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Helsham House is one of those special homes that has ended up in just the right hands.
The 1970s abode was designed by architect Peter Hall, who is best known for completing the design of the Sydney Opera House following the controversial resignation of its original architect, Jørn Utzon.
Just one year after the iconic landmark opened to the public, Peter was commissioned by the Supreme Court judge Micheal Helsham and his family to create a modernist abode in in Sydney’s North Shore.
Despite the architect’s legacy, and the enduring beauty of the mid-century home, the property didn’t have any heritage protection when the Helsham children decided it was time to sell in 2017.
Luckily, the couple who bought it knew it was a gem deserving of preservation.
A few years later, it did receive a heritage listing by the local council, and the new custodians engaged interior designer Phoebe Nicol for a sympathetic refresh.
‘Our vision was to preserve and celebrate the original mid-century essence while gently modernising it for contemporary living. We wanted the home to feel like an evolution — not a reinvention,’ Phoebe says.
The L-shaped residence had fantastic bones, with ‘generous proportions’, expansive windows, and beautiful natural light, but it hadn’t been renovated since about 1990.
Certain original elements like the cork flooring and timber-lined ceiling needed to be restored, with Phoebe sourcing new cork that closely matched the original or reproducing joinery profiles in the same tone and grain.
While the overall floor plan remained largely intact, the kitchen was relocated closer to the core living spaces, offering improved connection to the outdoors by the sliding glass doors — which open directly to a long terrace beside the swimming pool.
The new kitchen pairs stainless steel shelves with existing joinery, alongside a sculptural, four-metre island bench topped with travertine from CDK Stone.
‘We also added a first-floor extension to accommodate two new bedrooms and a shared bathroom,’ Phoebe notes.
‘In keeping with mid-century principles, there are no visual divisions between the sleeping, dressing, and bathing areas [in the main bedroom] — it all flows as one.’
All the material selections were carefully chosen the coexist with the original earthy palette, characterised by walnut, teak, and rosewood details.
It’s now perfectly layered with natural quartz in the bathroom, bluestone crazy paving, as soft lighting and vintage leather pieces help the new interiors appear equal parts retro and refined.
‘It feels like a peaceful retreat,’ Phoebe adds, which was exactly what the owners had hoped for.
