Sugarloaf Bay House
Photographer Alana Landsberry’s serene 1960s Spanish revival home in Sugarloaf Bay, in Sydney, was originally built for a racing car driver!
Words: Hande Renshaw
Alana Landsberry in her 1960s Spanish revival home in Sugar Loaf Bay with her Pomeranian, Watson.
Design details in the home of photographer Alana Landsberry.
‘Kokoro (print pictured above) is a special Japanese word that doesn’t have a matching term quite like it in any other language. It means love, but the connection that lies between love in the heart, mind and spirit,’ says Alana Landsberry.
‘I’m so grateful to many of my designer and stylist friends for their advice… I have worked with some wonderful creatives who inspire my design decisions.’
It’s hard to believe that Sugarloaf Bay, completely submersed in nature and full of native wildlife, is a mere 20 minutes from the city, in Sydney.
‘It boggles my mind that there is so much wildlife so close to the city; wallabies , echidnas, goannas and kookaburras are our neighbours,’ shares photographer and homeowner, Alana Landsberry. The move away from the city to the idyllic location was an easy decision for Alana, who shares her home with her husband, their three young children and family dog, Watson—the lifestyle and proximity to nature a magnet for the family.
Originally built in 1969 for a racing car driver, the Spanish revival home includes five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The interior is full of lovingly restored classic details, including expansive arched windows, a six-metre-high entry foyer, sunken lounge and bar, and an original viking sauna!
Inspired by the bush and the ocean, the palatte within is calm and subdued—a must for Alana, who craves stillness when she steps through her front door. ‘Work is incredibly hectic and life can be crazy with three wild children—I feel relaxed and my energy quietens when I’m surrounded by light and a calming palette… bringing the nature inside also helps,’ she shares.
Drawing on valuable creative advice from close friends, the design of Sugarloaf Bay House was a collaborative journey. ‘I’m so grateful to many of my designer and stylist friends for their advice—I have worked with some wonderful creatives who inspire my decisions,’ Alana says.
Alana started her photography career 21 years ago, starting out at Fairfax and then moving on to work at publishing houses Bauer Media, Pacific and Are Media. Her photographic work has been published across almost all major titles, allowing Alana the enviable work-perk of travelling across Australia and internationally. ‘I’m so grateful to be able to capture so many amazing people and places,’ she says.
Recently, Alana’s photography has spilled onto a personal passion project, a space to showcase her private, non-commercial work, available through her website. The most recent release of prints shine a light on nature, full of calming, moody and elusive subjects in earthy, chocolatey tones. Launched mindfully over time, the collections will be incredibly limited, with just 10 editions of each print released.
The latest release includes the print, kokoro. ‘Kokoro is a special Japanese word that doesn’t have a matching term quite like it in any other language,’ says Alana. ‘It means love, but the connection that lies between love in the heart, mind and spirit.’ kokoro was inspired by Alana’s love of Japanese culture and draws on the principles of ikebana, the centuries-old Japanese art of arranging flowers, which she studied for many years. ‘The ikebana principles focus on the unison between the flower and its position,’ she explains. ‘The perfect angle lying between the three points, and the same can be said for the word kokoro and the pyramid of connection.’
To celebrate Alana’s latest limited edition print release we’re giving away three ‘kokoro’ prints in A3 format, each printed on high-quality cotton rag, worth $400 each. Head over to our Instagram on Friday May 3rd to enter. Entries close Monday May 6th. Good luck!
‘Work is incredibly hectic and life can be crazy with three wild children—I feel relaxed and my energy quietens when I’m surrounded by light and a calming palette… bringing the nature inside also helps.’’
Alana Landsberry’s limited edition release framed print, kokoro, reflects the harmony between the heart and mind–the artwork features a glossy, chocolate-coloured flower set against a matte, earth-toned background.
The home of Alana Landsberry in Sydney’s Sugarloaf Bay.
The incredible restored original sunken lounge!
“It boggles my mind that there is so much wildlife so close to the city; wallabies , echidnas, goannas and kookaburras are our neighbours.”
The master bedroom.
The calming bathroom space.