Step into this marvellous home and count to 10. Chances are, this is the longest anyone has spent inside the Roubiceks’ house without succumbing to the desire to run outside and explore the incredible outdoor area; the gorgeous view over Sydney’s Pittwater is the undisputed star of this abode.

Anita jokes that “everyone calls us the local church because of the candles. It’s something I really like; rather than a lot of overhead light I prefer natural and mood lighting, which explains the lamps and candles.”

It’s no accident then that Anita and Michael‘s four-bedroom, three-bathroom home is designed with an almost entirely glass-walled north face, inviting in sunlight and making the most of the house’s prime position high on a peak in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

CHECK YOUR WORRIES AT THE DOOR
From the fi rst step into the house, a vista of white boats on the sparkling blue Pittwater – and the ocean far beyond – catches the eye and taps into the essence of the calm, resort-style family home. “We bought the house about four and a half years ago and later renovated,” Anita explains. “The drawcard was the layout; it had really good bones. It has a very good feel, being a U-shape all on one level that looks out at the view.”

Just off the entry, a formal lounge sets the tone of the house from the get-go, with soothing neutral hues, a grand Jardan sofa setting and a stunning double gas fi replace crafted from a Pepper Stone base set against a backdrop of custom-cut Café Armani stone, all designed by Anita.

Out of sight until it’s required, a projector screen descends at the touch of a button while crystal-clear tones reverberate from a Bose surround-sound system, ensuring all the family’s entertainment needs are taken care of. It’s one of two Bose systems in the home; there is music available in virtually every room and in the outdoor living spaces.

One side of the formal lounge opens up via glass sliding doors to access the travertine deck – but hold on; we’ll get to that later. For now, wander out of the lounge, past a vibrant triptych canvas by Rhonda Dee from Artfocus Brookvale, and into the incredible open-plan kitchen, dining and family room at the rear of the house.

GOURMET OH MY
The kitchen is a chef’s dream, with benchtops in Caesarstone Osprey; cabinetry by Pittwater Joinery, including soft-close drawer features; a spacious walk-in pantry and top-of-the-range Miele appliances including side-by-side refrigerator, microwave, gas and induction cooktops, two ovens and two dishwashers – clearly a kitchen built for entertaining! The generous island bench further accommodates guests and soiree attendees, with an alcove on either side where bar stools wait at the ready.

“When we’re entertaining, we put the food out here, the nibbles and so on, and people can hang around and sit down as we cook,” Michael says. “We eat most of our meals around the dining table, but this is more of a gathering space.”

Above the island bench, light abounds with four stylish pendant lights interspersed with three skylights. Light also streams in from behind the bench where a frosted-glass window, able to slide away to show off the courtyard greenery, runs the length of the kitchen. To boost the otherwise neutral palette, Anita and Michael had the architect include recessed shelves in the wall which display a collection of coloured vases from a glass artist from Eumundi Queensland. Inside the vases are LED lights that make them twice as brilliant once illuminated.

The dining area is situated close by, featuring a blackbutt dining table custom-made to Anita’s design. The centrepiece is another glass artwork from Lucas Sulton Design. “As for the chairs … no need to point them out,” Michael laughs. “These are our temporary solution to not having found the right dining chairs yet. They’re outdoor ones from three houses ago, but they’re doing the job until we find the chairs we want.”

STORY JANA ROOSE
PHOTOGRAPHY TONY POTTER
STYLING KATHRYN BORGLUND