Inside An Artful Sydney Home

They recruited Smac Studio to help them re-imagine the space and add an artful touch to the home. Located in Vaucluse, Sydney, Australia, the original arched windows look at Australia’s oldest lighthouse, adding an extra dose of personality and history to the property.

As with many renovations, Shona and her team’s biggest challenge was time. With only three months to design and nine months to build, the focus was on prioritizing the most critical design elements and ensuring they maintained a level of character in the process. Though long lead times often mean changing things on the fly, Shona achieved the primary goals for the space and created a beautiful, timeless home filled with many material layers and artful pieces.

Design: Smac Studio | Photography: Dave Wheeler | Stylist: Claire Delmar

Classic beginnings

The extensive renovation of this home saw three small rooms reconfigured into one expansive kitchen, living, and dining area. What was once a dark green and orange entryway with black steel balustrades became an inviting introduction to the remainder of the project. Shona and her team incorporated the original Verdi Alpi stone slab floors into the Carrara checkerboard floor, paying tribute to the previous space.

Art-forward selections

Though the client’s collection of artwork fills this home, the careful curation doesn’t stop with the walls. Lighting plays a key role in the feeling of this home, with designer pieces around every corner from Kelly Wearstler, Aerin and Articolo. Shona worked with a brass theme for the lighting in this home, choosing pieces that felt like true works of art from day to night.

Statement-making materials

Symmetrical Arrabescato marble portals lead to formal dining and cigar rooms. While the portals were originally clad in dark wood, the Arrabescato elevates them and creates a unique sense of entrance to these more formal spaces.

Inspired by a modern take on the dark and moody studies, libraries, and sitting rooms often found in traditional homes, Shona color-drenched the office and cigar room in a dark, warm grey with a hint of green.

The bar in the cigar room features a bronze veneer and a marble backsplash, bringing a sense of opulence to this formal space and contrasting perfectly with the moody wall color.

Cigar lounge Paint color: Ristretto by Porter’s Paints

Scroll through the gallery for more details from this home tour, and shop the look below.