Queen
Smac Studio honours the best of this 1980s Woollahra home while layering in light and pops of colour for a young family.
After renting the Woollahra house for two years, the homeowners seized the opportunity to buy what had become their dream home. Though full of charm, the residence needed work to support their love of entertaining and the changing rhythms of family life with a new child.
For Shona McElroy of Smac Studio, opening up the compartmentalised floor plan while celebrating the home’s Art Deco curves called for a complete reworking of the layout. A downstairs bedroom was removed to better connect the kitchen and living areas, while upstairs, a new primary wing, two bedrooms and a bathroom were introduced – the latter lit from above by a circular skylight that echoes those from the original design.
When selecting materials and finishes, McElroy looked to iconic fashion and design books, drawing on two key references: the marble floors of Phoebe Philo–era Céline boutiques and a Vincent Van Duysen-designed green onyx bathroom in Munich. In the bathrooms, collage-like layers of green, pink and white marble nod to the former, with the pink and white stone cut from the same slab used in the kitchen. The textured floors are paired with the dappled veining of Cipollino marble wainscotting, softened by micro-cement on the upper walls. Timber veneer cabinetry and warm metal lighting and tapware complete the scheme.
Living spaces and bedrooms use a similar palette of soft pinks and greens, giving the home a gentle aesthetic that complements its original curves. Downstairs, rounded dividing walls create a sense of flow between the living and dining areas and the music room. Painted rose, this space was a specific request from the music-loving couple, anchored by a curved brown velvet sofa by Pierre Augustin Rose with a 1970s sensibility. It’s accompanied by a custom Aldini resin record table and backlit shelving for the couple’s vinyl collection, while a floral wall light, made in collaboration with South Drawn, spans the wall behind the sofa.
Originally galley-style, the newly configured kitchen is designed for pizza parties and gatherings with friends and extended family. The central island’s curved edges lend an Art Deco note, while chequerboard flooring in Calacatta Oro and pink Rosa Murcia marble brings a timeless French aesthetic. Marble wall linings above the benchtops and bronze inlays in the timber veneer joinery add richness and depth.
The dwelling’s curved walls continue upstairs, where bedrooms are layered with vibrant greens and browns through custom bedheads and heavy curtaining. The main suite includes a well-lit walk-in wardrobe and wood-panelled make-up nook with a Bosca Exotica Aldini table.
Through this artfully composed mix of materials and furnishings, as well as a dynamic spatial plan that supports both movement and the rhythms of family life, Smac Studio has set the scene for a whole new chapter in this central Sydney home.
