A fragmented, terracotta-toned 1980s property has been transformed into an elegant open plan home. And the view’s something else too. Located in Sydney’s Vaucluse, the original arched windows look onto Australia’s oldest lighthouse!
“The new owners wanted large, melded spaces for entertaining and more natural light,” says Shona McElroy, principal of Smac Studio. “The original architect took a trip to Tuscany in the 1980s — he returned full of inspiration and built this home for his family. It was very important for me to honour his vision, to preserve the Italian spirit of the house.”
The extensive renovation saw three small rooms reconfigured into one expansive kitchen, living and dining area. The rear wall was moved out to create more internal space and lavish slabs of Arrabescato marble now grace the kitchen island, splashback and fireplace.
The entrance foyer also received a notable update. Previously the floor was dark green stone and walls were limewash orange. Black steel balustrades carved the staircase at sharp angles. Smac Studio smoothed the hard edges into inviting Venetian plaster curves and created a checkerboard floor from Carrara and Verdi Alpi marble. “Verdi Alpi was the original stone slab on the floor, so this design decision is a tribute to that,” says Shona.
“The curvature on the staircase is like an architectural hug on arrival, it’s just so welcoming,” says Shona. “You come into this light-filled space full of soft white curves that draw the eyes up. There’s a chandelier floating like a cloud above you. It’s kind of a heavenly sense of arrival.”
The biggest challenge with the renovation was time. “We only had three months to design and nine months to build. There were problems with lead times for certain items, so things were changing on the fly, but I still got all the elements I wanted in the beginning.”
Those elements were curvature, a journey from formal enrance to informal open plan living, a marble checkerboard floor and artful lighting. “Even though the build time was short we didn’t skimp on character,” Shona says. “I love all the different layers, materials and shifts of light as you move through this home. I like to think this house is like a little black dress with a pearl necklace — a timeless aesthetic.”
The home office and cigar room is altogether moodier. “I used Ristretto from Porter’s Paints, which is a very dark warm grey colour with a hint of green,” says Shona. “In traditional homes you often see dark, heavy timber studies, libraries and sitting rooms and that’s what I wanted these rooms to evoke. It’s a modern take on that.” The bar in the cigar room features bronze veneer and a marble splashback. “I chose high-end materials to create a sense of opulence in this formal space,” says Shona. “The bronze and marble bar contrasts well with the dark wall colour.”
Symmetrical Arrabescato marble portals lead to the formal dining and the cigar room. “These portals were originally clad in dark wood, but I think the Arrabescato elevates them and creates a special sense of entrance to these more formal spaces,” says Shona.
Another real luxury is the double-island walk-in wardrobe in the master suite featuring Arrabescato marble benchtops. “A wardrobe this large and luxurious is every woman’s dream,” says Shona.
Designer lighting with a brass theme including pieces from Kelly Wearstler, Aerin and Articolo, punctutes the home throughout. “I think lighting is like jewellery. It’s like artwork. The pieces I’ve chosen for this house transcend from day to night. Each light is an art object on the wall during the day, and at night those same objects create a soft, ambient, romantic glow.”
Styling: Clare Delmar | Photography: Dave Wheeler | Construction: Charas Construction
