This seriously impressive Sydney home belongs to entrepreneur and businessman John Winning. To save you the hassle of googling him (and I know you will), I might as well give you the lowdown, briefly – John is the young CEO of Winning Group and founder of Appliances Online, Australia’s number one online retailer of kitchen appliances. His empire started as an online off-shoot of a 100-year-old family business, but these days John heads up the whole company. I have to say, the #winning hashtag has never seemed more appropriate.
John’s home is a massive 1,100 square metre 1920’s brick warehouse, converted on the first floor into a generally open plan home with large kitchen and dining area, two lounge areas, an outdoor terrace space and one central ‘pod’ bedroom, whilst the ground floor houses various guest bedrooms, an indoor pool, internal garden and extensive entertaining area.
The unique fit-out here is the result of a particularly inspired architectural response. ‘I held an ideas competition with a handful of architects, and one design approach stood out for its originality and use of the space’ explains John. That was Peter Ireland’s scheme, who is joint principal of Allen Jack + Cottier Architects. Peter proposed the ground floor internal garden with void and windows above, which allows natural light to stream through the space. He is also responsible for that mind-bending master bedroom!
‘Level one has my master bedroom, described by Ireland as a ‘man-cave’ – an acoustically insulated, cocoon-like fibre glass master suite – which ultimately sealed the deal for me to choose his scheme’ John explains. The ‘pod’ must be seen to be believed. There’s something almost cartoon-like about this sculptural centrepiece, which was crafted using fibreglass boat-building technology.
Beyond these spectacular architectural elements, Sydney designer Kelly Ross of The Gentry is responsible for the warehouse’s distinctive interior details. Kelly worked closely with John, selecting furniture and fittings which reflect his interests and a rich sense of family history. ‘Kelly has created a dramatic and highly personal mise-en-scene’ John says. Some of his favourite pieces include his 12 seater-dining table, crafted from Oregon beams which were salvaged from the property, as well as an Irish Georgian sofa purchased from the set of The Great Gatsby!
Of course, if you sell appliances for a living, you really SHOULD have one hell of a kitchen. John certainly does, and amongst his most prized possessions are his kitchen appliances! ‘Of course I can’t help mentioning some of the amazing appliances that I have in my kitchen, including Sub Zero fridges, Wolf and Miele cooking appliances and Qasair rangehoods’ John says enthusiastically. ‘It’s a feature of the house, and the steel appliances look so good against the gold cabinetry.’
In fact, though this home is pretty outlandish, it’s also a surprisingly ‘insular’ space – from the outside, you really have no sense of the drama within! ‘I love that it’s completely unassuming from the street’ John says.’If you’re going past the house you’ve got no idea what’s inside, but as soon as you walk through the doors you get a feeling of being anywhere in the world’. Indeed, there is a distinct feeling here of being transported somewhere else. Entering the space is a somewhat surreal, ’Alice down the rabbit hole’ experience. This is a home created with no limits to the imagination, and that’s a very rare thing.
The cloud in the living room. OMG.
Spectacular home. Also looks spectacularly expensive. That pod looks like some sort of giant molar.
TDF is always good, but this article is off the charts.
Oh my……
Love! Love! Love! this post. Love listening to him on Mark Bouris’s podcasts, pretty switched on guy and love his mindset! Total abode goals.
Nice work John, it’s come up stunning.
I have never commented before but this is just so amazing! Awe inspiring. And gutsy. Wish I had the budget to give an architect and designer free reign…
W.O.W!
mindblowing….looks like it belongs in NYC!
thanks for sharing!
Congrats Kelly Ross – you star :)
This house is a credit to all involved. It seems like a rare dream copartnership between owner, architect and interior designer. I WISH I LIVED HERE !
Delicious and fun!
Wow, the Design Files does run the full gamut of Australian Homes.. (this one is Belle Magazine worthy); I see why you were excited to share it. While doesn’t display the intimacy of just one person’s vision, it’s an impressive example of teamwork and (lots of) money spent carefully. The cutouts in the courtyard’s external walls, looking out to trees, gives a lovely expansiveness..
this is just NEXT LEVEL! amazing!
AMAZING!
utterly mind-blowing – love it
That kitchen means serious business. What a ballsy build!
Are you kidding me?! Wow, this home is ridiculously good.
INSANE!! Thanks for sharing TDF.
Ohh my word, that is a showstopper! TDF you have outdone yourself. Peter Ireland and his team are so talented! Thank you for sharing x
Mind blowing! Open styled floors make homes seem larger. i will definitely get an open layout plan for my future house. Thank you for sharing.
This project shows the stellar result of a good collaboration between architect, designer & client, even if it isn’t to everyone’s taste. Anyone can walk in to a store and buy a pastel throw cushion and pot plant and mimic the ‘latest trends’ in interior design. A lot of knowledge and skill goes in to creating unique spaces like this. I’d love to see more projects of this nature please on The Design Files!
The sort of home that makes your spine tingle! Beautiful example of free rein creativity. So inspiring. Mr Winning, thanks for sharing your abode with us.
Honestly, this home is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Just gotta set up an appliance website then this home is the next step, right?
Please could you share any other images you have on John Winning’s home. This is the best I have seen yet. Absolutely Brilliant!
I have spent time in John’s ‘warehouse’ twice, revelling in Kelly Ross’, of The Gentry, splendid fit out – imaginative, creative, glorious. Wonderfully enhances the brilliant design and use of the space. If John Winning chooses to open his house or invite you to dinner, walk over glass to get there.
This space is beyond words! Phenomenal job John Winning and Allen Jack + Cottier Architects.
This home is on another level. It’s all about the thinking.
Seriously well done to all involved.
Man, I LOVE this. Think my jaw genuinely fell open. Creative and inspiring and the quirkiness of the pod tickled my funny bone – brilliant architecture. The whole design is fantastic and the colours, textures, that shelving, everything.
So much to love in this home – that raw and refined aesthetic is a favourite. But that leather belt floor…#Lust
I read your articles all te time and never know I could comment till now, great story, amazing place.
Well done to both of you, Congrats
Wow Lucy that property is , oh look no words but wow wow . Just love tower Architects and people taking risks. So inspiring!!