Mosman Restoration

This iconic sandstone mansion on Mosman Bay, with its stunning cliffside position and historic charm, had long been in need of restoration and love. Spanning three levels, the house originally featured a nanny’s apartment perched high above and a garage at the street level. Our mission was to breathe new life into this magnificent property while preserving its heritage and enhancing its functionality for modern living.

 

One of the key challenges was ensuring easy accessibility across the home, given the complex tiered design of the property. We incorporated a modern elevator system to connect the garage to the main entry level of the house. Though not visible in the photos, the journey to install this elevator was no small feat—our contractors painstakingly dug a tunnel through the sandstone and rock to create a level access point, allowing for a seamless entry from the elevator into the new front door.

 

Before this transformation, the home featured a glass block bridge that spanned across the garden, leading to the nanny’s apartment. This bridge took you into the first-floor bedroom level, but the rest of the entry was far from welcoming. Narrow, precarious stairs led you down to an entry vestibule, where plants had begun to grow through the walls. It was dark, cold, and quite disjointed—hardly the grand entrance this mansion deserved.

 

Once you rounded the corner, however, the beauty of the home truly revealed itself. A glorious hallway with 15-foot ceilings opened up to breathtaking views of Mosman Bay—an incredible vista we aimed to highlight while remaining sensitive to the home’s heritage.

 

Our design vision for this project was clear: to marry the grandeur and classical charm of the mansion with modern conveniences, light, and warmth, creating a timeless home for our clients to enjoy for generations. With a monumental two-year timeline, we worked closely with architects, heritage consultants, and skilled artisans to carefully restore every detail of this historic residence. Together, we were able to honour the home’s rich history while infusing it with the functionality and beauty needed for a contemporary lifestyle.

 

This was a true labour of love—one that transformed an outdated and somewhat impractical space into a stunning, functional family home with unparalleled views of Mosman Bay.