First impressions can be deceiving. This is true of when interior designer Nellie Tilley walked into this stately federation arts and crafts home with her long-term clients. “It went from that initial meeting when we were just planning to open up a couple of doors, change the carpet and paint the walls to gutting and rebuilding the whole house,” recalls Tilley, who has reimagined four homes for the same family with three grown-up children.
Set on 2100 square metres down a long driveway in Bellevue Hill, the property had a lot going for it. Built in 1919 by Sunday Times owner and entrepreneur Hugh McIntosh, Belhaven was once and still is one of the area’s grand estates.
With panoramic harbour views, the spacious three-level home had a pool, tennis court and gatehouse dotted around its sprawling grounds.
To the left of the front door is an elegant yet comfortable seating area complete with vintage rattan chairs, Christian Lacroix cushions from Radford and a ceramic drum stool from Orient House. The Visual Comfort ‘Darlana’ outdoor wall lanterns and a pot from Lydie du Bray Antiques complete the picture.
Checkered marble tiles, wainscoting and Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallpaper add to the sense of grandeur in the entry centred around an antique table from Lydie du Bray Antiques with a magnificent Jamb ‘Hyde’ lantern above. Loosening the Bind artwork by Liliane Tomasko.
What became apparent was that the changes that had been made over the years didn’t make the most of this enviable setting.
“The house had been turned away from the views and they had enclosed a lot of verandahs,” explains Mary Randles from Weir Phillips Architects, who were engaged to work alongside Tilley and landscape architect Myles Baldwin.
Staff stairs had been retained and the kitchen faced the tennis court on the south side and the rooms to the north were all the secondary spaces.
Carrara marble island bench with Rina Menardi platter from Ondene. Tapware from The English Tapware Company. On the wall behind is New Arabesque for Unfashionable Optimism by Kamrooz Aram.
The formal living room combines Michael Smith ottomans, a Nau side table from Cult and a pair of custom sofas softened by cushions from Radford. On the mantel is a Rina Menardi vase from Ondene and an Aerin sculpture from Palmer & Penn. The expansive coffee table holds a pair of Cappellini candlesticks from Cult and a Fornasetti candle.
The house enjoys stunning Sydney Harbour views.
The two-year process that ensued saw the house being completely flipped upstairs and downstairs. “The quicker answer to what did we do would be what did we end up keeping,” says Randles.
On the ground floor, the expansive combined main living space spills out onto a new balcony and upstairs the four bedrooms were remodelled so that the glamorous master bedroom and ensuite enjoy the view.
The top floor, a rumpus cum study, was expanded and the roof terrace rebuilt, again to maximise the outlook. The exterior is largely intact, softened by a meandering garden created by Baldwin. The addition of the underground parking for eight cars in place of the carport creates a sense of arrival.
A pair of James Perse sunloungers and a ceramic drum stool from Orient House sit in front of lush greenery at the end of the pool.
A vignette of the rambling garden created by Myles Baldwin.
While the house is grand, it’s anything but intimidating. Tilley cleverly proposed that the bay window downstairs be converted into a bar. “The clients weren’t convinced but now they love it,” says Tilley.
“With the kitchen island being five metres this is a nice intimate space.” The brass column is a unique feature within the main living area. “We needed something to anchor that big space so what that column does is define the casual living and dining rooms, kitchen and bar,” says Randles. “The brass finish was a nod to the warmer metals used throughout the home,” adds Tilley.
Looking over the Restoration Hardware armchair into the main living space that combines a bar, dining room and kitchen. Dining table and chairs, all from Restoration Hardware. Rina Menardi vase from Ondene. The brass column and antique rug from Cadrys delineate the spaces.
The bay window has been transformed into an intimate bar at ground level with a Rose Tarlow counter and suspended brass shelf. On the wall is Paul and Talitha Getty on Roof Terrace by Patrick Lichfield while a trio of Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort pendant lights hang above.
The finishes imbue warmth to the home. Checkerboard marble tiles now line the entry and grasscloth wallpaper and hand-painted joinery is seen throughout.
“We picked more textural finishes to give that soul to the house,” explains Tilley, adding “we wanted to achieve a comfortable timeless elegance.”
A series of Aerin for Visual Comfort wall lights and a custom carpet elevate the newly widened staircase.
The informal living room features a custom sofa, coffee table and &Tradition vase from Cult. In the corner, a custom desk from Rose Tarlow with a Visual Comfort pendant light above overlooks the garden.
An antique rug from Cadrys establishes the softly coloured palette in the main bedroom with a custom velvet bedhead, Society Limonta throw and bedspread from Ondene, and Designers Guild cushion from Radford.
The wainscoting brings yet another layer as does the abundant feature lighting and embossed custom carpet. Vintage blue threads its way throughout, inspired by the original tiles on the balcony, one of the only original finishes that remain. “Those heritage tiles were very indicative of where we went with the colour palette,” says Tilley.
A treasured commode and mirror paired with an Aerin sculpture from Palmer & Penn make a statement in the walk-in robe. Ralph Lauren pendant lights and Visual Comfort ‘Camille’ sconces wash the glamorous space in soft lighting.
The hotel–like shower in the ensuite is framed by a Statuario marble slab on one side and a Carrara marble bench seat on the other. The tapware is from Candana.
Finely detailed joinery steps down to create a Carrara marble bench seat in the ensuite that enjoys sweeping harbour views. A towel from Beautiful Things completes the picture.
A house of this size required pieces of a particular scale and a lot of them. Aside from a couple of special antiques that came from the owner’s previous home, most of the furniture and lighting was procured on a two-week buying trip in Los Angeles.
The custom Rose Tarlow desk in the casual living room is a highlight of the bounty that included a staggering 48 lamps. “You never realise how much a home absorbs. It doesn’t look like much until it’s all coming off those trucks on install day,” says Tilley who worked closely with Randles to ensure the pieces worked well on plan.
An outdoor shower by the pool is just as considered as the interior with handmade glazed terracotta tiles from Onsite Supply + Design and a Robert Plumb ‘Murray Rose’ shower.
In the ensuite, the bay window houses a Studio Bagno ‘Aurora’ freestanding bath. An antique chandelier from Parterre and Westbury linen curtains bring softness to the light-filled space.
The well-appointed vanity in the ensuite features hand-painted joinery and tiles from Teranova punctuated by Waterworks mirrors and tapware, both from The English Tapware Company.
he grand proportions of the main bedroom allow for an intimate seating area with custom armchairs, an antique coffee table from Lydie du Bray Antiques and a standard lamp from Circa Lighting in LA. Either side of the bed are a pair of Restoration Hardware sideboards with curios such as the Hay table lamps from Cult. The custom mirrors above bring the harbour views inside.
It’s abundantly clear that the success of the home is testament to a great working relationship between all involved. “These houses only come together with a good team,” says Randles. Tilley couldn’t agree more: “The whole process was joyful, and I think that comes through in this beautiful home surrounded by its superb gardens.”
A view of the remodelled house from the tennis court takes in one of the many outdoor living spaces with Restoration Hardware armchairs and an antique coffee table from Parterre.
