CHEF'S kiss

Entertaining by a smart renovation for a family of foodies on a grand scale was made possible

Walking through the private front garden, up a stone path and steps to the entrance of this two-storey family home in Sydney's eastern suburbs, the initial impression feels a little old Hollywood: elegant white arches and curvy second-floor balconies framed by tall palm trees and edged with lush green lawn. The owners are the proprietors of two renowned fine-dining establishments in the Sydney CBD, and one is a chef who trained at a Michelin restaurant in France. Their expansive four-bedroom house has been seamlessly designed for gracious living and entertaining.

The initial attraction of the house was its solid brickwork, elegant Greek arches, columns and high ceilings, and undulating sense of space, but during their 2018 renovation, the couple knocked down walls to create larger, more generous living areas.

"The kitchen area we have now was originally three rooms!" says the owner. They also raised the heights of all the doors and windows, and added archways and fluted glass panes, creating a soothing sense of 'enfilade' (a flow of interconnected rooms arranged in a row, each opening into the next).