Harbour View House
Complete interior design & decoration
Scope: Interior Design and decorating | Builder: Sydneyside Contracting | Photographer: Anson Smart | Stylist: Claire Delmar
A sophisticated, luxurious interior design to match gorgeous harbour views
Sited on a double block in Sydney’s Mosman with panoramic harbour views, Studio aem worked alongside Studio Gestalt on the renovation and refurbishment of this five level home.
THROUGH A SYMMETRICAL APPROACH, A NATURAL BALANCE IS CREATED, WHERE EACH SPACE FEELS FORMALLY BROUGHT TOGETHER WITH SELECT AND ICONIC FURNITURE, LIGHTING AND ARTWORK CURATED IN PLACE.
Looking further afield, Europe and the effortless means by which the contemporary and the historic are brought together was influential to the direction and principles driving the resolve.
Embedding handmade and artisanal features and carefully attuned details throughout while also highlighting those already in place ensures the home feels as though it has existed for many years.
Introducing quality materials and craft together to ensure the continued relevance of the home.
The rich layering of textural and tactile leathers, velvets and plush rugs then reinforces a connection to quality and lay the foundations for the chapters to come.
Curved silhouettes are added to break up the formality of the regular and formal planning
Drenched in sunlight and with views over the treetops to Sydney Harbour
Evolving through the process of engagement, the scope of works expanded from furniture and styling to include the interiors to ensure the home in its entirety felt cohesive and considered as a whole
A sophisticated, luxurious interior design to match gorgeous harbour views
Answering the owners call for a sophisticated and fresh indentity resulted in a finely crafted home that will deliver elevated living
While the architectural envelope was contemporary and needed little work, the generous interior called for a sophisticated new identity.
The scope, initially moderate furniture specifications and a comprehensive joinery package, grew to a full-scale project that involved carving one bedroom into two, installing French Oak herringbone flooring and art consultation. Key to the concept was seamlessly blending any new additions with existing features such as the traditional fireplaces and decorative French windows.
While the rustic travertine kitchen floors were retained, the space was reorganised and modernised, tempered by the installation of luxurious dolomite surfaces and cleverly integrated timber joinery. A light touch was applied to all seven bathrooms, but special treatment was given to the master ensuite, gutted and updated with new fixtures, fittings and curved silhouettes. On a micro level, thoughtful design details extend from brass-inlay cabinetry to handcrafted tiles.
In response to the client brief, the interiors are appointed in high-end Italian pieces from Baxter, Poltrona Frau and Cappellini. Set against a tonally neutral backdrop, rich leathers and velvets play out in a palette of oatmeal, almond and charcoal, offset by the subtle patterns in silk-wool rugs and upholstery. Striking pendant lights were selected for the vast living and dining areas, adding an element of drama to the elegant scheme.
Awards
Shortlisted
2022 DESIGN INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Shortlisted in the Place category, Awarded a Merit
Shortlisted
2022 AUSTRALIAN INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS
Shortlisted in the Residential Design category
Shortlisted
2021 HOUSE & GARDEN TOP 50 ROOMS
FEATURED IN
Belle:
Special Treatment
OCTOBER 2021
Presented with an immense architectural envelope, two design studios have transformed this home’s interiors with micro details and massive statements.
The Local Project:
Harbour View House
NOVEMBER 2021
Drawing from the existing home and its European-influenced stylings, Harbourview House exemplifies a contemporary and refined approach.
House & Garden:
Harbour View House
NOVEMBER 2021
The experience of entering, and the indoor-outdoor connection, is a gift offered to the loved ones invited into the home.
House & Garden:
Harbour View House
NOVEMBER 2021
Tactile and tonal, this Sydney kitchen has a timeless, pared-back aesthetic that’s all about showcasing glorious natural materials.
House & Garden:
Harbour View House
MARCH 2022
Interior designer and director of Studio AEM Alexandra loves imparting knowledge of her craft to design-savvy daughter, Lilli. Here, they share their creative journeys.
Home To Love:
Harbour View House
JUNE 2022
Presented with an immense architectural envelop, two design studios have transformed the interiors of this Mosman home with micro details and massive statements.