August 6, 2026

Words: Elana Castle

Photography: courtesy of Smac Studio

Queen Of Hearts: Inside A Home In Sydney By Smac Studio

In Sydney’s tightly held suburb of Woollahra, where rows of Victorian terraces define the streetscape with mature trees and ornate iron lacework, a freestanding home by celebrated Australian architect Espie Dodds already stood apart. Originally designed in 1981, the residence possessed what Smac Studio director Shona McElroy describes as “beautiful bones”—generous natural light, striking circular skylights and an uncommon sense of openness rarely found in the neighborhood. “The original house didn’t need rescuing,” says McElroy. “It just needed reimagining.”

Tasked with renovating the home for a fashion-forward couple with a love of entertaining, music and travel, the studio, (a Sydney-based practice with projects in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand), approached the project with both restraint and confidence. “At the very start, the clients said, ‘We want you to be really creative,’” recalls McElroy. “They signed off on our very first hand sketches, which almost never happens. The finished rooms are remarkably close to those early drawings.”

While the owners initially intended to preserve the existing floor plan, one awkwardly positioned bedroom between the kitchen and living spaces became impossible to ignore. Its removal transformed the entire house. “Layouts are our love language,” McElroy says. “Once we relocated that room, everything clicked into place.”

The former bedroom now operates as a richly atmospheric lounge beneath a pink Murano chandelier, seamlessly connected to the kitchen and pool beyond. Curved walls soften transitions between spaces, while marble portals subtly define zones without interrupting flow. The downstairs level became a generous social domain devoted to gathering and entertaining; upstairs was reconfigured into a quieter retreat of bedroom suites and bathrooms, complete with replicated circular skylights that echo Dodds’ original architecture.

  • A curved brown velvet sofa, round side table with red flowers, and wall art of golden flowers in a minimalist room with pink walls and a light rug.
    Featuring a custom light by South Drawn, the Pierre sofa by Austin Rose, the Record Table by Aldini, and Tongue & Groove Penza flooring, each element in this room was chosen for its timeless character, materiality and enduring appeal.
  • A modern living room with a beige sofa, geometric glass coffee table, large pink chandelier, built-in fireplace, and green armchair near a windowed doorway.
    A custom commission by Vicki Lee Gallery anchors the space, layered with the Edra Standard sofa, B&B Italia’s Alanda coffee table and Spool side table from Space Furniture, a vintage Murano Poliedri chandelier from Emoderno, and India Mahdavi’s Bishop Stool from Studio ALM. Bespoke rugs by Whitecliff Imports and Charlotte Perriand Applique à Voletwall lamps complete the composition, while the clients’ own vintage chairs add a deeply personal touch.
  • Modern kitchen with marble island, brown cabinets, built-in appliances, checkerboard tile floor, large windows, and a glass vase with branches on the counter.
    Kitchen features custom checkerboard flooring in Calacatta Oro and Rosso Crema by TeraNova, a Calacatta Oro island and splashback, Gaggenau appliances, and Grazia & Co stools upholstered in a custom fabric.
  • A modern dining room with a wooden table, colorful chairs, a decorative light fixture, wall shelves, floor lamp, and a grand piano near a window with sheer curtains.
    In the Dining Room, India Mahdavi’s Best Friend chairs from Studio Alm gather around the Otway dining table by Cosh Living, grounded by Tongue & Groove’s Penza flooring and illuminated by a vintage Murano pendant sourced from 1stDibs.
  • Small dining nook with a round table, patterned bench seating, an orange chair, wall shelves with glasses, and a framed photo on a pale green wall under a slanted ceiling.
    Calacatta Oro wraps the shelving and benchtop in the kitchen,, sitting alongside custom checkerboard flooring in Calacatta Oro and Rosso Crema by TeraNova. A bespoke banquette upholstered in Thibaut’s The Rhythm fabric from Boyac is paired with the Molecule Table by Barbera Design, while a Murano Genoa wall sconce from EModerno casts a warm, ambient glow.
  • Modern bathroom with green marble vanity, a large mirror, vertical mirrored panels, pendant lights, and a white vase with flowers on the counter.
    Jade Onyx creates a striking focal point, complemented by The Water Monopoly’s Rockwell tapware from The English Tapware Company, and a bespoke pendant light by South Drawn.
  • A modern patio area with a green sofa, plants, and a geometric-tiled reflecting pool in front of a two-story cream-colored house.
    Externally, Marseille pool tiles by TeraNova meets Tilden limestone from Eco Outdoor, whilst the curated gardens by Wyer & Co soften the material palette. Kettal’s Insula modular daybeds from Mobilia and Gubi Tropique chairs from Cult Furniture create spaces designed for long afternoons outdoors.

Materiality plays a central role throughout. Checkerboard flooring flows from the kitchen to the pool terrace, creating what McElroy describes as “a playful, lyrical dialogue across the home.” Warm blush and beige tones wash across walls and ceilings, avoiding stark white entirely. Bronze tapware, sculptural Pierre Augustin Rose furnishings and richly veined marble introduce depth and tactility.

“This house is really about connection,” says McElroy. “Connection between people, between rooms, and between indoors and outdoors. It’s social, warm and expressive—but it still feels timeless.”

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