Studio Highlights: January, 2025
The new year began with a steady rhythm—easing back into work while lingering a little longer along the coast. After a month of seaside stops and slow travel, returning to Melbourne felt like the real reset.
Kicking off the year, I covered a beautifully preserved Federation-era home in Domain’s Home of the Week column. Meanwhile, a new collaboration with BresicWhitney saw me writing for their Bresic Blog, a welcomed evolution after years of featuring their listings in my What To See This Weekend column.
Between fresh projects and finishing up photography assignments for Domain, January was the perfect balance of transition and momentum—setting the tone for an exciting year ahead!
~ Home Of The Week ~
Domain’s Home of the Week column highlights remarkable listed properties across the country. Kicking off the new year, I covered 30 Denison Street, Hill End—built circa 1914, this Federation-era home once served as the local schoolmaster’s residence.
Strolling through Hill End is like stepping into another era. Once a thriving gold rush boom town, this heritage-listed site is now a mecca for artists, where history and creativity meet. It was here, amidst echoes of the past, that designer, photographer, and author Ingrid Weir found a slice of serenity at 30 Denison Street.
“I was visiting a friend doing an artist residency and fell completely in love with Hill End,” Ingrid recalls. “The invigorating air, dreamy pink sunsets, and kangaroos in the streets – it felt like nowhere else in Australia, yet so quintessentially Australian.”
~ Featured Properties ~
Here are some of my other favourite listings I featured in my What To See This Weekend and Coast & Country columns for Domain, highlighting standout properties throughout Sydney and regional NSW.
26 Seventh Avenue, Katoomba
With raked ceilings, exposed timber beams, and beautifully landscaped tiered gardens, this Katoomba home embodies mountain charm with a modern twist. “The sunken living room is a peaceful haven, illuminated by skylights and warmed by a fireplace,” says the agent. “Other highlights include the newly renovated kitchen with Smeg appliances and tranquil outdoor spaces, complete with a cedar hot tub.”
22 Ringwood Road, Exeter
A piece of Exeter’s history, ‘Olive’ is a beautifully restored weatherboard workers’ cottage that blends rustic charm with modern comforts, inspiring its proven Airbnb success. “Its light-filled white interiors contrast beautifully with timber floors, creating a warm and inviting space,” says the agent. “The bullnose verandah is a north-facing retreat, overlooking lush gardens, a productive veggie patch, and flourishing fruit trees.”
38 Coasters Retreat, Coasters Retreat
Echoing the rhythms of its natural surroundings, this Ian Traill-designed sanctuary reveals sweeping views and architectural refinement. “Three linked pavilions and a detached studio balance functionality and serenity,” says the agent. “The vendor cherishes the expansive deck by the dining pavilion with breathtaking views of The Basin and Ku-ring-gai Chase—but then again, every window frames water or nature vistas.”
108A McCarrs Creek Road, Church Point
Where bushland kisses the bay, this striking architectural retreat offers a lifestyle as picturesque as its surroundings, set peacefully in a sought-after waterside enclave. “With artistic angles, oversized windows, and skylights, the home invites nature into every corner,” notes the agent. “A private jetty, elevated pool, and proximity to nature trails, waterside walks, and vibrant eateries make it a playground for outdoor adventure.”
~ New Client ~
After years of featuring BresicWhitney’s listings in my What To See This Weekend column for Domain, I’m excited to now collaborate with their team on writing projects for the Bresic Blog. With their portfolio of Sydney’s most beautiful homes, this partnership is a welcome addition to my work.
In the leafy heart of Lilyfield, a double-fronted weatherboard cottage tells a story of transformation and charm. Beneath its gabled roofline and behind the white picket fence lies a home that has grown with its family, blending memories with boundless potential.
For over 15 years, this bright and welcoming residence has been the beloved home of Pippa and Brent Duffy and their four boys. Over time, it has been reimagined into a family haven where life’s milestones unfolded, one thoughtful renovation at a time.
~ Photography Highlights ~
Easing into the new year, the journey back to Melbourne unfolded at an equally relaxed pace along the NSW coast. With each stop, more seaside towns were explored and photographed, capturing their beauty for Domain.
Newcastle
Mollymook
Port Stephens
Merimbula
