NEW WAVE

Relaxed yet sophisticated, killer views and just steps from a secret beach... It’s little wonder the owners of this Sydney residence call it their dream home.

Georgia Madden

Tucked between Warriewood and Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, tiny Turimetta Beach is one of those spots that only locals know about. Owner Sarah, who was born in Ireland, had certainly never heard of it, but her husband, Jeff, an avid surfer, was already familiar with its spectacular coastline. They knew immediately it would be the perfect place to raise a family. “We loved its proximity to beaches, parks and schools, but really it was the ocean view that won us over – it’s pretty special,” says Sarah.

The couple bought a 1950s beachfront cottage in 2010, where they lived for eight years with their children, Mitch, now 10, and Millie, seven, and dogs, Bella and Otis. “The house wasn’t perfect,” says Sarah. “The layout was impractical with young children, there was zero connection to the garden and there were massive leaks.” They explored the idea of renovating the cottage but it made more sense to build from scratch.

To make the most of the glorious site, the couple engaged a building company to design and construct a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home set across three levels with acres of glass that provided unimpeded ocean views. Sarah then turned to Suzanne Gorman of Studio Gorman to create the elevated coastal feel she was after for the interior. “We wanted it to feel homely, welcoming and connected to its surrounds. It had to be environmentally conscious too,” says Sarah. “This is our forever home and we didn’t want to have any regrets.”