Collection by Zach Edelson
A Historic Sydney Harbor House Gets a Bright Refresh
This 100-year-old house, located in the upscale Sydney suburb of Mosman, features a stunning vista but had been plagued by a dark and disorganized interior, the result of multiple renovations over the decades. The clients, a family of five, approached Sydney and New York-based firm Burley Katon Halliday with a tight budget to bring light and views of the harbor into the interior. The architects brought new clarity to the house by implementing a more open and sensitive room plan.
A new coffered ceiling gives the central kitchen and dining rooms a robust architectural anchor. The kitchen was previously located in an isolated area of the house but now connects the living rooms on the northern side, seen on the left, to the house’s southern bedrooms. The sink is Shaws of Darwen and the faucet is Vola.
The master bedroom, located on the far eastern side of the home, captures some of the harbor view as well. The small exterior area isn’t part of the veranda but a small private balcony for the master bedroom. The bed is by Jardan, the side table is from Anibou, and the chair is Hans Wegner's Circle chair for PP Møbler.
Stairs lead to a media and living room, as well as second veranda, located below the main floor. This lower level was previously inaccessible from within the house. A series of baffles hide the pitch of the roof above, producing a sequence of uniform surfaces where light and shadows play during the day.