In 2012, designer Greg Natale was brought in to execute a Hollywood Regency-era renovation of a two-story home in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill. 12 years later, he’s back to give the home another makeover.
As the residence transitioned from one owner to the next, Natale was invited back to Bellevue Hill House to completely reinvent the interior he originally created. In its place, a soft, textural home comes alive through a beautiful expression of curved additions reminiscent of Cycladic architecture but with a contemporary twist. To have had the rare opportunity to reverse a previous design and start over from scratch was a ritualistic practice symbolic of the designers evolution.
The new curves in question begin in the formal entry, where a twisting staircase breeches from the Patagonia Verde quartz floor, the first of several demonstrations of a more-is-more approach to natural stone. Underneath the stairwell, a sizable arch rises to form the opening to the formal lounge. A continuous wall winds its way unobstructed through the space and into the dining area with a feel of fluidity that is reinforced by wave ceilings. Blonde timber floors and a light clay wash on the walls and ceilings bestow an airy, luminous ambiance onto the space.
Where the original design made use of stark white to create contrast throughout the home, the new design deploys a warmer palette of neutrals – blonde timber floors and a light clay wash on the walls and ceilings – with moments of bold pattern and color. Several rooms make marble-clad statements, including the kitchen showcasing Breccia Capraia imported directly from Italy on the walls, countertops, and custom island.
Modern furnishings, including Vladimir Kagan’s Curved Cloud sofa, Butterfly coffee table by Hannes Peer for SEM, Knoll Platner chair by Warren Platner from Dedece and Dune side table by Draga & Aurel for Baxter in the living room, complete the look that Natale is calling “European Minimalism”.
While Natale’s original concept suited the owners for the duration of their time in the home, this latest iteration proves, everyone deserves a second chance.
Photography by Anson Smart.
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