Age Of Elegance A stately mansion has new life and a new purpose.
Refurbishing this grand Sydney home has provided its lucky new residents with the backdrop for a glamorous lifestyle.
Comfortable, elegant, luxurious: this Sydney property has been completely transformed by design firm Coco Republic. From the rugs on the floor to the sink-into-me sofas and beautiful finishes, every detail has been carefully considered. It’s classic in style, warm in feel and supremely homely – and that’s important, because soon it will be a home to many.
What was once a family residence on Sydney’s North Shore has been transformed into a ground-breaking independent-living venture for retirees, where the emphasis is very much on good design. Known as The Rose by Moran, the property comprises 33 two- and three-bedroom residences designed by Antoniades Architects and is set on the grounds of one of the area’s best-known historic mansions, Rosemorran.
“The people who are going to live here will have come from beautiful family homes of their own,” says Georgina Holmes, who was the senior interior designer on this project alongside fellow designer Grace Fernan. “They understand what quality is and they have strong views on how they like their surroundings to look.”
A serene palette, softly layered materials and sophisticated furniture – all Coco Republic hallmarks – feature in the communal spaces of The Rose by Moran. “Beauty and comfort are very much of equal importance in the library, the music room, and the club room,” says Georgina. “Our goal was to make these rooms feel like an extension of the living quarters. So it doesn’t feel like you’re in a communal space at all; it’s like you’re walking into your own music room, your own library.”
The music room features eucalyptus-green walls and two elegant Chamonix sofas. “This style of sofa is classically elegant and can hold its own in a room with beautiful architraves and original stained-glass
windows, but it’s also a compact piece that allows for reading and relaxing while also being sufficiently supportive,” she says. A glass coffee table anchors the space and helps bounce light around the room. The design team accessorised this space with brass accents and an ornate mirror over the marble fireplace.
The library has benefited from an injection of lilac and plum tones via the furniture. “We selected a Timothy Oulton ‘Serpentine’ Sofa, which is essentially a contemporary take on the classic Chesterfield,” she says. Here, it’s upholstered in linen rather than leather for a softer look. Two high-backed chairs are upholstered in mohair – a further touch of luxury – and the room’s custom bookcases will soon be filled with favourite tomes.
There is a clear need in the market for premium-quality living options for retirees, says Sally Taylor, director of Retirement by Moran (the independent-living arm of Provectus Care, the group behind the By Moran initiative). “People don’t want to compromise on the high standards they’re used to when they downsize to somewhere that’s a better fit for their next stage of life,” she says.
Developments such as The Rose by Moran – there are four further By Moran projects expected to roll out soon and more on the drawing board – enable residents to stay healthier, be socially engaged and remain local to the community they’ve lived in and loved, adds Sally.
It was she who dreamed up the concept for how the interiors of The Rose by Moran should look and it was with this vision in mind that she briefed Georgina and her team. “What they have delivered is even better than we could have imagined,” she says. “It’s sophisticated, it speaks of quality and you can see the thought and care that’s been put into every detail.” > Coco Republic; 1300 000 220 or cocorepublic.com.au. Antoniades Architects, Darlinghurst, NSW; antoniades. com.au. The Rose by Moran, Wahroonga, NSW;
(02) 9777 0009 or rosebymoran.com.au.