Rising Star
Revelling in its glorious setting, the metamorphosis of this coastal Sydney home is a joy to behold.
A spectacular property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches now has a home that makes the most of its magnificent outlook.
The design is as brave as it is beautiful. Yet it’s the tangible feeling of tranquillity that truly defines Kristy and Mark Jones’ remarkably re born home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The couple – parents to Molly, 13, Koby, 11, and Chilli, four – says the sense of serenity is palpable right from the front door. “We call it our retreat,” says Kristy, with a smile. “It’s certainly a very calm house.”
Perched high on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this is also a strikingly robust and modern hideaway, one that pays homage to its sublime coastal setting.
Built in the late 1970s, the brick-veneer home was in largely original condition when Kristy and Mark found it in 2015. Dressed entirely in varying shades of brown, the existing two-storey, four-bedroom house presented as dark and poky, and it felt disconnected from its surroundings. “The house was really just one big rectangle and very dated,” says Kristy. But then they looked at the big picture. “The aspect and the 980-square-metre block were enormously appealing. The backyard is north-facing, with the ocean to the north-east, so you get the most beautiful sunrises,” she adds. “Even though the house itself wasn’t to our taste, we knew we could live there quite comfortably while we planned the renovation.”
The couple realised extensive works were needed to make it their forever home, and engaged architect Adam Brewer to make
it happen. “The existing house lacked light and felt very tired but there was definitely plenty of potential,” he recalls.
Kristy, Mark and the design team toyed with the idea of demolishing the ageing house in its entirety, but quickly dismissed this approach as unnecessary. “By retaining the existing structure, we were able to have the home slightly closer to the boundary than new regulations allow,” says Adam. “We decided to keep the street frontage, making the most significant alterations at the rear, where the best views are.”
In September 2018, two-and-a-half years after the process began, the family moved into a nearby rental home as onsite works finally commenced, with Water view Constructions overseeing the build. Twelve months later, Kristy and Mark’s dream for their forever home was realised.
The layout of the two-storey home is designed to optimise views from every angle. The main entrance is via a lightfilled foyer on the ground floor that gives way to a generous living room, which acts as the pivot point on this level. Arranged in an L-shape around the living room are a family/guestroom, an office, the laundry and the glass-walled kitchen/dining space that leads to the barbecue area and terraced garden.
The cherry on top of the spectacular ground floor is the glistening infinity pool, which delivers additional water views for the rooms at the rear of the ground floor. “The pool is definitely a standout feature,” says Adam. “The spaces at the rear of the ground floor, including the barbecue area and lawn, are deliberately arranged so that they work in tandem with the pool. They are designed to flow seamlessly from one to the other.”
On the first floor, the family’s private domain, there are four tranquil bedrooms (two with ensuite), a family bathroom and a rooftop garden terrace that can be accessed directly by three of the four bedrooms. “When the rooftop garden is more established, the bedrooms will feel integrated with it as well,” says Adam.
In Kristy and Mark’s main bedroom suite, glass spans the full height and width of the room, maximising enjoyment of the jaw-dropping vista. “It was important that the design really embraced the view,” says Adam. “We included operable exterior shutters for shade and privacy when needed. They deliver a textural element too.” Unusually, the ensuite is contained in a glass-walled pod near the entrance of the suite. The practical galley-style layout saves precious floor space; the glass pod allows free movement of light through the bedroom suite.
The home’s two levels are unified by a palette of crisp white, cool greys,
“BRINGING MORE NATURAL LIGHT INTO THE HOUSE WAS A MUST.”
Adam Brewer, architect
“IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HOME REALLY EMBRACED THE SPECTACULAR OUTLOOK.”
Adam Brewer, architect
whitewashed timber and accents in soft coastal hues. In each room, oversize windows frame garden or water glimpses and allow natural light to flood into the core of the home. There’s plenty of texture too, in the form of naturally tactile finishes such as marble-look stone composite, raw concrete and timber. The restrained palette also allows nature to take centrestage.
Above all, this is a house designed for relaxed living, and is very much loved and enjoyed by all members of the family. “There’s really nothing we would do differently if we had our time again,” says a delighted Kristy. “It was the location and the aspect that prompted us to buy this property, but the home Adam has helped us create here has given us our dream lifestyle. We can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“THE LOCATION PROMPTED US TO BUY THE PROPERTY, BUT NOW WE HAVE OUR DREAM LIFESTYLE TOO.” Kristy Jones, owner
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