Room to move: What living in luxury means today

People in the market for top multi-million dollar homes for their families all focus on the same single priority – space to get away from them.

“Everyone loves their space,” says Brad Pillinger, the principal of agency Pillinger, who’s currently selling this week’s feature property in Bellevue Hill, a fabulous newly built house with no fewer than 36 rooms, including open-plan formal lounge and dining areas, as well as an informal lounge and dining space, rumpus/gym room, cinema, office and massive wine cellar.

“If you have adult children or teenagers then it’s nice for them to have their friends over in different areas of the house, and you won’t be disturbed. The owner of this home likes to retreat into the huge wine and cheese room.”

But all over Sydney, it’s exactly the same story; parents love their kids but they don’t necessarily want to be confined with them to close quarters.

“Multiple and dual living spaces are in huge demand in this market, in apartments too,” says Caroline Selka, the co-principal of Belle Property Pyrmont. “People really want their space. With the movement from houses into apartments, and apartments getting smaller, upper end buyers are still looking for bigger spaces.”

In areas like the North Shore, that means large houses on blocks with good, low-maintenance gardens, says Jad Khattar, director of Black Diamondz. Hampton and French provincial house styles are the most popular but they come with a twist. They all need living areas on one level at the back with entertaining decks overlooking gardens, to give occupants even more space.

“It helps if the garden is kid-friendly too, and many people like swimming pools,” he says. “A big interest in that luxury market is entertaining, and so they want the room to do that, whether it’s outside or inside with separate spaces like formal dining areas.”

That desire to entertain is exactly the same reason wine cellars and in-house cinema rooms are also so popular at the high end of the market, believes Gavin Rubinstein, associate director of Ray White Double Bay. Both inclusions are now almost de rigueur.

“People want a proper temperature-controlled wine cellar with Vintec wine fridges, good cabinetry and strip lighting so they can display their wine collection,” he says. “And the cinema room has to have at least six or eight seats with a good quality picture and sound ro provide the complete cinema experience.”

Good security systems are also important, since these are the home-owners who often have bases all over the world and want to be able to lock up and leave without a moment’s hesitation, or worry.

“Most of our clients live in apartments and they have access to good onsite security where they can summon them quickly,” says Selka.

“A lot of them travel frequently and need to know their assets are safe and the market we deal with are moving from suburban homes to lifestyle areas with restaurants and cafes, places that attract people from out of the area, so they need to feel safe.”

Our cover property, for example, designed by architects the Quinlan Group, with interiors by Darryl Gordon Design, has a top-of-the-range security system installed throughout the five-bedroom home. “It feels like a very high-end boutique hotel,” says architect Justin Quinlan.

In such bedrooms, over-sized walk-in wardrobes are also desirable, according to Rubinstein, gyms, garaging for plenty of cars and lots of marble in both kitchens and bathrooms. And systems like CEBus to turn on lights and lower blinds electronically are more and more in demand, says Selka.

“Induction cookers, keyless entry, heated floors … this market loves gadgets,” she says. “They want high-end finishes and comfort, but also want to have fun.”

38 Northland Road, Bellevue Hill
$17 million
Expressions of Interest
Agent: Brad Pillinger, Pillinger Double Bay
0411 545 577

Overlooking Cooper Park, this one-year-old luxury four-level home includes just about every high-end feature any buyer could hope to find, from the multiple living spaces to the custom leather-panelled internal lift, from the saltwater pool to the 15-seat commercial-grade cinema.

“It’s probably the most ambitious home we’ve ever worked on,” says architect Justin Quinlan. “Absolutely no expense was spared.”

Covering nearly 700 square metres, the home opens up to landscaped gardens with a heated infinity pool and spa, wet bar and barbecue setting. Inside, there are 5.5-metre high timber-lined ceilings, American black walnut flooring, a Calacatta marble kitchen with walnut panelling, Italian tapware and a butler’s pantry, a sauna and steam room.

Finishing touches include the 2500-bottle wine cellar and bar, smart home automation, limestone and American walnut floors, electric curtains, US-imported Phillip Jeffries wallpaper and David Hicks carpet.

Need to know:
Individual room-zoning airconditioning
Hardwired for internet throughout
Integrated audio system
Floor heating to all eight bathrooms and the powder room

Recent Sales
$18 million – 1 Rose Bay Avenue Bellevue Hill  – June 2016
$15.6 million – 7 Cranbrook Lane Bellevue Hill  – October 2015
$15 million – 21 Jersey Road Woollahra – August 2016