MOODY CLUES

Bold architecture transformed this interwar home into a glam family pad that is at one with its Sydney Harbour views.

- Chris Pearson

Abay window with two plush swivel armchairs is a favourite nook for the owners of this home on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Ensconced in these front-row seats, they can soak up views of the calming waters and nearby bushland – perfect for taking time out. Turn 180 degrees in those chairs and the sitter is back in the thick of the action.

When the owners – a couple with a son, 15, and daughter, 11 – bought the property in 2016, they were drawn to its leafy setting and, just steps away, a sandy beach. But the steep site was dominated by a two-and-a-half-storey interwar home, which had discrete living spaces that shunned the view. So they hired architect Michael Robilliard and Sarah Jayne Marriott of SJS Interior Design to open the property up to the landscape and accommodate the family’s diverse needs.

“We wanted Michael to make the most of the aspect and provide fun spaces for everyone to enjoy,” says the owner. “We also wanted an open-plan kitchen/living/ dining room and ensuites for each bedroom.” Sarah Jayne’s role was to bring all the elements – the architecture, furnishings and art – together to create a layered, luxurious whole.

First up, Michael gutted the original home, retaining only its solid-brick walls on the lower level. In its stead is a lightfilled house with walls of glass to the east, north and west. He also shifted the living areas from the middle level to the top.