A Life Reimagined
This City Beach retirement renovation preserves character while upscaling luxury.
RENOVATION DESIGN + PROJECT MANAGEMENT ULTIMO TURNKEY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
INDOOR/OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN ENZO SBERNA FURNITURE + INTERIOR DESIGN ULTIMO INTERIORS
STYLING + ART CURATION ANDREW THORNTON HICK WORDS ELIZABETH CLARKE IMAGERY JODY D’ARCY
Just one sand dune from the sea in City Beach sits Villa Lowanna, the epitome of sophisticated coastal living and Australian seaside elegance. Originally designed by Hearne Architects and built in 1997, this 1022 sqm property has undergone an extraordinary transformation under the creative direction of Enzo Sberna, director of Ultimo Turnkey Design & Construction.
Tasked with reinventing the much-loved family home for retirement living, the brief was to create a single-level, “lock up and leave” residence that combines luxury, consideration and comfort. “Many clients may only build once or twice in a lifetime, so the opportunity to design a home exactly how you want, and need, is a luxury for many,” Enzo tells Havenist.
The homeowners, longtime clients of Ultimo, entrusted Enzo with complete creative freedom, a rare gesture that speaks to years of collaboration and belief. “It sounds like the dream,” Enzo says, “but with total trust comes total responsibility. It’s never carte blanche to do what we want; it’s about doing what’s best for the client. Every project has its own character, especially in a renovation. Here, we were designing for a new stage of life – downsizing without losing meaning or luxury.”
Inside, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to elevate daily life while maintaining warmth and familiarity. The expansive open-plan living area now flows effortlessly from kitchen to dining to outdoor entertaining. What was once a compartmentalised layout has been converted into a seamless, cross-ventilating space designed for connection and calm. Framing view corridors with significant artworks and streamlining the built-in cabinetry has redefined the functions and orientation of the main living spaces.
The kitchen is a masterclass in craftsmanship and performance. The new design doubles its footprint, and includes a pocket-door larder, integrated Sub-Zero and Liebherr refrigeration, and cladding that continues into the dining area for visual unity. A floating breakfast bar doubles as a buffet for entertaining, while matching finishes extend to the outdoor kitchen, where an integrated gas barbecue, precision temperature controls and a sear zone make cooking a joy.
“We designed the indoor and outdoor kitchens in-house,” says Enzo. “Bespoke design is the only way to achieve that seamless finish. Our goal was to make the kitchen both highly functional and beautiful; a space that invites family gatherings and everyday ease.”
Luxury and mindfulness are balanced through careful spatial flow, sustainable materiality and considered technology. From Indeko window treatments that filter natural light to NewTechWood decking, porcelain tiles and New Zealand wool carpets, every surface speaks to comfort and longevity. Modern conveniences such as climate control, motorised blinds and adaptive lighting improve daily living without overpowering it.
Throughout, Enzo and his team balanced innovation with restraint, modernising the home’s systems, realigning walls, converting a study into a third bedroom, and introducing refined new bathrooms with full-height porcelain sheeting.
“Mindfulness in design is about knowing your client,” Enzo explains. “This home reflects who they are, their love of family, entertaining, Italian heritage and Australian art. It’s a complete transformation, but also an evolution of their life story.”
The exterior continues this philosophy, featuring water-wise native landscaping and reimagined frangipanis that frame ocean glimpses. An adjustable vergola provides year-round outdoor living, while the open garden invites seabreezes through the home.
But the greatest triumph, he says, came at the reveal. “There were tears of joy,” Enzo smiles. “For the owners, it felt like a completely new home – every corner was fresh, new and exciting. That’s the magic of a renovation like this. It’s not just about rebuilding walls – it’s about reimagining a life and creating a home that celebrates the people who live there.”
The dining room is light-filled and elegant, anchored by a Guaxs vase and Camille Reid vessel, with a Bolle Tela chandelier overhead. Kate Elsey’s New to the World and Globetrotter artworks from Linton & Kay Galleries add layered visual interest.
In the dining space, Miranda ML chairs surround the table beneath a Bolle Tela chandelier, creating a refined and intimate atmosphere for family meals or entertaining.
The bar area combines a bespoke Modulnova unit with Ritz lounge dining table and Rhonda swivel chairs. Tom Dixon’s copper decanter, a Guaxs vase, and Bec Juniper’s The Rain on Goodlands artwork elevate the setting with artistry and functionality.
The kitchen is clean and sophisticated, with Modulnova Skill Collection cabinetry and Golden Calacatta ceramic surfaces. The Butterfly dining table and Miele, Liebherr and Sub-Zero appliances integrate seamlessly with Cotto d’Este Lithos flooring.
The island bench showcases Jeffery Mincham’s Shoreline ceramic sculpture alongside a copper Tom Dixon Tank jug, combining a functional surface and visual centrepiece. A concealed kitchen larder with Milltech doors and Golden Calacatta worktop keeps appliances discreet, while integrated LED lighting highlights the sleek, minimalist design.
The lounge features a Fast Love sofa, Arena Bond coffee table and Pippin Drysdale porcelain vessels. Jo Darvall and Bec Juniper artworks punctuate the space, while layered cushions enhance warmth and depth.
The ensuite design is serene and tactile, with Amazon marble mosaic walls, an Omvivo free-standing bath, Stratos tapware, a Modulnova walnut vanity, and Kerlite porcelain flooring creating a luxurious retreat. The Skirt Side Table is by Marshall Wood.
Outdoor living is elevated with a Modulnova Skill Collection kitchen, Wolf barbecue, a Varaschin System Star dining table and Emma Cross chairs, all layered within a relaxed, coastal entertaining area.
“That’s the magic of a renovation like this. It’s not just about rebuilding walls – it’s about reimagining a life and creating a home that celebrates the people who live there.”
—ENZO SBERNA
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