High ideal

A bells-and-whistles renovation of this Sydney penthouse has produced spectacular results for a pair of empty-nesters

- STORY CHRIS PEARSON | STYLING KIRSTEN BOOKALLIL | PHOTOGRAPHY ANSON SMART

Treating themselves paid off handsomely for Anne and Bernard, owners of this elegant penthouse in Sydney's east. After living here for 10 years, they wanted to give it a makeover, a breath of fresh air befitting its stunning harbour views. But they had very different ideas on what that should be.

“My husband is far more daring than I am,” says penny-wise Anne. “He wanted a complete overhaul of the apartment, whereas I was happy adding a pantry, enlarging our laundry and updating our furnishings. But I'm thrilled we went his way!” So, too, was interior designer Marylou Sobel and her then-lead designer, Stephanie Nadel, who took on the more ambitious brief.

There was plenty to love when the couple bought the apartment in 2009, which they saw from afar when living overseas, thanks to video tours from their son. It ticked many boxes, says Anne, with three bedrooms, generous living spaces, a seamless open plan, water views and, most importantly, no stairs: “We are getting older, so that was not negotiable”. The third-floor, north-facing balcony sealed the deal for the couple.

But it was far from perfect. While the spaces were open plan, they were too open. “The patio, lounge, kitchen and study were all one room,” says Anne, who wanted a dedicated space for TV viewing and me-time, while Bernard needed a separate work area. While quite large, the kitchen was elongated and plain, and seriously undercooked as an entertaining hub. A second over-sized bathroom hogged space that could be better used.

Divergent tastes also had to be accommodated. “I love colour, especially rich reds and oranges but not over-the-top, while my hubby prefers monotones,” says Anne.