Perched on the cliffs of Dover Heights, Cliffside Sanctuary by Studio George is a family home shaped by memories of European summers and the ease of Sydney’s coast.
“The initial brief was to create a contemporary family home inspired by Ibiza—a place that felt effortless, textural, and timeless,” Studio George founder and director Sara Horvath says. “As the design evolved, the focus shifted from aesthetic references to the sensory experience of living within the space—how light moves through the rooms, how materials age and soften over time, and how the home could balance openness with quiet.”
Set across three levels, the home encompasses five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a series of living zones, including the main open-plan living, dining and kitchen area, a rumpus room and dedicated cinema.
A restrained palette of whitewashed walls, timber-beamed ceilings, and sun-faded neutrals brings a sense of calm and permanence. Stone details connect the home to both the Mediterranean and the Pacific, while framed ocean views blur the line between near and far, grounding the house in its landscape.
