Pied-à-terre, Woollahra

When a well-travelled, retired lawyer asked Smac Studio to create original interiors blending serenity with character, it was a very welcome challenge. “The client wanted her home to feel timeless, feminine and elegant—but also with a bit of cool factor,” says Shona McElroy, Principal of Smac Studio. Embracing and reflecting the lush garden was a priority, with olive green and aubergine tones specified in the brief. Originally a very dark ‘90s build facing inwards, small interventions to the layout made a big difference to how the client lives and entertains. By changing a tucked away, U-shaped corner kitchen into a centred kitchen island focus has shifted out towards the garden. “This house feels Parisian in a way I’ve always been drawn to,” says McElroy. “It uses space cleverly and is a perfect reflection of the client. It really belongs to her.”