Tree of life

Light, texture and scene-stealing vistas set a postcard-perfect scene in this stunning Sydney family home.

- Jackie Brygel

ENTRANCE The feature fiddle-leaf fig is planted in a pot from The Pot Warehouse. Turkish pot (left) from Manyara Home. Avalon stone cladding, Surface Gallery. Exterior paint is Dulux Namadji.

POOL AREA Plantings around the pool include a mature frangipani tree, arum lilies and rhapis palms. Sandblasted Azul limestone pavers, Sareen Stone. B&B Italia outdoor dining setting, Space. Colorbond roofing. Pool by Sunrise Pools.

With panoramic ocean views, striking architectural detailing and impeccable interiors, this contemporary home on Sydney’s Lower North Shore is undeniably a showstopper. For its owner Ellen, there’s another star attraction: a magnificent jacaranda at the entrance.

“When my husband Matt and I bought the property in 2006, it had an old California bungalow that had been a local family’s much-loved home for many years,” says Ellen. “Like the previous owners, we adored the house for its position, but also for the jacaranda, which to me is the most beautiful thing about the property. It softens the front of the block and is very special to the whole street.”