Leesthorpe Mosman

Location: Sydney, AustraliaType: HouseYear: —Architect: Mim Design with Stafford ArchitecturePhotographer: Anson Smart

Leesthorpe Mosman is a robust home for a family of five and their two dogs, where contemporary and heritage meet and light is the conceptual foundation. It is a cherished arrival for clients who have returned to Australia after living overseas, a place to bring the family together in everyday and elevated moments and to celebrate special occasions with extended family and friends.

Leesthorpe Mosman by Mim Design with Stafford Architecture in Sydney, Australia

The clients and Mim Design founding director Miriam Fanning looked at several houses together before finding the Mosman residence, historically known as ‘Leesthorpe’. They fell in love with it immediately. A former glassmaking estate, the house had its early 1900s heritage parts honoured and restored, while the rear extension was replaced with a contemporary addition. The new wing maximises panoramic views across Sydney Harbour and draws them through the home, bringing in light at every opportunity.

“It was about opening up the aspect from the minute you walk through the front door, right through to the rest of the home, and being able to see those beautiful views through to North Sydney and the harbour,” says Fanning.

At the core of the house, a curving, organic stairwell captures light through three-storey windows, while venetian plaster amplifies it. This is where the transition between contemporary and heritage unfolds, with the material palette and mirroring geometries connecting the two. “It pays homage to the grand stair of a typical home of that nature, but in a contemporary way,” adds Fanning.

In the heritage section, Mim Design honoured the original ornate details of the Queen Anne-period style. As the home shifts into the new addition, an apron of pumice-toned terrazzo wraps around the base of the stairs, signalling what lies beyond in the kitchen. “The terrazzo reflects the light and the view, so when you walk through into the rear, it feels open, illuminating and calm,” says Fanning.

Reflective, custom details continue throughout. In the kitchen, a Statuario Crystal island bench glistens beside an Alhena antique brass-finish rangehood and fireplace. Colour becomes a motif: a dominant blue desk in the study evokes the Jonny Nieshe artwork behind it, and the wine cellar uses Verde Riviera stone on the floors and benchtop. The powder room, tucked into the stairwell, offers an experiential journey with a monumental custom pedestal sink in solid Breccia Capraia marble that continues into the flooring. “The powder room is our clients’ favourite. It’s bold and unexpected, and it’s full of personality,” says Fanning.

Full of rich, textural materiality, expressive colour and calm backdrops for the sweeping vistas, Leesthorpe Mosman revels in dualities: old and new, simple forms and intricate details. Fundamentally, Mim Design has centred the home on enhanced and refined daily routines. Styling is by Claire Delmar, and the photography is by Anson Smart.