A stunning four-bedroom residence in Sydney's exclusive eastern suburbs has earned recognition at the 2025 Australian Interior Design Awards, thanks in part to its extraordinary use of marble sourced from the same Italian quarry that provided stone for Michelangelo's David. The Bellevue Hill home showcases statement Breccia Capraia marble throughout its kitchen, extracted from the ancient Fantiscritti quarry in Tuscany.
Property owner Eleni Taylor partnered with renowned interior designer Greg Natale to transform her Hollywood Regency-era home into a European minimalist masterpiece. The renovation completely reimagined the property's aesthetic while reconfiguring the upstairs bedroom layout to create four full bedrooms, each with private bathrooms. The dramatic transformation earned the home a nomination in the residential design category at Australia's most prestigious interior design awards.
The marble selection process proved to be one of the project's most challenging aspects. "It was a challenge to get 20 slabs of the exotic stone shipped to Australia," explained Taylor, who hosts high-end clientele for brand campaigns and luxury events in her home. The Breccia Capraia marble is distinguished by its delicate shards that resemble amethyst crystals, creating what Taylor describes as "a textural earthy feel" with colors that mirror precious stones.
Breccia Capraia marble is renowned for its bold veining patterns and typically features striking pink, purple, or teal fragments of rocks and minerals set against a lighter background. This Italian marble creates a dramatic contrast with the Patagonia Verde Quartzite used on the foyer floor, which was specifically chosen to mimic the appearance of ocean water. The stone elements are complemented by wave ceilings, elegant archways, blonde timber floors, and walls finished with a light clay wash.
The design aesthetic draws inspiration from Cycladic architecture, a style influenced by the Greek Cycladic islands that emphasizes flowing, organic forms. Taylor purchased the property in 2020 and strategically chose to work with Natale, who had previously designed the home's interiors in 2012 for the previous owner. "I thought who better to go back to than the person who did the house before?" Taylor said. "He already has the footprint and knows the house inside and out."
For Natale, the project represented an opportunity for artistic evolution. "I'm still known for the Hollywood regency era, but this house has shown that I've grown and can do other things," he explained. The renovation allowed him to reinvent his design approach while demonstrating his versatility beyond his signature glamorous style.
Hollywood regency design is characterized by bold, glamorous elements including metallic and glass accents paired with lavish fabrics. While Taylor appreciated the home's existing proportions, she wanted to create something that better reflected her personal aesthetic. "Initially, I approached the design of my home with broad market appeal in mind, something safe, familiar and predictable. But that direction quickly began to feel creatively limiting and disconnected from my true style," Taylor reflected.
The transformation truly began when Taylor decided to trust her instincts. "The moment I surrendered that idea and fully trusted and embraced my own aesthetic and vision for the home, everything began to shift. That's when the home began to come alive and the magic truly unfolded," she said. Her vision departed significantly from the typical Bellevue Hill home, which usually features French provincial styling. Instead, Taylor wanted "something fluid and seamless with curves and arches."
Taylor's Greek heritage became an integral part of the home's design narrative. Natale incorporated this cultural connection through thoughtful material choices and architectural details. "We made the foyer entry look like water with the Patagonia Verde Quartzite," he explained. "The style is fluid and seamless. You can see the connection to Greece, but it's in the feeling and detail."
The fluid aesthetic is most prominently displayed in the home's waved coffered ceiling, an intricate design detail that adds dimensional depth through a series of carefully crafted sunken panels. Combined with strategically placed skylights, these curves create an illusion of never-ending space throughout the residence.
Most of the major structural work had been completed during the 2012 renovation. "Originally, the home comprised of two apartments, so we made major structural changes to join them. We put the staircase in and created a sunken lounge," Natale recalled. The recent renovation focused primarily on extending the upstairs area to accommodate Taylor's family needs.
As a mother of two teenagers, Taylor prioritized creating private spaces for her children. "The house had more like 3.5 bedrooms. Eleni wanted the kids to have their own bathrooms, so we put in a development application to extend the upstairs area at the back of the house," Natale explained. While 90 percent of the structural work was already complete, the extension added significant value to the property.
The completed home now serves as an entertainer's paradise, regularly hosting Sydney's elite for exclusive dinners and private events. "I love to treat the people I love to something special," Taylor said. The seamless blend of luxurious materials, thoughtful design, and cultural influences has created a space that is both intimately personal and grandly impressive.
Taylor's decision to settle in Bellevue Hill was influenced by practical considerations as well as aesthetic preferences. While she explored other prestigious areas in Sydney's east during her house hunting, she ultimately chose Bellevue Hill due to its proximity to top-tier private schools, making it an ideal location for raising her family while maintaining access to the cultural and social opportunities that define Sydney's eastern suburbs.
