture, Milk Label. Symes’s work resonates for its depth and restraint, and Hillside House brings that ethos into sharp focus.
The interior designer’s home is compact, just 60 square metres, but has been carefully planned to create a sense of expansiveness. “When it was just a blank canvas, I thought, ‘It’s a small space, but how can I divide it so that it feels like it has its own distinct spaces as I transition through the house?’” she says. The spatial strategy was focused on zones, flow and atmosphere. “I wanted each area to evoke something slightly different.”
Materials were key to her strategy, and natural finishes – such as spotted gum, terracotta tiles and buffed concrete floors – anchor every room. “I love working with materials that add a bit of life and soul to a space. It’s not just about how it looks but how it feels to be in it,” says Symes.Instead of plastered ceilings, she chose to leave the structural trusses exposed. “It opens up the space and becomes a feature. People walk in and immediately comment on the beams.” The decision also added a sense of verticality that makes the house feel deceptively larger than it is.
The bedroom is clad in spotted gum veneer – it is warm, enveloping and full of tonal variation. “You get this patchwork effect from the colour shifts in the timber. It gives the room character and depth,” says Symes. The cladding was installed directly to the studs, giving the space texture and a sense of intimacy. “People often think it’s some elaborate detail, but it’s really about the material doing the work.”
The home’s palette is muted and warm, drawn from its bush surroundings. “I wanted the exterior to sit comfortably in the landscape, not bold green but something with a forest undertone that would blend with the timbers.” Inside, the tone is consistent. “I did way too many brushouts, but I needed a wall colour that worked with the timber and the floor, something that had warmth and wasn’t stark white.”
Each space carries its own weight, such as the living area, which is orientated to capture morning light. “I deliberately used sash windows in that corner; they have their own character. In the mornings, the sun comes straight through and it’s the perfect spot to do breathwork and stretch. I light some incense. It’s peaceful.”The simple, hand-finished kitchen is central to how Symes lives. “I sanded the timber myself and sealed it with grapeseed oil. The island bench is just an IKEA base with a custom top – a piece of 32-millimetre ply, doubled up so the grain becomes a feature. I love it.” The joinery is warm and minimal, anchoring the space without overwhelming it. Symes sourced the fixtures and tapware through The Blue Space. “They were incredibly helpful. The selections really helped unify the palette across the kitchen and bathroom.”
A bath was a non-negotiable for Symes. “I’m a big bath person, but I didn’t have space for a separate shower and tub, so I did a ‘shub’. At night, I light a couple of candles and it becomes just this beautiful little sanctuary.” Terracotta tiles ground the space, bringing tonal variations that add to its texture. A stand-out detail is the terracotta basin from Artedomus. “They had just prototyped a terracotta sink and offered it for the space. It hadn’t even gone into production yet, but it just felt right – everything ties together in this room.” It’s both a cohesive and deeply personal space, one that invites quiet ritual.Hillside House reflects a significant shift in lifestyle for the interior designer, and yet the move from city to hinterland life felt natural. “I’ve lived in Sydney, Melbourne, Berlin, Florence, London. But now I’ve made a rule. Wherever I live, it has to feel like I don’t need a vacation from it,” she says. “When I moved in, I felt like I was on a permanent holiday. That’s what I wanted: a space that restores you.”
The home was completed in August 2023. “There was bad flooding just after we started,” recalls Symes. “My builder’s own property was affected, so everything stopped for a year. But we picked back up again and made it through.” The design, however, came together quickly. “I had a very clear vision. I’d actually started a similar concept for a friend’s place a few years earlier, which never went ahead,” she says. “When this came up, I already knew the direction. I built on that initial idea and adapted it to suit the site.”The exterior cladding – fibre cement with exposed vertical battens – was selected both for its durability and aesthetic qualities. “I liked the texture. It ended up having this nod to Nordic cabins, which I’ve always loved.” That European sensibility echoes throughout. “I spent a lot of time in Europe; my mum is German and my dad is British. I love the way European homes use natural materials and feel effortless. Not in the sense of copying a style, but in creating something that ages well, that has longevity.”
Travel influences surface in more subtle ways throughout the residence. “I was inspired by the Potter’s House in Mallorca – the way the garden transitions into the interior, and the timber windows,” explains Symes. “That was a non-negotiable for me. Aluminium didn’t feel right for this house; I wanted timber, even though they’ll need resealing over time.”Living alone has shaped Symes’s experience of the house. “People ask, ‘How do you live out here on your own?’ But I love it. It’s the best. It feels like my own little haven.” Symes has embraced the solitude and rhythm of living independently. “I’ve lived on my own before, but this is different. It’s deeper. It’s not lonely; it’s peaceful.” She’s not entirely alone, either. D’Abadie lives next door, and Symes has the company of a closeknit hinterland circle. “We’re all kind of friends out here. It’s a close little community.”
For her, Hillside House feels resolved – it’s an enduring statement. “It’s finished. I’m not looking to change anything. It’s ageing really well, and I think it will continue to.” More than a project, it has become a place of alignment – between life, work and a quiet joy that doesn’t need to announce itself.“I didn’t realise how profound it would be to live in a space where you’ve chosen every single detail,” reflects Symes. “It’s a different kind of connection. You don’t just like being in it – you feel at home in a way that’s hard to describe.”
Interior design by We Are Triibe. Timber by Big River Group. Tiles and vanity by Artedomus. Artwork by Amber Wallis.
- 项目文案：Chantelle Fausset
- 项目摄影：Tasha Tylee
- 转载自：The Local Project
- 图片@The Local Project
- 语言：英语
- 编辑：序赞网
- 阅读原文
|
|
