SITCHU MAGAZINE Whether it’s a wedding or a renovation, leaving it to the experts is recommended for a reason. Few projects illustrate this more compellingly than Queen, Smac Studio’s latest triumph in Woollahra. Briefed simply with “We want you to be really creative” by the owners of the home, Shona McElroy, Principal of Smac Studio, needed little encouragement to flex her design prowess. The result is a home that feels at once expressive and assured, a testament to the power of creative freedom in capable hands. “Of all the projects I’ve designed, this is the one I’m most proud of,” McElroy shares. “It perfectly encapsulates Smac Studio’s ethos and is completely aligned with my personal style.” Whilst the studio wasn’t completely starting from scratch — the original home was built in 1981 by Sydney architect Espie Dods — significant modifications needed to be made to open up the home, making it conducive to family living and modern life. In a respectful nod to the home’s provenance, the 1980s circular skylights were preserved and elevated, their form reimagined in a series of new skylights that subtly honour Dods’ enduring style. Craig and Jenna were immediately drawn to the home’s sense of character — its circular skylights, traditional proportions and European sensibility giving it a warmth and distinctiveness they didn’t want to lose. So much so, they coined their own word for the aesthetic they were chasing. “We jokingly called the style ‘modeco’ — modern meets deco,” laughs Jenna. “It really captures what we were aiming for.” A fitting shorthand for a home that perfectly balances old and new. “It’s one of the first projects where our original concept translated almost exactly into the built outcome. When I look back at the initial hand sketches, they’re remarkably close to what stands today.” — Shona McElroy 03
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