It’s hard to believe that this magnificent 1800s Grand Victorian mansion in Mosman was once three messy sub-divided apartments. Our clients, were smitten from the very first time they saw it, mesmerised by its grandeur and decorative elements.

It had great potential and our brief was to transform it into a house suitable for a growing family without sacrificing its historic beauty. The result is a forever home that blossoms with character, charm and contemporary convenience.

We took our design cues from traditional North American coastal architecture — a style our clients were enamoured with. The approach was to imbue the vast interiors with comfort and warmth by adding textural mouldings and new wainscoting. We treated the existing period features tenderly, preserving the original leadlight windows and stone fireplaces, but reinvigorated the renovated spaces with luxurious materials and clustered pendants to fill the soaring 3m high ceilings.

While there’s a casual new side entrance for the family, the reimagined foyer is a breathtaking welcome for visitors attending the homeowner’s regular parties and events.

The sun-soaked kitchen with butler’s pantry is an entertainer’s dream, with shaker-style joinery complemented by smooth Calacatta stone. We reconfigured the footprint to better support open-plan living and added a spacious dining area with a handcrafted timber table and ‘tiled rug’ for easy clean-ups. Setting the scene for impressive hosting, a bank of steel-framed doors opens onto the terrace for alfresco dining under the inky winter skies or glorious Sydney sunshine.  Upstairs we achieved calm tranquillity in the bedrooms with a palette of rich, moody tones

Channelling the spirit of yesteryear, the result is a handsome home that celebrates the magic of a bygone era balanced with the ease of modern living.

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