Shape Shifter Now redesigned, a beloved beachside home takes maximum advantage of its spectacular location.
Rebuilt to take better advantage of its coastal location, this Sydney home is now the epitome of barefoot elegance.
While some renovations happen in a heartbeat, fast-tracked so their owners can begin living the dream as soon as possible, others are a gradual process, spanning years or decades to ensure the home meets the evolving needs of its occupants. This house, in a sought-after suburb in Sydney’s east, had been home to television producers Sonja Armstrong and Chris Hilton and their two daughters – Claudia, 20, and Olivia, 19 – for 10 years before they decided to rebuild. Sonja says they originally moved to the area for its outdoor attractions, including a beautiful beach, family-friendly parks and a picturesque gully. She admits the single-level home’s layout was “a little higgledy-piggledy”, but it was something they could live with considering the perks of the location.
“The home’s north-facing aspect, close proximity to the beach and the fact it was freestanding were major drawcards for us,” Sonja says. “It also had three enormous bedrooms and wasn’t overlooked by any neighbours, so while the layout wasn’t ideal, it didn’t detract from the good vibes.”
Indeed, the home provided the family with many happy memories, but Chris and Sonja couldn’t shake the feeling that the site deserved a house that would make the most of all the location’s charms. They worked closely with architect Mary Ellen Hudson, who designed a twostorey extension to take advantage of the natural light. Now sprawling across three levels, the home comprises four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study and powder room, along with an open-plan kitchen and dining space and media room.
A double-height wave-like ceiling and glass wall in the living area allows the sun to pour in all year long, capturing its heat in winter, but not summer, while all the bedrooms have east-facing windows for the ultimate sunny wake-up call.
The indoor-outdoor connection has been amplified, with sliding doors leading from the living room to the tropical courtyard, which features a large Wolf barbecue, multiple sofas and a bar table and stools to act as a second living, dining and cooking area. Upstairs, a sliding wall in the main bedroom opens to an internal balcony overlooking the living area and courtyard beyond. “It’s very much a haven,” says Sonja. “From our vantage point in bed, we can cast our eyes over a wide open space filled with light. And no matter which room you’re in, you’re looking onto the garden, cocooned in a completely private oasis.”
To ensure the home looked as good inside as it did out, the couple engagedinteriordesignerSaraHorvathofStudioGeorge,whoreimagined each space to reflect the family’s lifestyle and personality.
“THE HOUSE IS VERY MUCH IN BALANCE, WITH GREAT WARMTH, ENERGY AND UNIQUE VARIATIONS.” Sonja Armstrong, owner
DINING/BAR The sophisticated bar area , featuring Eveneer ‘Even Charred’ veneer joinery, custom amber broadline glass and a Sub-Zero wine fridge, is the focal point in the open-plan space. SP01 dining table and Patricia Urquiola ‘Husk’ chairs, Space. Pendant light, Articolo Lighting. MEDIA ROOM Sofa and ottoman, Jardan. Custom rug, The Rug Establishment. B&B Italia side table, Space. Chair, Spence & Lyda. Artwork, artist unknown. STAIRS Clean curves carry through from the home’s ceilings to the staircase. “It’s sculptural without stealing the show,” says Sara. Artwork, artist unknown.
“I had never thought of working with an interior designer, but Sara completely understood my style,” says Sonja. “I wanted the sense of coastal living without the usual tropes – no striped blues for us. It had to be relaxed enough to cope with sandy feet post-beach, with a levelofrelaxedsophisticationthathonouredMaryEllen’sarchitecture.”
Sara agrees: “It was really important to make this beachside home feel as ‘unbeachy’ as possible, while still reflecting its coastal location and surrounding oasis of courtyard gardens.”
Material selections reference the landscape, including tactile feature walls of polished Marmorino Venetian plaster, threedimensional tiles in the bathrooms to reference the sculptural form of coastal cliffs and dramatic pale blue and grey-veined quartzite in the kitchen for oceanic vibes. Light and dark finishes flow consistently through the house, with a mixture of marble, timber and glass in browns, tans and whites used in perfect balance. In contrast, key furniture pieces, artworks and rugs in bright colours positively sing against this neutral and natural backdrop.
“Sara was an expert at reading my mind, distilling my taste and coming up with options that were better than I could have conceived,” Sonja says, and perhaps the best example of this is the kitchen. With both Chris and Sonja avid entertainers (Sonja also produces food shows), there was a need for a highly functional, well-equipped kitchen that played to their passion.
“We went beyond the preconceived ideas of ‘typical’ kitchens to design one in which Sonja and Chris could be preparing for a dinner party yet remain connected to and able to engage with guests,” Sara says. “We did this by placing the stove in the centre of the
island, with a downdraft extractor that disappears into the benchtop when not in use. We also tweaked the floor plan slightly, moving the laundry to the garage to make way for a butler’s pantry.”
Sonja describes the new layout as “inspired” and loves that “it can accommodate multiple cooks and kitchen hands without tripping over each other”. The adjoining dining and bar area is conveniently located so Chris can be preparing cocktails for guests while Sonja cooks, but the charred veneer joinery and amber broadline glass cabinets provide a stark distinction and help make the two spaces feel entirely separate.
It may have taken a bit longer to get going than some projects, but the build itself – begun in 2018 and completed mid 2019 – was all smooth sailing. Sonja says she couldn’t be more pleased with the end result. “It’s a house very much in balance, with great warmth and energy, filled with unique variations and differences that are still cohesive,” she says. “We love entertaining, and we love being together as a family, and the interconnectedness of the spaces, which can be closed off, allows us to be together or apart as necessary.” Studio George, Bondi, NSW; www.studio-george.com. Mary Ellen Hudson Architects, Woollahra, NSW; 0410 697 650 or meharchitects.format.com. Kilbri Building, Clovelly, NSW; kilbribuilding.com.