Paradise BEACH

Sydney interior designer Suzanne Julian draws on her travels and life experiences to prove that when it comes to an office, there’s no place like home.

- Suzanne Julian.

This page “The pared-back elegance is functional and luxurious,” says Suzanne Julian. Joinery by DUWA Joinery with Norwegian Rose marble benchtop. ‘Line’ wall light from Douglas & Bec. European oak †oorboards from Precision Flooring. Ester & Erik candles from Great Dane. ‘Yumemiru’ glass sculptures by Amanda Dziedzic from Fenton & Fenton.

WHAT INITIALLY APPEALED ABOUT YOUR HOME AND ITS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BY TOBIAS PARTNERS? I lived in Sydney in my early 20s, so when my husband and I moved back from Perth with a young family in 2004 we were keen to find somewhere close to the water. Bronte had always been a very family-oriented suburb and we loved the proximity to the beach. We were lucky to find a good-sized block of land in a quiet cul-de-sac. Nick Tobias understood our vision for a home and was happy to take our ideas onboard, which was important to us. The design of the house was a slight departure from their typical style – it is a mix of contemporary detail and classic elements.

WHAT DID THE ALTERATIONS ENTAIL? The alterations to the existing building focused on creating a new living space or parents’ retreat, and a home office with an external terrace. Considering our long relationship as client and architect, it was easy to transition into more of a working collaboration. Initially, I provided Tobias Partners with conceptual drawings of the internal spaces and the palette of materials that would set the tone for the rooms. The architects did an incredible job of designing a seamless extension of the existing house while preserving sightlines and coastal views.