True Identity

A successful redesign restores harmony between this 1938 Sydney home and its 1981 addition, and delivers the soul of a gallery space.

- Alicia Pyke

BEING THE OWNER OF A BUSINESS that showcases exquisite yet accessible contemporary art, Sophie Vander takes great pride in filling her Art Deco-style home on Sydney’s Upper North Shore with a curated selection of paintings, prints and sculptures. Some pieces have been commissioned while others are gifts from friends, or the artists themselves. And of course Sophie, who connects artists and collectors through her online gallery Curatorial+Co, is constantly bringing new works home. “The Antonia Mrljak painting we had in our bedroom has since been sold,” she says, acknowledging that the joy of nurturing artists makes up for letting go of beautiful works.

HOMEWARD BOUND Sophie and her family’s decision to take on a major renovation was underpinned by the desire to create a soulful home with expansive white walls that could be adorned with lots of new artistic discoveries. The project first began in 2016 when Sophie, her husband David and their four daughters were planning for their return to Sydney after a decade living overseas in Singapore and Seattle. They all had their hearts set on this property. “We bought the house the first day we arrived back,” she says. “When we walked in, it was a no-brainer, we were home.” Not that the house, which is set on a steep block, looked anything like it does now.