Neatly poised behind iron gates, this house sits in a pebbled forecourt lined with red oak trees. Lush and leafy in summer, stripped and bare-boned in winter, they diligently stand sentry towards the porch where a robust door marks the very centre of the property’s deeply symmetrical facade. With its series of shuttered, arched windows, there’s a chateau-like sensibility to the picturesque setting. Only a weighty aluminium and timber sculpture-like object hints at the unlikely interiors to follow.
Beyond the entrance, designer Fiona Lynch has worked her magic. About 15 years old, the house has now been transformed into a more contemporary canvas for the new owners who were drawn to its flattering composition and the oculus that pierces through both levels. No structural changes were made (aside from the gentle repositioning of the powder room) and the footprint remained the same. Of the architecture, Fiona says, “There is something quite Roman about the architecture of this house, with its archways, glass-topped void and domed ceiling … it has lovely proportions.”
Light from a skylight in the central atrium pools into the circular foyer and fanning outwards are communal areas; one living room each to the left and right of the entry, a dining room and a sitting room towards the back, and the kitchen at the rear. Charcoal-stained timber stairs lead to the mezzanine floor where blackened steel balustrading rims the circumference, designed to “frame views between levels … creating a gallery for art and objects over two floors”.
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The wow factory
The sisters steering Zuster furniture brand put a creative spin on their own industrial zone.
OPEN INVITE
This handsome home in the NSW Southern Highlands welcomes within its walls both generous rural views and a steady flow of guests.
DUAL ACCENTS
American heritage style meets Spanish mission design in this harbourside Sydney home.
Grand vision
It can be easy being green or it is for this house -that cleverly combines lavish spaces and timeless style, while also being kind to the planet.
POWER AND GLORY
An angular concrete structure packs a punch in a new build on an elevated site in Sydney while its interior design offers a softly layered and textured counterpoint.
COLOUR BURST
A joyful exuberance permeates this heritage home reinvented by interior designer Andrew Parr with zesty hues, lively contemporary art and iconic furniture.
LA VIE EN ROSE
Poised above Pittwater in Sydney's north, this weekender is alluringly relaxed - and offers holiday fun for family and friends.
COOL, CALM COLLECTIVE
An ever-changing array of covetable antiques, objets d'art and unique pieces ensure the interiors of this beautiful store has a collected feel and sense of permanence.
BOLD CHOICE
Architect and trailblazer Piero Gesualdi's Melbourne emporium, Mondopiero, is a celebration of timeless design and craftmanship, with a sprinkling of decorative flair.
HIGHER CALLING
In a world that is typically more about me, me, me, quietly luxurious day spa Venustus keeps thriving three decades on with a true commitment to inspired client service.