Interior designer Shona McElroy of Smac Studio reliably produces gorgeous work and today’s home tour is no exception. Tasked with creating a family home that seamlessly blends the relaxed vibes of Italy with the cool sophistication of Los Angeles, Shona has delivered a beautiful residence in Sydney’s seaside Bondi.
“I love LA’s modern architecture and design, so teaming it with a bit of Italian drama and classicism was right up my alley. Luxe with a punch,” says Shona. This vision is evident throughout the home, from the open-plan spaces to the carefully selected materials and finishes.
“I think my favourite room is the lounge room. I love the lime wash, the symmetry, and the theatrical styling elements, like the cloud tree, the art, and the big branches we put in the middle of the coffee table,” says Shona. Porter’s Paints’ lime wash in Lambswool gives the room a warm, sandy feel that is inviting and visually striking.
Another favourite space is the reading room, which features a statement pink and burgundy Billy rug from Shona’s new rug range Icons. “I’m obsessed with the reading room because I’m obsessed with the pink and burgundy Billy rug. The light in that room is nice and the curves on the walls feel good. It’s a nice little surprise room at the front of the house,” says Shona.
The kitchen is another standout space that has been designed with entertaining in mind and centres around a 1.5-metre-deep island bench that allows for hosting without the sink interfering. The kitchen features vhagar quartzite on the island bench, a material Shona was passionate about despite initial client scepticism. “I’d never seen stone with dramatic veining and colour like that before. Once it went in, it was unanimously loved.”
“I was obsessed with the warmth running through the stone. Even though it’s got these tones of green and blue, it’s also got this rust coming through that was really similar to the warm tones we were going for in the house. There’s nothing quite like the organic patterns you get in this kind of stone. It’s like looking into the ocean or something, like waves breaking,” says Shona.
The dining room features a dramatic light fitting over the table as well as vintage brown velvet dining room chairs sourced from Facebook Marketplace. “A dramatic light fitting over a dining table is such a great way to anchor a dining room that’s in an open-plan area. It makes it feel special and restaurant-esque,” says Shona.
The cinema room offers a space for family members to retreat and enjoy – Shona highlights the importance of having separate areas within the home. “There are big spaces for socialising and being together, but there are also lots of little spots to escape. You could have someone in the cinema room, someone in the reading room, someone in the kitchen. You wouldn’t get on top of each other,” says Shona.
For the children’s room, she incorporated playful yet chic elements. “I love the twin bed situation. Super cute. The rug is fun but chic. The pink onyx bedside table from Fform adds a really fun touch as well,” says Shona of the rooms that are designed to be functional and stylish, with elements that can grow with the children.
Throughout the home, you can see Shona’s new Icons rug collection for Hali which is inspired by warm palettes and Art Deco elements. “The house is quite quiet besides the stone – it’s quite neutral and warm so the rugs add unexpected pops of colour in fun spaces and create a grounding element in the main living spaces. They’re joyful and they lift the rooms.”
Photographer: Dave Wheeler | Stylist: Megan Morton
