Sylvia working at her library table.

Gloriously taking shape in a simple twist on the French Chateau style, all walls and ceilings are white in the large one-roomed space, which Sylvia has called Miranda on the Firth and uses to host visitors.

Marble tiles cover the floor, with accents of black coming from the wrought iron tables and chairs, chandelier and sofa d’salon, and four sets of three-metre-high double doors open onto the old school playground.  

The gardens, planted by Sylvia, are also the epitome of simplicity. Hedges of port wine magnolia edged with buxus form a soothing botanical framework around the sparkling white building with its black iron roof, and there’s a grove of lime trees nearby, nearly ready for picking.

When not working on the schoolhouse, her design consultancy takes Sylvia all over the country, and at Miranda, she’s perfectly positioned to make her design-focused forays in whatever direction is necessary.

Irrepressibly energetic, Sylvia is also working on The Series of 25 – a project to publish 25 books numbering 25 pages on 25 different topics. Several titles have already hit the shelves. There’s a cooking book entitled ‘25 Tasty Treats’ and ‘Limes with Zest’ is nearly ready for the printer. Watch out for ‘25 Décorating Stories’ coming soon.   

If all this wasn’t enough, Sylvia is still sharing her delightful persona of ‘grounded country gal meets city sophisticate’ in her other roles as chef and entertainer.  

A country retreat

With many projects on the go – including the nearly-completed Miranda on the Firth and a nearby cottage that needs a paint job – Sylvia wanted one completed space that could double as a workroom and retreat. Ever resourceful, she transformed a tired-looking sleepout, formerly a farm office, into a delightful and gracious library. 

Separated from the house, it provides an immediate sense of escape and is also a special place to entertain guests.  The library is full of personal pieces, all with a story attached, making it a nurturing place for Sylvia and an inspiration for others. 

A large oval oak table doubles for desk and dining. Bought 36 years ago for $30, it was Sylvia’s first dining table and has served many purposes since. She rescued several other pieces from Dunottar Hall in Westmere, her first church, hall and restoration project, and a home Sylvia shared for functions, design and decorative paint finish classes. The folding dining chairs, kauri side table and set of bowling balls arranged in a large black bowl all bring happy memories of her time there. The library’s two large armchairs and ottoman have been upholstered in a tapestry-style fabric called Artichoke.

<!--page-->The challenge of working with a small room is to manipulate the sense of space using textures and tricks, according to Sylvia: a painting on an easel of a pathway leading through a forest draws the eye in and creates the illusion of depth, a mirror reflects images of the room and light bounces off the gold frame. Reflections from the glass over another artwork add further dimension.

Resene’s Eternity – a green-black – covers the walls and dark green carpet creates the perfect foundation for the library. The existing white aluminium joinery on the windows and doors is dressed with white venetians, which allow the eye to run easily to the glorious view beyond. “Although visually textural, drapery would have crowded the space.”

The library shelves are also pleasing on the eye and are to Sylvia’s exact measurements for book storage perfection – 450mm x 350mm. “Painted in the same colour as the walls, the shelf is not fully wall-to-wall. This allows for extra storage on either side, and leaves space at the top for finishing touches.”

In this case, a collection of glass bottles – antique, collectable and quirky – occupies the space at the top. A topic of interest, the glass also acts as another reflective surface.  

Finally, the lighting; which is vital for supporting the function of a room and creating the right mood. “You need at least three levels – general, accent and task. And in a small space, the same lights can often fulfil several roles,” Sylvia says. “Here I installed two sets of double halogen spots on the ceiling, ideal for task lighting at the table and perfect to light the artwork. On a dimmer, they can be turned down for a softer glow, and a large table lamp, in scale with the kauri table, provides accent light and a pool of soft light at a different level.”

As a design consultant, Sylvia visits a lot of contemporary homes with open-plan designs.

“Many of the spaces are large, which is challenging for creating cosy spaces that people can retreat to, especially in winter.”

Her tips for creating cosy winter spaces include starting with the function of the room, and selecting appropriate pieces to support that function. “Studies, libraries or dens are places for passive activity, so the furniture needs to be comfortable, with surfaces and textures soft and welcoming. Cover hard floors with large rugs that go underneath the furniture for extra warmth and don’t be afraid to take the rug almost to the perimeter of the room.”  

To complete her own winter-cosy library, all Sylvia has to do is position a throw over the arm of her comfy chair, ready for a rare free moment when she can settle down with a good book.