In 2020, prolific American author Nora Roberts coined the philosophy that in life, every person has glass and plastic balls they’re juggling at any one time. The melting pot of daily priorities is much like a literal juggling routine; with the performer inevitably, at some point, needing to decide which ball to catch and which one to drop. The difference is in the material, with a plastic ball – for example – akin to an event you’ll regret missing, or deadline you were hoping to meet. It’s okay to drop it though because it’ll bounce back. A glass ball on the other hand could be a health-related priority, family matter (or anything really) that’s important to you. These need to stay in the air because…well, we all know what happens when glass hits the floor.

Now if you apply Roberts’ philosophy to the modern house hunter, they too are juggling various glass and plastic balls in the form of ‘must haves’ on a property. Be it parking, a backyard, an ensuite or one of the myriad features we’re not willing or able to compromise on in our hunt for a place to call home.

For established Australian actor Emma Lung – of Wonderland and Wolf Like Me fame among many others – an extra bedroom is a glass ball, as she prepares to upsize from her current Surry Hills home. A necessary yet reluctant move from her much-loved abode, it’s one that will allow her and husband, writer and director Henry Zalapa and their two young children, the space to grow. “If our place had another bedroom, we wouldn’t be selling our beautiful home,” she tells BresicWhitney, with a tenderness.

 

Since purchasing the two-level, oversized apartment in 2020, Emma and Henry have created the open, light and warm home through considered design upgrades. “Our main vision was to bring in Autumnal colours with a nod to mid-century design. We actually gutted most of the former interiors, to really make it our own,” she says. “Space and quality were important to us. We brought in bespoke oak joinery from Tasmania and are particularly happy with how we managed to double the size of the kitchen. The communal dining table is a wonderful space for the family too, with extra storage and wine fridges.”

Further reflecting their eye for detail and intentional upgrades are the deep, teal-coloured tiles upon the splashback, beautifully offsetting the warmth of the timber, brass, and copper elements. Elsewhere in the house, they added value through a second full bathroom, a redesign of the existing bathroom (drawing on a design-led, muted green and pink palette), and invested in new carpet and floorboards.

Their vision also provided for the future of the home, with Emma and Henry soon to commence works on a DA-approved rooftop extension. Set to provide the home’s next (fortunate) owner with an additional 40+ square metres of elevated outdoor space, it will also be home to its own kitchen and entertaining amenities, an ambient native flower garden and city views. No doubt, a peaceful retreat that’s perfectly positioned above the hum of the city.

 

 

To the right of the kitchen sits a piano, taking up what could be considered prime real estate in the living room. “Music is a big part of our family’s life,” she says proudly. “I’ve played the piano since I was 5 years old. I have this party trick where I can hear music and play it straight back. I need it as a type of therapy for myself, and I hope that my children will gravitate to it the same way I have.”

It’s not only music that plays an instrumental role in their life, but art too. Recalling the exact detail and circumstance surrounding how each piece was acquired, the collection entails work by Peter Upward (a wedding anniversary gift), Vicki Lee (the floral series has been a long-time favourite of Emma’s) and George Byrne (a print purchased immediately after the exhibition in New York; one that they couldn’t leave without). As she names more artists and the meaning each piece holds, it’s clear that art and music are key in the melody they call life.

 

Turning her attention to the local Surry Hills neighbourhood, Emma’s affection for it is undeniable – one of the driving reasons behind their decision to stay close by. Having resided in Surry Hills in her twenties (when she wasn’t in LA or New York for work), she’s enjoyed its reincarnations over the years, and finds similarity in its growth and change as she does her own life. “It was so much fun living in Surry Hills in my twenties. It was the perfect stomping ground to misspend your youth…” she says, smiling. “In my thirties we were mostly in New York, but with the lockout laws in place a lot of the famed culture and nightlife across the Inner City was reduced to a bare minimum. Now that those laws have gone, there’s a renewed investment into filling it with incredible restaurants, art galleries and bars and helping restore to its former glory (and beyond!). Just have a look at the plans they have in place for Oxford Street alone,” she says, referring to the some $200-million transformation planned for the iconic thoroughfare.

 

Emma concludes by acknowledging that their lives now are about balance, and their commitment to juggling their busy, high-profile careers with a grounded, community-focused upbringing for their children. It’s no simple feat for the couple – in fact, just last week, Emma was unveiled as a star in Strife – a new comedy series with Asher Keddie currently under production, inspired by the memoir of women’s media icon, Mia Freedman. “We feel very fortunate to live in Surry Hills… it and the surrounding areas are just the perfect place for us to be able to find this balance. My family are in Surry Hills and Potts Point which makes it all the better. And the schools! You can’t forget about the schools, there are many incredible ones in the catchment,” she says.

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