Royal Beauty: Inside a Woollahra Home That Captures the Modern Sydney Aesthetic

Whether it’s a wedding or a renovation, leaving it to the experts is recommended for a reason. Few projects illustrate this more compellingly than Queen, Smac Studio’s latest triumph in Woollahra.

Briefed simply with “We want you to be really creative” by the owners of the home, Shona McElroy, Principal of Smac Studio, needed little encouragement to flex her design prowess. The result is a home that feels at once expressive and assured, a testament to the power of creative freedom in capable hands.

“Of all the projects I’ve designed, this is the one I’m most proud of,” McElroy shares. “It perfectly encapsulates Smac Studio’s ethos and is completely aligned with my personal style.”

Whilst the studio wasn’t completely starting from scratch — the original home was built in 1981 by Sydney architect Espie Dods — significant modifications needed to be made to open up the home, making it conducive to family living and modern life. In a respectful nod to the home’s provenance, the 1980s circular skylights were preserved and elevated, their form reimagined in a series of new skylights that subtly honour Dods’ enduring style.

Craig and Jenna were immediately drawn to the home’s sense of character — its circular skylights, traditional proportions and European sensibility giving it a warmth and distinctiveness they didn’t want to lose. So much so, they coined their own word for the aesthetic they were chasing. “We jokingly called the style ‘modeco’ — modern meets deco,” laughs Jenna. “It really captures what we were aiming for.” A fitting shorthand for a home that perfectly balances old and new.

“It’s one of the first projects where our original concept translated almost exactly into the built outcome. When I look back at the initial hand sketches, they’re remarkably close to what stands today.” – Shona McElroy

The addition of an elegant palette of blush, cream and green and the incorporation of soft curves further contributed to a sense of cohesiveness that Smac Studio was keen to accentuate. McElroy adds that the overall seamlessness of the home tracks right back to the original designs, “It’s one of the first projects where our original concept translated almost exactly into the built outcome. When I look back at the initial hand sketches, they’re remarkably close to what stands today.”

She continues, “I’ve always believed that the clearest vision exists at the very beginning when you’ve considered every linkage, every material relationship, the full palette. Because we stayed so true to that early thinking, the house has a strong sense of unity. And stylistically, the clients and I were completely aligned. It seemed like we really had the same thing in mind for the outcome.”

Some favourite integrated design elements include the pink Rosa Murcia marble and creamy Calacatta Oro marble in a checkerboard pattern on the floor, visible in both the kitchen and the pool area, and the pink and white stone used in both the kitchen and one of the bathrooms that comes from the same slab. Two substantial marble steps making up the new staircase also visually link back to the kitchen and flooring.

Taking into account the family’s needs and lifestyle was key to the renovation. “Music is central to this family; they play the piano and collect records, so we designed custom brass-lit shelving to display their vinyl collection as art. A bespoke resin record table by Aldini showcases the turntable below. Behind the sofa, a branching wall light was created in collaboration with South Drawn Studio,” explains the team.

Jenna was thrilled with the result, particularly the entertaining prospects. “One of our favourite weekend traditions is hosting pizza and pasta making days with friends (and plenty of great wine).

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The open-plan kitchen and large island are perfect for it. We often have ten people gathered around cooking and eating, while the little ones play nearby in the living areas, always within sight. It’s exactly how we wanted to live in this home,” she gushes.

“I’ve always believed that the clearest vision exists at the very beginning when you’ve considered every linkage, every material relationship, the full palette.” — Shona McElroy

The result, in McElroy’s words, is “a thoughtful merging of the home’s existing European character — steel doors, traditional proportions — with a contemporary sensibility.” It doesn’t sit neatly in one stylistic category; not purely modern, classic or mid-century, but something altogether more considered. “Layered, expressive and individual” — which is, she says, exactly what Smac Studio set out to create.

Project Credits

Interior Design: Shona McElroy, Smac Studio
Build: Marshal Keen Built by MK
Photo Styling: Jack Milenkovic
Photographer: Anson Smart

Landscaping: Wyer and Co

Loved touring this gorgeous home and looking for more inspo? Be sure to take a peep at this space, designed with slow living in mind, as well as this blushing pink beauty.