True north

Visionary clients are a designer's dream as the owners of this home demonstrated with their brief for a rich layer cake of styles and eras.

- 

Every now and then, a dream job comes along. For designer Iain Halliday, this project was it. After nearly four decades at the helm of renowned architecture and interior design practice Burley Katon Halliday, he has worked on some spectacular homes, restaurants and hotels both locally and internationally. What set this one apart was just the right ingredients. “It was sort of charmed in a way,” says Iain of what has resulted from the five-year partnership between visionary clients, his studio and collaborators.

The property itself had a lot going for it. Built in the 1850s, the historically significant Victorian Gothic house is set on an expansive north-facing site with city views and a 16-metre pool. Located in Sydney’s Darling Point, this sense of spaciousness close to the city was an obvious drawcard for the clients. “It’s a freestanding home, which is unusual in itself for the area,” says Iain, adding, “It’s a very romantic house with a garden that sort of meanders.”