A GRANDEUR PLAN

The palatial proportions of fashion designer COLLETTE DINNIGAN’s Sydney Harbour home called for an equally upscale interior

‘I DECIDED to go modern, light and bright to work with the grand scale and proportions of the house,’ says Collette of her Watsons Bay lodge overlooking Sydney Harbour, just 15 minutes from the city centre but with the relaxed vibe of a beach-side holiday home.

‘We came here in search of space and light – the open-plan living room alone boasts sixmetre-high ceilings and 160 square metres of floor space. Originally a 1920s Masonic lodge, the previous owner had converted it into a hard- edged, modern, glitzy bachelor pad. I wanted to make it feel feminine and classic but fresh, and more welcoming for family living.

‘Chalky white walls, new marble and existing reclaimed French parquet flooring, new staircases and lots of concealed storage provide a backdrop for details inspired by the sparkle of the water in the pool and the harbour outside. There is the constant movement of big ships and ferries, and sea life comes to visit, including bull sharks, seals and even whales, which inspired me to hang Jonathan Delafield Cook’s 12-metre-long painting of a sperm whale above the dining table.

‘The furniture from our previous 19th-century sandstone house in Paddington didn’t suit the grander, Deco feel here – this space needed a bit more polish. Four- or five- rather than three-seater sofas, more than 100 metres of white linen for the living room curtains and dark, vintage bamboo consoles and antique settees help provide definition within the house’s vast proportions. A reclaimed fireplace lends a

THE HOME Australian fashion and interior designer Collette Dinnigan shares this 1920s lodge near Sydney with her husband, communications strategist Bradley Cocks, and their children, Estella, 12, and Hunter, three.