"We gutted the place": What happened when Sydney designer Hayden Crawford renovated his home

12/51 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay. Photo: Supplied

Those who closely follow the latest projects of Australian interior designers and architects know that there’s an added layer of intrigue when we get to peek inside a creative’s own home. 

Such is our opportunity with 12/51 Elizabeth Bay Road in Elizabeth Bay, an eastern suburbs pad that has certainly been a labour of love for owner and designer Hayden Crawford. 

The heritage of the c1917 spread, which sits in the historic Kelburn Hall building, was something Crawford and his partner wanted to restore and celebrate. But the road ahead was hardly smooth.

“The apartment was redeveloped in the ’90s,” explains Crawford, “and they’d put plain plaster over the ornate ceilings and cornices. It was all a bit dire.”

The pair “gutted the place” to increase space and maximise natural light, demolishing walls and raising the heights of doorways.

Thankfully, ceiling detail has, through meticulous care, been reinstated too.

Photo: Supplied

Contemporary features like bespoke joinery and luxe finishes are thoughtfully woven throughout – think chandeliers imported from Milan, and glossy marble and timber touches.

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“For us it was about creating a contemporary insertion into a heritage fabric,” says Crawford.

Photo: Supplied

By fusing old and new styles together, Crawford hoped to future-proof the aesthetic of the apartment, creating what he describes as a “blank canvas, for people to move straight into and personalise.” 

Jeremy Brink, of Di Jones Real Estate, will take the property to auction on April 24, and says so far interest has primarily been from owner-occupiers. Currently, the price guide is sitting at around $1.45 million.

Photo: Supplied

Two more designer digs in Sydney

5 Claremont Street, Balmain

When you picture the interior of a Victorian house, you probably don’t imagine anything like this.

In the expansive living area, you’ll find concrete floors, exposed brick and rustic textured walls.

5 Claremont Street, Balmain. Photo: Supplied

This leads to a private lawn, complete with a pair of custom-made barn-style doors.

Anthony Ross, of Cobden & Hayson, has set a $2.4 million price guide ahead of the April 21 auction.

Photo: Supplied

77 Ryde Road, Hunters Hill

Cooking must be a joy at this stylish semi.

Glass windows and doors surround the kitchen, exposing a lush green backdrop.

77 Ryde Road, Hunters Hill. Photo: Supplied

A cathedral ceiling, a clean white colour scheme, and an open-plan layout – which encompasses the dining and lounge area – complete the scene.  

Expect it to sell for around $1.4 million at the April 21 auction, through BresicWhitney’s Nicholas McEvoy.

Photo: Supplied