The owners of this striking modern abode knew what they wanted – right down to its overall style.

“Our previous home was based on the ones to be found in the Greek islands,” the lady of the house declares, adding this was because her family comes from that idyllic area and the distinctive look was dear to her. Their new one, however, couldn’t be more different. “It was my husband’s turn,” she smiles, “and as he is from South Africa, he wanted a strong African feel to it.”

READY, STEADY...
This story began some years earlier when the couple bought a house with tantalizing harbour views on Sydney’s lower North Shore, built in the 1930s. Charming though it was, they were set on a place to suit today’s family lifestyle, so they used the short time they lived in it to study the way the wind and sun moved around it, and then employed an architect. “We lived in the other house until we were happy with the design of the new one and got Council approval,” the owner explains. “Then it took nearly two years to build, and we’ve been here about three years.”

DEGREES OF SEPARATION – A VERY MODERN CONCEPT
The architect they chose couldn’t have come with more impressive – or appropriate – credentials: Bruce Stafford, of Bruce Stafford & Associates, designed the lodge known as Singita Boulders, in the Singita private game reserve in South Africa itself.

“Our main brief to him was that we needed somewhere that was great for entertaining but which had a ‘resort’ air about it,” the owner says. “We wanted to feel we were on holidays all the time! We’ve got a 17-year-old son still at home,” she adds, “and we arranged a whole area downstairs for him, so he could have friends round. Then upstairs, we’ve got a lounge space with TV and so on, and a small self-contained kitchen connected to our bedroom, so we can be up there – and separate.” There are also some guestrooms upstairs – all with ensuites.

COME INSIDE...
Shellee Gordoun, of Shellee Gordoun Interiors, won their hearts – and also the all-important job of designing the decor. The lady of the house was most impressed with how Shellee listened to the architect and understood his vision for the place. “But she also listened to us!” she exclaims. “Shellee’s interview with us was ‘in-depth’ – to work out how we lived so that she could design a home that suited us perfectly. And it does,” she adds. “We love living here!”

Shellee certainly knew just what they were after. “It’s a kind of ‘boutique’ game lodge style suggestive of ‘resort Africa’, which is quite well defined,” she states, “and one of its biggest aspects is texture. They tend to be rough, not smooth – there’s no real gloss. It’s more linen – and ‘raw’.” She envisaged a wide variety of fabric to achieve the desired effect and immediately got to work to find them, finally assembling around 60 samples from numerous fabric firms and ending up piling colour, pattern and texture one on top of the other!.

STORY GABRIELLE BAXTER
PHOTOGRAPHY TONY POTTER
STYLING KATHRYN BORGLUND