Artist’s Retreat by Georgina Wilson Associates

Overlooking the city, Artist’s Retreat by Georgina Wilson Associates is a bright refuge filled with whimsical, soft, and understated pieces, surrounded by a lush communal enclave that hugs the abode.

On the northern shoreline of Sydney Harbour, Lavender Bay offers a special place for neighbourly exchange. Perched on the edge of Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, this secluded home is a light-filled reinvention of a long-standing villa – a peaceful retreat with newfound clarity, respectful of its history and precisely tuned to the accomplished artist who resides here.

“The importance of connection is at the heart of the design,” explains Wilson.

Artist’s Retreat embodies an elegant suburban sanctuary, centred around intrinsic flow and ethereal lightness. “The desired result was one that was warm, bright, functional and friendly, with a focus on community,” recalls principal architect Georgina Wilson. Guided by the footprint of the existing structure, the architect thoughtfully reimagines the volumes to elevate the living experience. Traditional and contemporary elements coexist through a reductive approach to space and embellishment, creating a refined container for precious objects that reflect the owner’s creativity.

Natural light permeates every area of the home, softening the established architecture. “The importance of connection is at the heart of the design,” explains Wilson. “A pivotal focus was placed on improving the relationship to outlook and the surrounding landscape, ensuring access to the outside on every level.” Central to the plan, a steel ribbon staircase punctuates the floors, allowing filtered light to enter from a skylight above. In a similar vein, a discreet kitchen of chocolate veneer and Calacatta stone is reintroduced at the heart of the home. Rooms are designed to adapt over time: an attic addition creates a working studio, while the downstairs area provides the potential for future self-contained lodgings.

A calmness envelops the interior, evoking a gallery-like quality with curated moments.

From a leafy pedestrian walkway, terracotta, shingle and clay brick adornments make a strong first impression before descending toward the main communal space. A calmness envelops the interior, evoking a gallery-like quality with curated moments. “In celebrating the heritage vernacular, inspiration has been drawn from the local foreshore environment,” says Wilson. Traditional elements of sandstone block, mosaic tile, ornate cornicing and coloured glass sit heroically alongside sharper, contemporary interventions. Limewashed timber floors and polished plaster create a muted base palette, punctuated by grey-veined marble, walnut joinery and micaceous iron oxide – a nod to the Sydney Harbour Bridge backdrop.

Functional objects adopt a reductive quality to enhance the personable interior. Presenting as a monolithic block, the kitchen island evokes the plinth of a sculptural piece, infused with golden ochre striations that echo the brassy accents of both old and new. Painterly hues act as a bridge between artwork and architecture; chunky, neutral fabrics rest atop earthen cinder rugs, alongside stained timbers and metallic accents in various tones. “The result is a pleasing melange of gentle sculptural forms and soft colours and textures that don’t clamour for attention, but rather meld into their tranquil surrounds,” explains Wilson.

Artist’s Retreat is a peaceful refuge, designed for creative pursuits and deeply connected to its community.

Artist’s Retreat is a peaceful refuge, designed for creative pursuits and deeply connected to its community. A reinvention of an historical address, the home presents as a minimalist sanctuary for the owner’s treasured pieces.

Architecture and interior by Georgina Wilson Associates. Build by Buildmark Developments.