MOMENT in the sun

The view reigns supreme in this light-drenched home by the water on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

- STORY Carli Philips | PHOTOGRAPHY Dave Wheeler

Overlooking the water, this property in Sydney's Lower North Shore is a luminous home awash in natural light. The project – a knockdown and rebuild by ARC Architects – was crafted by Louisa Shipman of Shipman Interiors, who was responsible for the decorative elements, fixtures, fittings and materials.

The owners had a Pinterest board that Louisa ardently encouraged them to continue adding to. She realised their brief for something “neutral but no white” by opting for “soft, mushroom colours that were elegant and warm”. Anything stark and sharp was avoided at all costs. Louisa also added depth and dimension to areas of the architecture she considered slightly “flat” by installing joinery with a fluted, 3D profile.

“I wanted lots of neutrals and nothing that was going to date quickly,” says one of the owners. “I like a classic look with lots of simple lines, but nothing cold. I wanted the house to feel like the sort of place everyone would be happy to come home to and that we could share with family and friends.” The couple, who have two children, didn't want anything too precious, so Louisa introduced a Taj Mahal quartzite as it's more stain resistant than marble and its veining can disguise mess; flush-mounted kitchen and butler's pantry sinks to minimise any chance of chipped edges; easy-clean leather sofas and bar stools; and high-quality engineered timber flooring, which provides peace of mind should water damage ever occur while kids traipse through the house post-swim.