Light House

Vaucluse, Australia

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Light House

Vaucluse, Australia

Firm

Smac Studio

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2023

SIZE

3000 sqft - 5000 sqft

Smac Studio Interior Design has transformed a fragmented, terracotta-toned 1980s property into an elegant open plan home. Located in Vaucluse, Sydney, original arched windows look onto Australia’s oldest lighthouse.

“The new owners wanted large, melded spaces for entertaining and more natural light,” says Shona McElroy, Principal of Smac Studio. “The original architect took a trip to Tuscany in the 1980s — he returned full of inspiration and built this home for his family. It was very important for me to honour his vision, to preserve the Italian spirit of the house.”

The extensive renovation saw three small rooms reconfigured into one expansive kitchen, living and dining area. The rear wall was moved out to create more internal space and lavish slabs of Arrabescato marble now grace the kitchen island, splashback and fireplace. The entrance foyer also received a notable update. Previously the floor was dark green stone and walls were limewash orange. Black steel balustrades carved the staircase at sharp angles. Smac Studio smoothed the hard edges into inviting Venetian plaster curves and created a checkerboard floor from Carrara and Verdi Alpi marble. “Verdi Alpi was the original stone slab on the floor, so this design decision is a tribute to that,” says McElroy.

The biggest challenge with the renovation was time. “We only had three months to design and nine months to build,” says McElroy. “There were problems with lead times for certain items, so things were changing on the fly, but I still got all the elements I wanted in the beginning.” Those elements were curvature, a journey from formal enrance to informal open plan living, a marble checkerboard floor and artful lighting. “Even though the build time was short we didn’t skimp on character,” she says. “I love all the different layers, materials and shifts of light as you move through this home. I like to think this house is like a little black dress with a pearl necklace — a timeless aesthetic.”

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Light House

Vaucluse, Australia

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Light House

Vaucluse, Australia

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Light House

Vaucluse, Australia

Other Projects by Smac Studio

Introspection

Smac Studio Office

A-List

Ray White Office

First Blush

Mirror Image

Light House

Vaucluse, Australia

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team

Articles