The beautiful Sydney home of Vanessa Steele and Peter Braig.  Sunroom - patchwork kilim from I & B Perryman Oriental Carpets, Woollahra.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room – straw and wool embroidered Moroccan rug, purchased on a recent overseas trip.  Large photographic artwork by Peter Braig.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room - large photographic artwork by Peter Braig.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

We're back in Sydney again with today's seriously lovely Australian Home - although I must say, this one could almost pass for a classic LA apartment, with it's Spanish Mission styling and those amazing arched windows!  That top image of the sunroom  is such a stunner - totally magazine-cover fabulous (nice work Felix!).   It's incredible how certain architectural details really give a space the feeling of being somehow so very 'international'!

The lucky residents of this beautiful two bedroom apartment are Vanessa Steele, who runs her own PR company, and Peter Braig, a photographer (plus Macchiato the cat!).  This creative pair moved to Sydney from Melbourne five years ago, but hunted for three years before finding the perfect pad to call home.  'We were looking for something special - it was worth the wait...' says Vanessa!

One of just a handful of boutique apartments in a building known as 'La Granada' in Sydney's leafy Bellevue Hill neighbourhood, this apartment really does have a special something going on. Tucked at the back of the block on the ground level, and opening out onto a leafy patio, it's wonderfully private, and with windows on all sides, it feels more like a house than an apartment.  Vanessa puts that down also to the layout of the rooms and shape of the space.  ' The square footprint makes it more like a house, and means we use every room' she says.

Vanessa and Peter have been here just two years.  Since moving in they haven't needed to do too much - other than polishing the floorboards and painting the walls white throughout. Of course they've also pulled together a tight, cohesive edit of furniture, soft furnishings and artworks to enhance the features of the space. I must say they've done such a stellar job of styling their home - all the colours and textures are so perfectly balanced, and not a thing out of place!  Vanessa and Peter's favourite pieces at the moment are their antique Moroccan rugs in the living and dining rooms, found on their most recent overseas trip. Peter is originally from Europe, and the pair love to travel, inevitably collecting things to bring home with every trip!

It's clear from chatting to Vanessa that she and Peter are still kind of pinching themselves, even two years after securing their beautiful apartment - and after 3 years of looking I would be too!  There is so much to love about the place - Vanessa says favourite elements include the Spanish Mission style of the space, the privacy, and their wonderful leafy outdoor area.  'The courtyard is such a great space - excellent for parties, it extends into an outdoor room in the warmer months' says Vanessa.

Massive thanks to Vanessa and Peter for sharing their beautiful home with us today! Aaaaww Sydney.  You're so pretty.

Dining Room – view to courtyard.  Photos - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room details.  Artwork top left by Vanessa and Peter's godson Alessio Jaeggi!   Photos - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room - oil pastel artwork by Newell Harry, straw and wool embroidered Moroccan rug.  Photos - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining Room.  Photos - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Details details!  Clockwise from top left - artwork by Anthony Lister, Vitsoe built in shelves, industrial details in the living room and sweet peaches Vanessa kindly fed us during our visit!  Photos - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room details - Mark Tuckey bookshelves.  Artwork by Kitty from Melville Island, and Hideyo paper art ball.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom through to ensuite.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Master bedroom details.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Master bed - wool rug with pom pom fringe from Morocco.  Photo - Felix Forest, Production - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files

Exterior - rear courtyard.  La Granada alright! Photo - Felix Forest, Product - Lucy Feagins / The Design Files